Bore scopes - UGH!!!

[Tom S.]

Last year, I purchased a Lyman bore score. At the time, it seemed like a good idea. I went shooting yesterday and last night when I was cleaning my guns, I thought I'd look at the barrels with the scope. BIG MISTAKE!!!

I spent the next hour and half cleaning, scrubbing, sweating and swearing. Each time I thought I had the barrels clean, an inspection with the bore scope showed: nope! Instruments used included bushes, Lewis lead remover, Hoppe's (Original), Gunzillia, M Pro 7, Gun Scrubber, and enough patches to make a large tent.

I have to say that I now have two of the cleanest gun barrels anyone has ever seen, but now I don't want to shoot them again and get them dirty. Not only that, but I refuse to look at any of my old barrels. I'm going to throw out all my lead and copper jacked bullets and start shooting wooden bullets. They might not be accurate but at least they shouldn't cause any fouling.

As for the bore scope, may be I'll start moonlighting as a proctologist.

[Doug627]

You think a barrel is shocking, wait until you look into the "backdoor." Nothing looks good magnified. You see all of the imperfections. A fouled barrel is usually better for grouping than a clean barrel. A clean barrel is fine. Spotless is unnecessary.

[Rule3]

I feel your pain! I am OCD about cleaning. 5 rounds or 500 it gets cleaned!

To me this indicates 2 or 4 things

What bullets are you using ( lead, jacketed, brand etc)
Are they handloads or factory ammo what caliber

Seems a change in cleaning method and or frequency is needed,

If it is lead, the Lewis is the best method. I do not care what anyone or company says there is no solvent that removes lead. It is is mechanical and elbow grease (yes there is a acid that can be used but not recommended)

Not saying you, we all have dirty barrels when viewed with a scope! but folks do not change their bronze bore brushes enough, If it is not a tight fit it is not doing anything,

The snake oil solvents remove carbon and powder fouling. Only maybe two of them do anything for copper fouling, nothing for lead, If the barrels are left wet with solvents for a longer period it does help a little.

I will not put a gun in hr safe that has not been cleaned, I will get no sleep!

[Vulcan Bob]

I read an article about bore scopes somewhere that said, if you don't have a bore scope leave well enough alone and don't get one!

[daniel lawecki]

I take a 0 on your after hours job. Mine's a one way nothing goes uphill.

[Arik]

Bore? They have to be cleaned? I always thought that the best way to do that was with the next bullet

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[Jim R]

Tom

I inherited a very expensive set of bore scopes. At first I thought they were really neat but I could not find anything I had cleaned that looked good, and the worst was my old 22-250. The gun shot great but the first 6" of the bore looked like an old gravel road.

That scope set has a new owner now and I ended up with a nearly new 25-2, now that bore scope set is driving someone else nuts.

[Tom S.]

Originally Posted by Rule3

I feel your pain! I am OCD about cleaning. 5 rounds or 500 it gets cleaned!

To me this indicates 2 or 4 things

What bullets are you using ( lead, jacketed, brand etc)
Are they handloads or factory ammo what caliber

Seems a change in cleaning method and or frequency is needed,

If it is lead, the Lewis is the best method. I do not care what anyone or company says there is no solvent that removes lead. It is is mechanical and elbow grease (yes there is a acid that can be used but not recommended)

Not saying you, we all have dirty barrels when viewed with a scope! but folks do not change their bronze bore brushes enough, If it is not a tight fit it is not doing anything,

The snake oil solvents remove carbon and powder fouling. Only maybe two of them do anything for copper fouling, nothing for lead, If the barrels are left wet with solvents for a longer period it does help a little.

I will not put a gun in hr safe that has not been cleaned, I will get no sleep!

I clean after every outing, although in all fairness, not always that same day. I shoot mostly handloads, some lead, some jacketed and some coated. These were an old tried and true .45 SWC recipe that I've used for eons, without problems. One gun was brand new, while the other was old. Both were equally dirty and required the same amount of work to get them clean. The older of the two had had this load shot many times, as well as some jacketed. Other than the factory test round, the new one has nothing but the SWC's.

I'm going to buy a gallon of Hoppe's and let my barrels soak overnight from now on.

[4barrel]

I have a 22-250 700 BDL bull barrel I bought in the 70s. It shoots a one inch 5 shot group at 200 yards with 52 & 53 grain Sierra and Hornady bullets. I run an oil patch down it and no cleaning. Until it stops grouping I am not going to change. It takes a few shots to settle in but then it is on. I gave more for the 6 1/2 X 18 Redfield scope than the rifle.

[Rule3]

Originally Posted by Tom S.

I clean after every outing, although in all fairness, not always that same day. I shoot mostly handloads, some lead, some jacketed and some coated. These were an old tried and true .45 SWC recipe that I've used for eons, without problems. One gun was brand new, while the other was old. Both were equally dirty and required the same amount of work to get them clean. The older of the two had had this load shot many times, as well as some jacketed. Other than the factory test round, the new one has nothing but the SWC's.

I'm going to buy a gallon of Hoppe's and let my barrels soak overnight from now on.

Switch on over to the Hi Tek Coated bullets and you cleaning problems will be almost gone!

[Wise_A]

Originally Posted by Doug627

A fouled barrel is usually better for grouping than a clean barrel.

We bullseye shooters commonly take "fouling shots" to dirty up a freshly-cleaned bore before shooting for score. I've found that usually the first ten shots are a wash, so I don't bother cleaning my .22's bore for half a season, or ~300 rounds. Shoots just fine, and it's not like I'm going to wear the barrel out. And if I ever do, another $400 for a new upper will be a small price to pay.

What's really funny is when a guy takes fouling shots on the line at a match, and meets a range officer that actually counts everybody's shots. So he puts two or three into the dirt or past the target, and when he goes to to take his last few shots, he gets the ol' hand on his shoulder.

[rwsmith]

Originally Posted by Tom S.

I have to say that I now have two of the cleanest gun barrels anyone has ever seen, but now I don't want to shoot them again and get them dirty. Not only that, but I refuse to look at any of my old barrels. I'm going to throw out all my lead and copper jacked bullets and start shooting wooden bullets. They might not be accurate but at least they shouldn't cause any fouling.

As for the bore scope, may be I'll start moonlighting as a proctologist.

Haven't you ever heard of cellulose fouling from wooden bullets? You need to buy a Smith's Special Cellulose Remover if you want to get into loading wood bullets.

[bluetopper]

Just a nylon bore brush and a wet patch soaked in diesel is all my bores ever get in the way of cleaning. They stay shiny clean.
Diesel is the best cleaner ever for a blued revolver, bores and outside too. It makes bluing look wonderful.

[H Richard]

I shoot a Remington 700 VS 22-250 for Prairie Dog hunting, and it had probably around 8000 rounds through it. It would group into a 1/4" at 100 yds. After a trip to S Dakota a couple years ago, I noticed the accuracy was falling off. After a really good cleaning I took it to the range and couldn't get it to group into about 1 1/2" and a couple rounds keyholed. I had a sneaking hunch I know the problem, but took it to a buddy that has a bore-scope. He put it in from the breech end and just u into the first 4-5" past the chamber. God, was that ugly. fine cracks, looked like the metal had been exposed to way too excessive of a temp. Just looked burnt. Needless to say, it now has a new Douglas Stainless barrel installed.