Cannot get barrel totally clean

[andyo5]

Curious how some of the grooves seem filled with the stuff and others not. Or are my eyes playing tricks on me?
Do you oil the barrel after cleaning it, then remove the excess oil with a dry patch?

 

[OLDSTER]

In a situation like yours ( most likely copper fouling as posted by OZO), before I brush and patch the bore, I stuff it with dry, clean patches, then soak the thing with Hoppes (dribble it down the bore to soak the patches thoroughly), and let sit over night. Voila ! Proceed with your bore brush etc. and it'll clean up.

 

[Bob O]

Curious how some of the grooves seem filled with the stuff and others not. Or are my eyes playing tricks on me?
Do you oil the barrel after cleaning it, then remove the excess oil with a dry patch?

No, I don't oil the barrel. Once it's clean with solvent (have always used Hoppe's #9), I run a dry patch through a couple of times....been doing it this way for 30 years and never saw a buildup like this.

ADDED:

This is my first pistol with a SS barrel.

 

[LVSteve]

Four words: Outer's Foaming Bore Cleaner.

 

[hoc9sw]

I would not use a stainless steel brush unless everything else fails.

I usually really wet the bore down with Hoppes #9 and leave it for 30 minutes or so, then another wet patch, then brush with a soaked bronze brush as usual. Sometimes takes a dozen passes. I've had to leave some soaking overnight. Not unusual with the pathetic ammo choices I've had.

My Sgt would never have passed that barrel for inspection, nor my dad for that matter.

 

[Bob O]

If does not pass my inspection by any stretch.

 

[Arik]

I agree with some of the other guys. For me that,barrel was clean an hour ago. I run a few patches and a few brush strokes and I'm done. Modern ammo is none corrosive so it really doesn't matter. My carry gun had its barrel cleaned maybe 2000 rounds ago

 

[Bob O]

No offense intended to the guys who see this barrel as clean, but do you see the crusty buildup a couple inches long in each groove?

I'm not worried about this gunk, but I don't like it. If there was one part of the pistol I wouldn't "need" to be clean, it would be the bore. The moving parts/assemblies/mechanisms are what's most important to me.

I appreciate all your input and help so far....thank you.

 

[RobzGuns]

Four words: Outer's Foaming Bore Cleaner.

Foaming Bore Cleaner is what I was thinking, when the others started mentioning soaking.

 

[Jessie]

Plenty of good advice above.
Once you get the stuff out, inspect the valleys and check for rough spots. It may be giving the fouling a place to start catching and building up.
See if its rougher under the fouling compared to where there is no fouling now.
If so, you could try fire lapping a few rounds and see if that doesn't reduce your fouling troubles.
One other thing you can do is fire into a medium where you can recover the bullet un damaged and check the rifling marks on it.
You may find them to be very shallow which could point to an oversized barrel where you're not getting much contact into the valleys.
How's your accuracy been with it?

 

[Richard Simmons]

Here's a trick I use for stubborn bores, take a used/worn brass bore brush and wrap a layer or two of 0000 steel wool around it. Works great for me and gets a little more life out of those old bore brushes.

 

[Bob O]

Accuracy has been excellent. What would you recommend for firing a bullet into where it would come out intact?

Here's a pic of a grouping I shot from 3, 5, 7 and 10 yds......20 rnds in total.

 

[chaparrito]

I use solid copper Chore Boy pot scrubbers. You can get them on AMZN if your grocery store doesn't have them. Some are only copper coated so be careful. Make sure they're solid copper. Snip off a bit and wrap around your bronze brush. Sparkly clean.

 

[andyo5]

No, I don't oil the barrel.

I recommend after cleaning run an oily parch thru the barrel, then follow up with a dry patch to remove excess oil. This is a commonly done thing which will protect the barrel against corrosion over time and (I believe) could reduce the bonding of crud to the bore.
Ask around about this.

 

[dave1918a2]

Mix Hoppes #9 half and half with Hoppes Black Powder Cleaner. let it sit a couple of hours then a tight patch. Most of the shooters at the local club use this.

 

[Jessie]

Accuracy has been excellent. What would you recommend for firing a bullet into where it would come out intact?

Here's a pic of a grouping I shot from 3, 5, 7 and 10 yds......20 rnds in total.

Ballistic gel or if you can't get that, at least 6 gallon jugs of water lined up.
The tip will expand,especially in the gel, but the base will be fine. You'll find it laying in the bottom if the last jug it penetrated.
It doesn't look like you have much if an oversized bore with those groups! So, you can probably rule that out.
Using some of the tips here and more rounds through the barrel should smooth any rough spots in time, I would think.
I mentioned fire lapping earlier. Some swear by it, although I haven't had the need to try it yet. If you do, do it sparingly because it is microscopically polishing (removing) metal from the bore.
Most I know if who have done it have been with rifles.

 

[Bob O]

Awesome...... I'm sure I can gather 6 milk jugs in short order.

 

[iouri]

I've thought you need some significant speed to get copper fouling and it only applicable to rifles. Is it possible with 45 ACP cruising at less than 900 fps ?

 

[Philadelphia Patriot]

I recommend after cleaning run an oily parch thru the barrel, then follow up with a dry patch to remove excess oil. This is a commonly done thing which will protect the barrel against corrosion over time and (I believe) could reduce the bonding of crud to the bore.
Ask around about this.

I do the same. I use Weapon Shield Solvent on the barrel (in the bore and outside the barrel. Then I use regular Weapon Shield to lightly coat the inside and outside of the barrel. Finally I wipe it down and leave only a thin layer on/in the barrel. My barrels always look brand new when I am done cleaning my gun.

One way to check to see if it is totally clean, or in my case perfect, is when you are done cleaning it, hold it up towards a light source and look inside the bore. Mine look brand new and slightly shine.

 

[bhayles]

You should clean after 150 rounds max.

So...when you've spent several hundred dollars on a Tactical Gun course lasting all day and going thru 300-500 rounds or more, you should stop and waste time cleaning you gun instead of learning what you paid for? I assure you the course will be moving right along without you. The instructor(s) won't be wasting the other student's time waiting on you.

Every 150 rounds is ridiculous anyway.