Does my 870 Marine Magnum need a new barrel?

[HedonismBot]

I bought my Remington 870 MM from Epps a couple of years ago and have fired it literally 25 times (5 boxes of remington slugs)

I was inspecting it the other day and noticed what I can only describe as fouling on the bore finish. Most of the surface area has a nice mirror shine but there is a smear\skidmark of greyish black near the muzzle. maybe 4 or 5 square inches total surface area is ugly. The ugly area's feel smooth to the touch.

I've tried cleaning it with a vigorous bore brushing with solvent but nothing.

Because this is a smoothbore can I use steel wool and a power drill?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. For all I know this is how it came from Epps as it was an open box item (demo I think) and in my post PAL excitment I may not have examined the bore finish carefully enough.

Thanks,

 

[Winchester-1897]

I wouldn't sweat it. My smooth bore sometimes had that after shooting slug or old lead shot. Before turkey season I put a few Winchester ### 3" Turkey loads through it for test accuracy purposes and it goes away.

 

[gak]

The gun will outlive all of us, so your only duty is to see how many rounds you can fire off before you're too old to hold it up anymore !

If you ever have a part that needs replacing, just contact CGN member 'Arwen Ace'.

 

[Boomer]

Because this is a smoothbore can I use steel wool and a power drill?

No, No, No!

If you are going to do the electric drill thing, start with a good quality bronze brush and wrap a layer of pure copper scouring pad around it. Check the scouring pad with a magnet to ensure its pure copper and not steel coated. Be aware that this can be messy if there is much lead fouling in the bore, and you may want to do it outdoors.

With the barrel held securely in a padded vice beginning at the chamber and advance the brush slowing into the bore. Ensure that at no time does the cleaning rod rattle against the bore or chamber surfaces. Work the brush back and forth, advancing a couple of inches at a time then pulling it back again. Place a clean dry patch on a jag or on a second bore brush which is better if a choked bore won't allow the passage of the jag. Push the patch through the bore then examine the bore for fouling and repeat as required. Finish up by pushing a patch wet with oil through the bore and follow with a couple of dry patches

 

[plinker 777]

or you could stop being so anal where your shotgun is concerned and just shoot it???

 

[forbes/hutton]

Another slug should clear it out.

 

[noway123]

shoot it, a bunch, then clean it.

once it is good put a coat of oil down the tube.

and then use it every so often.

 

[badboybeeson]

I have over 40k shot in my MM
After about 15k I had it honed and polished.
Did no do anything to make the gun any better

 

[de-mix]

Get a photo up so we can take a look!
Could just be plastic residue, have you let the solvent sit (24hrs) and try the next morning ?

Shooting it more was a good suggestion too.

 

[J.P.]

I have over 40k shot in my MM
After about 15k I had it honed and polished.
Did no do anything to make the gun any better

is it broken in yet?

Any parts worn out for that much shooting? Just curious.

 

[HedonismBot]

Thanks for the replies.

I'd love to shoot it more but my range is indoor and when it comes to shotguns they are strictly slugs only.

I have nowhere else to fire it so can't do much more with it but notice tiny imperfections.