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Thread: Bore Cleaner?

  1. #1
    GunLoad Trainee DKA's Avatar
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    Default Bore Cleaner?

    What do you find to be the best Bore Cleaner on the market? I have been using Shooters Choice, but am open to try others.

  2. #2
    Dogs Like Him versifier's Avatar
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    It depends on what you need to get out of your bore, powder fouling, copper, or lead, or a combination. Most any solvent will do a good job when used with a good brushing, but how much is the solvent and how much is the brush is a matter of some debate.

    For general powder fouling, I like Outers and Shooter's Choice. SC is marketed as a copper solvent, but it is only mediocre at that job, while it does an excellent job on powder residue.

    For copper fouling, nothing beats Sweets.

    For lead, I like Rigg best, unless it's extreme, then there's nothing better than a Lewis Tool.

    When it's really bad (like an old milsurp), I use an electronic bore cleaner and alternate solvents with lots of brushing to get the layers off.
    "Stand your ground.
    Do not fire unless fired upon.
    But if they mean to have a war let it begin here."
    - Capt. Parker, Lexington Militia, April 19, 1775

  3. #3
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    Versifier Would you mind telling me a little more about Sweets, I find it hard to get a good copper solvent where I am .
    Thank you g

  4. #4
    Dogs Like Him versifier's Avatar
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    I would think it ought to be a bit easier for you to get than for us as it's made down in your neck of the woods.

    Sweets Wholesale Pty. Ltd.
    45 Irvine Street
    Kingsford, 2032
    NSW Austrailia

    Sweets is a 5% ammonia based solvent. Most decent copper solvents have at least some ammonia in them. When it reacts with metallic copper, it forms an oxide that turns the patch blue, so you know when it's present and when you've got it all out of the barrel. Make sure you use a nylon brush, not a bronze (a copper alloy) one, or you will get blue patches forever.
    "Stand your ground.
    Do not fire unless fired upon.
    But if they mean to have a war let it begin here."
    - Capt. Parker, Lexington Militia, April 19, 1775

  5. #5
    GunLoad Trainee
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    Ed's Red

    You mix it yourself- just go to Cast Boolits and get the recipe.
    Cheap, excellent esp. carbon and lead.

    For copper fouling I have found that most of the foam type bore cleaners do an OK job-not harmful to barrel and easy to do.



    Gary

  6. #6
    GunLoad Trainee
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    Default

    Hi Gents,

    Just joined but wanted to jump in here.

    Must be a good subject because it keeps resurfacing year after year. I have to be honest in that I've used Outers, Hoppe's, Marksmans Choice, Shooters Choice and any number of store brands over the years. I've also used lots of regular gasoline, coleman fuel, and some kerosene and sometimes 3-n-1 oil or WD40. Never found a lot of difference in any of them for general cleaning although the few times I felt I had copper fouling the Shooters/Marksmans Choice did the job.

    But I believe the absolute best chamber/bore cleaner out there is hot soapy water followed by clean hot water, then denatured alcohol, let air out, then regular bore solvent followed by light oiling. Naturally to go to this much trouble I would generally be thinking of an "end of season and put it away until next year" sort of thing.

    Regards,

    TB

  7. #7
    Grunt robertbank's Avatar
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    I have found the best way to get lead fouling out of my barrels is to use 100% copper Chor Boy pad strands wrapped around an old cleaning brush. Two or three strokes and the lead is out. I finiish up up with Hoppes #9.

    Take Care

    Bob
    Bob

    If you are reading this, thank a teacher; if you are reading this in English thank a veteran.

  8. #8
    GunLoad Trainee
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    Wipe Out/Patch Out plus accelerator for really fouled bores.

    Eds Red and 10% ammonia patch and patch about for J word fouling.

    Kroil for any leading

  9. #9
    Grunt casullman's Avatar
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    go for the sweets best there is IMHO
    I have a plan

  10. #10

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    Just think back. If we had had Sweets in 1952 we could have cleaned all those 220 Swift and 220 Weatherby Rocket barrels that were "shot out". They weren't; they were simply copper fouled and we didn't know about it or how to get it out. Same for the early Winchester Model 70 "Westerner" stainless steel barrels in 264 Winchester magnum. I remember barrels being changed after as few as 1200 rounds because they were shot out. We are older and better informed and maybe even wiser. OH WELL!!!!!!!!!

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