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10-16-2014, 05:28 PM
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stripes in barrel
Hi was wondering if anyone ever saw what looks like stripes in a m&p 40,? I just bought a shield 9mm and it looks like the same thing is starting, I have around 300 rds in the 40 and only 100 through the shield.
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10-16-2014, 05:43 PM
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I'm not exactly sure what you're talking about other than those 'stripes' are the marks left behind from the bullet as it leaves your barrel.
It's a combo of copper and carbon, assuming you're shooting jacketed bullets.
It's totally normal. Other than keeping your chamber clean from carbon build up (esp. in 40cal), you don't need to worry about it. A spotless/mirror barrel does not equal better performance.
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10-16-2014, 05:49 PM
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Thanks for the reply,I'm on my phone right now it will not let me post a picture, it looks as if the barrel had paint in it,the lands are normal but the grooves look grey or bare metal. The barrel is free of copper and lead.I will try to post a picture later once I get home.
thanks
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10-16-2014, 05:58 PM
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Agreed with the carbon jacketed bullets. Unless you are looking at bright orange rusty spots, its sounds like the normal use of jacketed bullets to me.
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10-16-2014, 06:27 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scagwildcat
Thanks for the reply,I'm on my phone right now it will not let me post a picture, it looks as if the barrel had paint in it,the lands are normal but the grooves look grey or bare metal. The barrel is free of copper and lead.I will try to post a picture later once I get home.
thanks
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You have to use an app like Tapatalk to post pics straight from your phone.
Your situation sounds totally normal. A bullet needs to push into the barrel contours (i.e. 'lands/grooves') for your bullet to spin so it's gonna leave marks.
If you look at a fired bullet it'll have 'stripes' on it also (Google pics is your friend). You'll also notice if you take a cartridge and put the bullet end to the end of your barrel (please take your barrel out to try this), it won't just slide in. The same thing applies from the normal/chamber end because it needs the energy from the powder to force the bullet down the barrel. It's also the reason why if a round has too little powder ('squib'), it can get stuck in your barrel (i.e. not enough energy).
I'd suggest you take a firearms class since most should cover these kinds of topics. As an eye opener, google 'squib load'. It doesn't happen often but it's the kind of thing that can get you hurt when you don't know, what you don't know.
Welcome to the forum.
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10-16-2014, 08:27 PM
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Last edited by scagwildcat; 10-16-2014 at 08:28 PM.
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10-16-2014, 09:21 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scagwildcat
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You know, in all the years I've been shooting, I don't think I've ever looked down the barrel of a dirty gun (only looked after cleaning the bore). So tonight I looked at my competition gun (9mm Core with ~ 70K rounds through it) I haven't cleaned it this week. Guess what, I have stripes too. Never would have thought. Probably always been there, I just never looked. So in the end I don't think you have anything to worry about. Now if the stripes persist after you clean the bore, then I might worry.
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10-16-2014, 09:28 PM
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Not being real big on cleaning my pistols after each time they are shot, I looked at mine. Yep, stripes are present.
Cleaned it, no stripes.
Last edited by MichiganScott; 10-17-2014 at 07:55 AM.
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10-17-2014, 06:11 AM
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Guys the barrels are clean,I noticed the stripes after shooting the guns for the first time new. I brought the 40 back to the store I purchased it at,and was told it looks safe to shoot, but no real answer as to what happened.
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10-17-2014, 09:29 AM
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Copper fouling from copper jacketed bullets. Absolutely normal. And it is a booger to get it out sometimes. In handguns, it's not real critical as far as accuracy goes. You scrub it out and as soon as you fire it again, it's right back. In extremely accurate rifles, such as Bench Rest long range, or Sniper style shooting, those guys try to keep it down to a minimum w/ copper fouling removal products. Past a certain point, enough copper fouling can hurt the fine accuracy of very "tuned" rifles. But hand guns, no. If you can see an extremely heavy build up of copper after a lot of shooting, then get a copper fouling removal product from your local gun/ sporting goods store and remove it. Usually most handguns only foul to a point and then just don't get any worse. The more you shoot, the smoother the rifling gets. Just like a car engine, parts wear in and further wear goes down to a minimum. Most modern handgun barrels can handle well over 10's of thousands of rounds before being worn to the point of accuracy degradation.
Scrub it out w/ Hoppe's #9 and forget it. Won't hurt anything.
Have fun and be safe.
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10-17-2014, 10:13 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scagwildcat
Guys the barrels are clean,I noticed the stripes after shooting the guns for the first time new. I brought the 40 back to the store I purchased it at,and was told it looks safe to shoot, but no real answer as to what happened.
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It's not as clean as you may think. But the good news is that it is just normal copper fouling and will not hurt anything. I would just shoot it, clean it as you have been and not worry about the stripes. If you tried to remove every bit of copper fouling every time you shoot the gun you would probably do more harm than good.
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10-17-2014, 10:28 AM
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I have been down this road, the only thing that I have found to remove the copper stripes easy and well is to use Break Free Bore Foam, fill the bore and plug both ends. Let sit an hour or three, brass brush out, repeat if needed. Lots of time and brush work if the gun is heavily laden. If not, one easy foaming may be all you need.
I dont worry much about it now, as others have suggested.
DR
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10-19-2014, 01:27 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by drinva
..fill the bore and plug both ends...
DR
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What do you use to plug the breach and muzzle?
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10-19-2014, 01:47 AM
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Wipe-Out
I've heard of a product called 'Wipe-Out' that is available from Brownell's that supposed to clean easily without damaging anything.
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10-19-2014, 03:17 AM
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A factory mass produced barrel for a "service" grade firearm, is not going to come off the line with a nice smoothly cut barrel. They just don't get the same attention a match/target grade barrel gets.
It's not unusual for fouling like that to easily occur while the barrel breaks in.
If the barrel continues to easily or heavily foul, barrel lapping might be in order.
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10-19-2014, 06:11 AM
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Copper removal
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stratajema
What do you use to plug the breach and muzzle?
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You can use what's handy, what works and what isn't affected by the copper remover: corks, rubber plugs, modeling clay (that can be tedious to remove), soft wax, or something else your imagination suggests.
Might not even need to plug the muzzle if you can fix the barrel solidly upright.
Hope this helps,
Larry
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10-19-2014, 12:34 PM
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Waded up piece of paper towel.
DR
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10-19-2014, 12:51 PM
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10-19-2014, 01:13 PM
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One thing I try to do when I clean a revolver is that I try and use a larger bore brush than what it says. For instance I use a .40 brush for my .357's. Works great and gets out everything like lead and fouling. On the other hand, I used to take a copper scouring pad, pull off a long piece of what looks like a single strand and then wrap that around the brush. That works just as good. Get a decent brush, scrub it good with Hoppes 9 and then clean it out and it should clean up.
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