The jury is out! NO RUST!

[pete950]

Keep it for that price. Thats copper fouling use shooter choice copper solvent. you won't be sorry nice gun.

 

[Lomax Anderson]

I would keep it and clean it...looks like copper to me..

 

[lagavulin62]

stop cleaning, take it back and show him the remaining "rust" that you are going to have to live with. 100 dollars reduction and the deal is still on. no reason a couple of nice guys can't close a deal! (no don't do that)

 

[borntoraisehogs]

Flitz that rust away .

 

[shermbob]

If you bought it shoot then clean it oil it shoot it and start over. The rust will stop once cleaned and oiled. If you bought it as a collector then take it back and forget it. Buy the way did you look in the barrel with a light before you bought it or after you got it home??
shermbob

 

[rpg0123]

Here are the latest pics with the basic cleaning with my cleaning kit. It looks a little better I think. Although the lighting on this first picture isn't as good as the second picture.

It's not looking nearly as bad as I thought at first. The second crop of pictures is looking much better to me. Looks like you're making some progress, and there doesn't appear to be any pitting. I wouldn't use any of the more aggressive suggestions at this point - nothing that would harm the bluing. I'd just keep it up with basic cleaning and oiling.

 

[cool breeze]

Well guys the input has been great! Thank you.

I meet with the guy and returned it to him and he said he would try a shot at removing the "fouling"(hopefully) himself. He said he would get back to me on how it turns out. I really lucked out to have made a deal with a guy with high intergrity and understanding. Sometimes these things can go south quickly.
As it turns out he did have a little sellers remorse as we all do when we sell a firearm. I'll let you guys know how it turns out.

 

[bmcgilvray]

It doesn't appear as any rust I've ever seen in a bore. It looks just like common copper fouling. The cleaning diminished it. I'd just use some Sweet's 7.62 per the directions on the container on it and banish the copper fouling entirely.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Here is a picture of the inside of the barrel of the 36 I just bought. The rest of the gun is in great shape but with the barrel like that should I take it back or not worry about it? Help!
Can anything be done? The lighting with the camera does make it look worse than with the naked eye.
The guy I bought it from is a great guy and said he would take it back if I wanted to return it.

If you are absolutely sure it is not copper fouling rather than "rust" then I would see what S&W says. Pay no attention to the advice about changing the barrel yourself, unless you want to completely ruin the gun.

 

[Black Knight]

We use Sweet's 7.62 on our department issued Beretta 92FS's and have no problem with copper fouling. Give it a try, it costs only around $10 - $15. That does look more like copper fouling than rust. Also use a bronze or nylon bore brush one caliber larger than the gun. It puts slightly more pressure on the tips which can get into the grooves and clean them out. It does take a little more elbow greese at first but it usually works.

 

[buckeyeshooter1]

Is it rust or is it copper fouling? I can't tell form the picture. Try some copper solvent.

My thought exactly, looks like copper in a dirty barrel, not rust.

 

[thedogfather]

Really though, copper fouling or rust, don't you think the seller should have paid more attention to this and tried to clean it before selling? Admittedly, it didn't look that bad to me but I would not sell a gun that had such an obvious blemish unless I told the buyer up front.

 

[phils]

If the outside is not rusted or pitted, it is probably copper fouling from jacketed ammo and should clean up.
Soak in Hoppes #9 for awhile, run a patch, and see if it's green.

 

[pred]

I cant believe that you returned it already.
After looking at so many and not getting them you found one at a very good price and then returned it?
A good cleaning will do wonders!
I bought something called "Blue Wonder" barrel cleaner and it cleaned a couple of really ugly bores I had to like newish condition, They were 90 year old 1911 barrels that looked horrible...
Now go and get it back!
If it times up well and is tight it's a good price.
If you are looking for a safe queen, That is another story.
Peter

 

[cool breeze]

I cant believe that you returned it already.
Peter

I did not want to go to far on the cleaning and figured that he could do it and see how it turned out. He is going to take it in to the local shop and see what they have to say too.
He will sell it back to me and from what I have heard here I'd better get it!

 

[lagavulin62]

Pay no attention to the advice about changing the barrel yourself, unless you want to completely ruin the gun.

"if it were NOT a s&w and only a makarov I'd say dunk the thing in kerosene solution mixture for a few days then scrub the inside like crazy. or even replace the barrel......yourself. but we got a much more delicate situation so lets hope the experts got an answer."


shawn,

if you will reread my post you will see I was not recommending changing the barrel. my last sentence I defer to "the experts" as I am not. unfortunately that unintended period after "crazy" may have confused you, but I think the whole meaning was still clear. looks like he returned the gun with original barrel.

mike

 

[cool breeze]

The jury is out! And most you guys were right on the bulls eye....... NO RUST! or pitting.
It is fouling according the local gun shop. The seller has tried a few things on it and it is proving to be dificult to remove.
I will be picking it back up very soon and will be happy to have it.
Thanks for all the input. I will have a little fun gently cleaning the bore and lube it up.
I will take some more pictures too.

 

[brucev]

Go get the revolver. Forget about having any finish cleaning it up for you. Go get yourself basic cleaning materials: Shooter's Choice, brass core phosphor-bronze cleaning brush, steel cleaning rod, .38/.357 cleaning jag, patches and some JB Bore polish. Clean the barrel thoroughly using the SC w/ the brush and patches. Then, use JB bore polish to work on any remaining copper fouling. You might also try using a Otter's Foul Out. Stay away from harsh aggressive chemical preparations such as used to be used to remove copper fouling from rifles, i.e., 28% ammonia solution, etc. as these can readily damage the finish of the pistol as well as damage the interior surface of the barrel. The best approach is to do as you said, "gently" clean the bore. Sincerely. brucev.

 

[cool breeze]

brucev, thanks for the tips!

I think what happened was that it was shot a few times some time ago and just never got cleaned.

I have it back now and very happy with it. Thanks for everyones help.