slug sludge

uchi

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twice now weve put some slugs through my 14" hp9, last time it was only about 20, this time was probably close to 3 times that many, and the barrel gets filthy. i use a spray cleaner in there, scrub it and do whatever i can and i still end up running 30 patches through the bastard. yesterday after about 20 patches i just left it in a laundry tub with hot water and soap to try and break things apart. and it still took some cleaning. what are you guys using to clean your shotties with after a good day of slug use?
 
twice now weve put some slugs through my 14" hp9, last time it was only about 20, this time was probably close to 3 times that many, and the barrel gets filthy. i use a spray cleaner in there, scrub it and do whatever i can and i still end up running 30 patches through the bastard. yesterday after about 20 patches i just left it in a laundry tub with hot water and soap to try and break things apart. and it still took some cleaning. what are you guys using to clean your shotties with after a good day of slug use?

I also have a 14" HP9. I don't know if I'm ever going to clean the barrel.

Is it really needed?
 
I also have a 14" HP9. I don't know if I'm ever going to clean the barrel.

Is it really needed?
I've bought firearms on the EE from persons like yourself! ;)

Kidding aside, if one shoots slugs on a regular basis this is a must do.
Especially the soft foster slugs (Winchester Super X) tend to leave alot of lead in the barrel decreasing accuracy, if left to build up.
 
I let gel bore cleaner do most of the work.

I just slather it all in there and let it sit for a few hours at least. Then I give it a quick touch with a copper brush before pushing a few patches through. It should be squeaky clean and gleaming with next to no effort.
 
I've bought firearms on the EE from persons like yourself! ;)

Kidding aside, if one shoots slugs on a regular basis this is a must do.
Especially the soft foster slugs (Winchester Super X) tend to leave alot of lead in the barrel decreasing accuracy, if left to build up.

I'm more of a rifle guy. This is my first shotgun.

Now I know that I should clean her out every once and a while. But I doubt I will.
 
Is it lead or plastic build up inside your barrel? It makes a difference and should dictate what you use to clean it up, but I'd try wipeout, the can says it's good for both plastic and lead build up.
 
Cleaning a shotgun barrel is important, just like a rifle. Ben makes a good point, plastic can be a real ##### to clean out, especially in a non-chromed bore. I use hoppes benchrest copper solvent, its good for damn near anything. Give the bore a liberal coat, let it sit for a half hour then scrub with a bronze brush. After close to 300 rds. of magnum slugs and buckshot it took me 2 days to get my Benelli spotless. The more frequent you clean, the easier it will be each time. If you let it build up then youre gonna have to roll up your sleeves and spend some serious time. I probably brushed that bore 10 times, letting it sit with fresh hoppes for a while each time before it came clean. On a bit of a sidenote, has anyone tried the Otis pull-through shotgun cleaning kits? That would be alot handier now that Ive got an extension tube and clamp.
 
I rarely clean my shotguns. I'll do it if their performance begins to suffer. Otherwise, they do just fine without regular cleaning. Mind you, none of mine are high dollar pieces, if I had a $2000 O/U I'd be a bit more diligent. With two Chinese specials and an old $150 Savage (which was so filthy it would barely cycle when I got it), I don't feel very guilty. Rifles are a different matter altogether.
 
A brush called a "Tornado" brush was recommended to me by a local gun shop. It is kind of a twisted spiral stainless bore brush. It gets rid of plastic and lead quick and easy. I run a patch with bore cleaner through, let it sit for 15 min, use the Tornado and then pull a bore snake through twice usually and presto gotta where shades to look through it.
 
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Dedicated bore cleaner is where it's at.

It comes in liquid and gel, I greatly prefer the gel as it stays put. As previously mentioned I'll let it sit it sit until its dissolved all the lead and plastic and from from there its just a matter of pushing the congealed sludge out with a patch.
 
Scotch Brite pads, a .410 bore brush, G96, an old 12 Gauge aluminum cleaning rod, and a drill.

Wrap the scotch brite pad around the .410 bore brush. Screw the bore brush to the cleaning rod, spray liberally with G96! Attach other end of cleaning rod to drill. Insert into barrel, and push through with the drill running. The barrel will get hot, but anything in there will be gone, and your patterns will also improve. Got this little tidbit from Adrian Hare, a member on this site. Works great, and actually makes the barrel easier to clean on successive cleanings.
 
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