Carbon Ring example

[grauhanen]

Many shooters are familiar with the problem of carbon rings in .22LR shooting. What follows below is for those who may be less familiar with them. Pictures of a carbon ring are shown in posts below to illustrate what one may look like. A description of how this particular carbon ring was reduced and removed is included.

A carbon ring typically develops in the leade area, just ahead of the chamber. It is the result of burning powder and very small amounts vaporized lead from the base of the bullet that cool, some of which begins to stick to the leade area. As a result, in some cases it can be a carbon/lead ring. Unless it's removed, the carbon builds over time until it can become of such size as to interfere with the bullet itself. Some bores may develop them sooner than others.

I recently came across a rifle that had the worst carbon ring I've seen. Below are images of the area just ahead of the chamber. The black is carbon deposits (perhaps also lead).

Continued in next post.

 

[grauhanen]

This bore is about three and a half decades old. It has probably seen a lot of shooting. I can only guess as to it's cleaning record but will suggest that it hasn't been cleaned with carbon ring removal in mind.

A common way to deal with an existing carbon ring is to treat it with a carbon remover. I used Bore Tech C4 Carbon Remover. I soaked a bore mop with C4 and put it well into the chamber and beyond. I let it sit for a few hours and then cleaned using a .22LR bronze brush for several passes. I repeated the process.

When I checked the leade area with the borescope, I could see that it was having an effect. The images below are from leade area but not necessarily the same location as the photos shown above.

 

[grauhanen]

I repeated the process again the next day.

 

[grauhanen]

The same process using a C4 soaked bore mop followed by brushing was repeated a number of times. On the following day, after about seven soakings/brushing sessions, the carbon ring was mostly gone.

 

[grauhanen]

Removing this carbon ring was a time consuming process. It's obvious that it's best to never let a carbon ring develop in the first place. That's best done by cleaning soon after shooting. I clean my rifles after every range trip. I use a bronze brush followed up with patches. (I usually clean them at the range as I often have it to myself.) I haven't seen a carbon ring on any of the rifles I shoot regularly.

 

[Sniffer]

Removing this carbon ring was a time consuming process. It's obvious that it's best to never let a carbon ring develop in the first place. That's best done by cleaning soon after shooting. I clean my rifles after every range trip. I use a bronze brush followed up with patches. (I usually clean them at the range as I often have it to myself.) I haven't seen a carbon ring on any of the rifles I shoot regularly.

I clean after every range trip as I believe in staying in front of such issues and like the consistency it brings (I am also kinda OCD about my gear).

It's really not that difficult in bolt guns but what about semis that need disassembly to clean properly?. Quite a bit more involved.

 

[Dave_D]

I cleaned my .22 thinking I was doing it some good. And the groups opened up substantially.
I usually go 1000 rounds or so and clean it. I will be going back to that. Or when accuracy falls off. Before cleaning was getting .3” and less groups consistently. After cleaning I wasn’t happy

 

[Sniffer]

I cleaned my .22 thinking I was doing it some good. And the groups opened up substantially.
I usually go 1000 rounds or so and clean it. I will be going back to that. Or when accuracy falls off. Before cleaning was getting .3” and less groups consistently. After cleaning I wasn’t happy

So more shooting will "fix" it?

Doesn't sound like a problem in that case (but I see your point). And having a barrel that likes to run dirty is kind of a blessing.

It seems barrels all have their own personalities, no two are the same and you need to figure out what works for each.

 

[boxhitch]

but what about semis that need disassembly to clean properly?

My fix is to use a flex-cable type cleaner from the muzzle end and just screw on the tool at the chamber end, same for my leverguns
Can change brush or mop at the chamber, or pull the full length if needed

 

[Buck1950]

If I'm not inclined to 'tear down' my semis, I can clean from the muzzle and connect a Loop-jag and patched inside the 'action port'. I use "Refresh" eye-drop bottles to put tiny drops of C4 or solvents on the patches in the port. Just have to be careful and Not get that into the magazine or trigger assy. The only semis I have left are a Sav-64 and Marlin 60, nothing 'super accurate' to start with. I don't use 'cloth snakes' since they Should be cleaned often since they collect cra*p that I don't want to drag thru my barrels.

 

[Buck1950]

Re the Carbon ring, I clean after Every outing, even for 20-rounds. I use C4 and then 99% Alcohol to 'rinse' out C4 or any other solvent I might have run thru. Last Summer I bought a 90+ year-old Stevens 66 that hadn't been cleaned for a while- no idea how long or how much. I got it down to shiny metal, even the 'railroad tracks' in the grooves were not completely worn off ! Soaked a couple patches with C4 in the chamber, then pulled on thru the bore. And used a brass brush a couple passes to 'get in the corners' of the rifling. Pics before and after of Chamber and bore ->
Before Cleaning -

 

[Buck1950]

PS - The Stevens 66 is bolt-action but needs a fair amount of dis-assembly to get the Bolt out for cleaning from the back. Not close to as easy as a Cooey Took me a lot of research to find out the "How" of this.

 

[Max Owner]

Pursuit of Accuracy (YouTube channel) has done several videos over the years. He shoots PRS matches and NRL 22.

Most times he only cleans his chamber/carbon ring. And recently started using a cordless drill with a nylon brush to clean the carbon ring only.