Removing copper

[Joefrazell]

I just stripped all the copper out of the bore on a particular rifle I own. It's accuracy went to garbage so figured it needed it. I used Barnes cr10 and cleaned until there was no more copper streaking at all when you looked down the muzzle. It took probably 2 hrs or soaking brushing and running dry patches as per the instructions. I've never removed all copper from a barrel as I have never stuck at it that long as I was worried about hurting the barrel. Do you guys find it necessary to strip all copper out of newer barrels? This particular rifle is a Bergera b14 Hunter in 30-06 and has around 50 ends down the tube. I'll be taking it out in the morning to see if the accuracy is back. It was shooting half min. Groups then went to complete garbage around 1.5" groups at 100. I shot some gmx bullets and that's when it went to crap. Wondering if that particular copper of the gmx was just too soft and fouled the barrel bad.

 

[Jud96]

I find removing all copper from the barrel can cause you to get different velocities, different point of impact, and accuracy can suffer compared to a fouled barrel. Some barrels foul in with a couple shots, some take 15+ shots to be back where they were when they were fouled in. Every time I've completely cleaned a barrel to bare metal, I've had velocities change and take some shooting to settle down. If you changed bullets and accuracy degraded, the first thing I would blame would be the bullets, not the fouled barrel. Also, when going from one bullet to another, you should clean the barrel of the copper from the previous bullets. Different alloys between the two bullets could cause weird or flawed results. If you want to shoot GMX bullets, clean the barrel of all copper, then start shooting them.

I want to add, there's a difference between cleaning a barrel normally compared to cleaning it to bare steel. If you just clean it until the carbon is gone and get some of the copper out, you won't have to fire as many shots to foul the barrel in. If you scrub it completely to the bare steel, it will take more shots to build up a little copper then it will level out. I've chased my tail multiple times with this very thing.

 

[Joefrazell]

I find removing all copper from the barrel can cause you to get different velocities, different point of impact, and accuracy can suffer compared to a fouled barrel. Some barrels foul in with a couple shots, some take 15+ shots to be back where they were when they were fouled in. Every time I've completely cleaned a barrel to bare metal, I've had velocities change and take some shooting to settle down. If you changed bullets and accuracy degraded, the first thing I would blame would be the bullets, not the fouled barrel. Also, when going from one bullet to another, you should clean the barrel of the copper from the previous bullets. Different alloys between the two bullets could cause weird or flawed results. If you want to shoot GMX bullets, clean the barrel of all copper, then start shooting them.

I want to add, there's a difference between cleaning a barrel normally compared to cleaning it to bare steel. If you just clean it until the carbon is gone and get some of the copper out, you won't have to fire as many shots to foul the barrel in. If you scrub it completely to the bare steel, it will take more shots to build up a little copper then it will level out. I've chased my tail multiple times with this very thing.

Yeah the accuracy was gone with all loads. I never new to clean barrel if switching bullets. That's good to know

 

[Laelkhunter]

You might have to shoot a couple rounds to lightly foul the bore, then it should settle back to where it was before it went to crap. I have read in numerous places that if you change bullets from cup & core to mono or vice-versa you should try to remove the copper before shooting the new bullets. Has something to do with the copper in the barrel from the previous bullets being harder (or softer) causing more copper to be stripped from the new bullets. Could be wrong, maybe someone that can explain it better will chime in.

edited to add: we were typing at the same time, so my reply kinda duplicates yours.

 

[Joefrazell]

It's very interesting to me. I was explaining it to my wife and she had that look

 

[Hunterjones]

Just a recommendation.....you may want to try
WipeOut/Patchout and Accelerator. Cleans powder, carbon AND copper, does not have the awful ammonia smell and different types of fouling show different colors on patches....

 

[Joefrazell]

Yeah I was thinking of trying bore tech eliminator

 

[Laelkhunter]

Remember when using any copper solvent to use nylon bore brushes, and jags that don't contain brass. The solvent reacts to brass bore brushes and jags and will always leave blue on your patch. Even if you get all of the copper out of the bore, you will think there is some left in there. Bore Tech sells "Proof Positive" attachments for your cleaning rod to prevent this.

 

[Savage 12BVSS]

I've always used barnes cr10 and like it myself, never really scrub a barrel down to bare metal. I also don't use mono bullets, so don't encounter the mixing of alloy's. If the coffee don't wake me up the cr10 sure will

 

[lancetkenyon]

I use Sweets 7.62 when I completely strip the copper from a barrel.
I find when a barrel (factory or custom) start to lose accuracy, a total cleaning will bring them back to shooting well after a few foulers. Anywhere from 3 to 20+ sometimes.

 

[Joefrazell]

Well I'm headed back out right now. Sure hope it fouls after 5 or so. But really hope she shoots again!

 

[venatic]

The quickest easiest way to remove tough carbon and copper down to steel for me has been JB bore cleaner on a patch wrapped brush.
Flush the JB out with Kroil and dry usually takes 15-20 minutes max.
I only do this if it's pretty bad and I try not to let it get to that point.

 

[Joefrazell]

Well I shot 18 shots. Two factory loads bergara recommends and two handloads. Not one sub moa group. Also, I swapped scopes before going out to be sure it hadn't failed. Guns gunna be shipped back to bergara. 2nd time. 1st time they gave me a new rifle. Also for accuracy issues. Ughh

 

[Dean2]

Well I shot 18 shots. Two factory loads bergara recommends and two handloads. Not one sub moa group. Also, I swapped scopes before going out to be sure it hadn't failed. Guns gunna be shipped back to bergara. 2nd time. 1st time they gave me a new rifle. Also for accuracy issues. Ughh

Bergara has some real problems with how their rifles are bedded. Glass bedding the action into the stock has fixed the accuracy issues on 4 of these that the owners have brought to me. Groups are now under 1/2" consistently.