Hi, I bought a new 3.5" .460 XVR PC revolver on Sunday. When I got home I cleaned it and noticed inside the barrel from the front to the back is a reddish brown color. The reddish color is basically striped along the length of the barrel. I searched the net and found some mention of a possible manufacturing method the performance center was using that caused a reddish color in their barrels, but in most cases users thought it was rust.

I used Hoppes, Break Free and JB's to try and clean it. Still there. Used a copper brush and tight fitting pads. The barrel is also not shiny. Most of my barrels are shiny to glossy. This one is rather dull in the places there is not reddish color.

I emailed S&W and they said, can't tell from the pic. Try cleaning it. That wasn't the response I was hoping for since, this is an expensive new revolver and a performance center version at that.

It was in the case at Cabelas. Based on the inspection tag, it arrived at the store on April 14, 2016. Per S&W, it was manufactured in January 2015. I assume they make batches of these once a year or so.

I don't see any pitting. Should I shoot it, and maybe eventually send it in and get the barrel replaced? Send it in now and ask for a new barrel? Has anyone seen this before on a new revolver?

Thanks for any input.

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Welcome to the Site!! Me personally, I'd run a round through it and take a look then... Until then, Ruggy'll be along in a short to give better advise than me as I think he owns more 460 Mag's than anyone on the Earth, let alone the site here!!!!!

Are you sure it's not copper fouling? From the test firing?

If it is surface rust, just fire about 150 rounds through it. That will remove the rust by default via wear from the jacketed bullets.



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Thank you for the replies. I'm going to the range Friday. I'll shoot it as much as I can and then check. I bought some 45 colt ammo just in case I get tired. :-) The .460 I bought is Hornady 200 gr.

If it was copper fowling, I would think the cleaning I've done so far would have removed it. It was fairly clean everywhere else, e.g. no residue on or in the cylinder.

No doubt that it Is copper from bullet jacket. Just easier to see in a stainless barrel. My 500 shows it too. I would not call it fouling but just a trace.

It looks like copper from the bullets. A little is not that bad as long as its not too much that it effects accuracy.
A little color wont hurt nobody.
If you see too much, then brass brush, copper remover, soak, brass brush, soak, jag till clean and whatever stays should be fine...

Ok, thanks everyone. I'll get some copper cleaner and try that. I checked my model 69, which is relatively new, and saw a little bit of copper build-up. I guess I didn't notice it before.

Copper. Rust/oxidation isn't smart enough to neatly follow the rifling in the barrel and not appear anywhere else. As said above, copper cleaner and brass brush should take care of most of it.

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Copper for sure.

Copper from test-firing. Scrub a little w a copper-remover. Shoot it. Repeat. And repeat forever. But PLEASE do not use lead-away cloths for your cylinder face. A little solvent a a stiff nylon brush to get off the build-up and leave the stains ALONE!!!