Barrel cleaning: Sweet’s 7.62 with CLP follow-up

[mwkelso]

The results sorta surprised me, I'm wondering if someone might know why...

I ran the Sweet's through per their instructions (wet patch, scrub for 60 seconds, run dry patch and repeat until patch runs clean).

Following that, I used CLP as my bore protection. The patch came out dark gray... I followed the same directions as the Sweet's for simplicity's sake.
The patch did this 3 times before it ran clean.

What could CLP possibly be cleaning out of there that the 7.62 isn't????

 

[mwkelso]

CLP post-Sweet's:

 

[Barrelnut]

I suggest getting a Teslong borescope. They are very affordable these days. Lots of shooters on this forum use them.
Will give you a chance to see what is really going on in your bore. Much more beneficial than trying to read tea leaves.

 

[shinbone]

Sweets 7.62 doesn't dissolve carbon.

 

[mwkelso]

Sweets 7.62 doesn't dissolve carbon.

Aye... I was under the impression that it did.
In that case, dissolve the carbon before going to the Sweet's? Or do I need to alternate between the two?

 

[shinbone]

Personally, I do the latter, But use Carb-Out for the carbon solvent. Works really well.

 

[26Reload]

I cleaned my 65284 other day(s)....
The old rifle cleaned up fairly easily.....but the newer one....wow....
26" proof....about 275 round thru it....
Throat and first two inches of barrel cleaned fairly quick...
From there out about 4" was oddly black...the rest of the barrel cleaned up along with the firet two inches......
Soaked...patched..scrubbed...Soaked...patched...scrubbed...
The black color just seemed to stay there....
Finally took JB nonembedding paste and ran that in there...cleaned some of it....but not much....second day I finally JB patched it with a fiber brush on a drill.....
Finally....after all that...that black became bright shiny silver...
Getting old....thought maybe my eyes were a step closer to the end...........
Now to see if it was all worth the effort.....
Wipe out and spray in Wipe out...along with a couple other cleaners just wouldn't remove it.......

 

[mwkelso]

@26Reload
That is interesting where it built up.
I have always just looked in past the crown, which is how I was taught to judge the cleanliness of a bore. It's shiny? Good to go.
Knowing what I just learned by this thread, I wonder how many out there have blamed diminishing accuracy on copper foul without consideration of carbon, and whether or not their cleaner will remove carbon.
I am most definitely guilty of this now lol
I too wonder how this will affect accuracy now. We will find out...

 

[jdyoung]

For carbon and copper, I use a foaming bore cleaner. Much easier! For polishing, JB Bore cleaner. To inspect before and after, a borescope.
If I used CLP , it would be for a final coating after all the copper and carbon is removed. That is how I use it on my pistols. Spray it on, let it sit overnight to let it get in the pores ( which it does very well, that's why you get the gray/black patches), wipe down the next day.

 

[Ranger Rick]

A bolt action rifle's Lug recess can also collect carbon, and the right cleaning tool makes cleaning the recess an easy task

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[arch408]

I cleaned my 65284 other day(s)....
The old rifle cleaned up fairly easily.....but the newer one....wow....
26" proof....about 275 round thru it....
Throat and first two inches of barrel cleaned fairly quick...
From there out about 4" was oddly black...the rest of the barrel cleaned up along with the firet two inches......
Soaked...patched..scrubbed...Soaked...patched...scrubbed...
The black color just seemed to stay there....
Finally took JB nonembedding paste and ran that in there...cleaned some of it....but not much....second day I finally JB patched it with a fiber brush on a drill.....
Finally....after all that...that black became bright shiny silver...
Getting old....thought maybe my eyes were a step closer to the end...........
Now to see if it was all worth the effort.....
Wipe out and spray in Wipe out...along with a couple other cleaners just wouldn't remove it.......

ouch!

 

[300grains]

I use a "normal" solvent for carbon and then Sweet's or Tetra gun for copper. Will buy in future Bore Tech products also to try and skip Tetra Gun.
Sweet's is very good, but the smell...

 

[mwkelso]

I use a "normal" solvent for carbon and then Sweet's or Tetra gun for copper. Will buy in future Bore Tech products also to try and skip Tetra Gun.
Sweet's is very good, but the smell...

Yes, gotta love that ammonia. Before Sweet's I used Barnes CR-10. That was very potent as well

 

[Wv shooter]

I use sweets to remove copper with 10 passes if you use a brush it is mixing copper with carbon and that is the gray paste from the brush and it always leaves the gray that your are seeing it usually thick gray paste on first patch's and then I run hoppes no 9 through the bore and it cleans right up with patches fear not I been seeing it for over 20 years