Is this lead fouling? Or something else?

[Sniffer]

I stripped my shotgun at the weekend for a clean / inspection.

When I cleaned the barrel what I found was that just after the chamber had some fouling that didnt come off despite lots of brushing / patches.

At first I thought that the chrome type finish on the barrel was peeling off in this area (its not super easy to see as it is down the barrel a ways) so I grabbed my borescope and had a look.

Still not 100% sure but now I think it is lead stuck to the barrel, if that is the case there is a decent amount of it - guessing it is deposited when from shooting slugs? Its real heavy for maybe 3 inches after the end of the chamber and then the rest of the barrel is clean & shiny.

Has anyone else seen this? Any ideas on how to remove it?

 

[I Dont Care About You]

Its plastic from the wads.

 

[MuthaFunk]

No matter if it's lead or plastic you can use the choir boy copper scrub pads to remove it. Just wrap some around the proper gage brush and have at it til it's clean.

I shoot a lot of cast lead and in my early days I'd see leading on a regular basis. I tried many different cleaners that claimed to get the lead out. My experience was nothing worked better or faster than good old mechanical methods.

You have to make sure you get the pure copper pads though as copper is much softer than your barrel and won't damage barrel steel in any way.

 

[Butcherbill]

Its plastic from the wads.

I agree with plastic wad residue, it can be tough to remove. I find the best way is to chuck up a cleaning rod and brass brush in a drill and go at it with some g96 till it’s all removed.

If it’s lead the brass or copper scrub pad as mentioned would be the was to go.

 

[Sniffer]

I agree with plastic wad residue, it can be tough to remove. I find the best way is to chuck up a cleaning rod and brass brush in a drill and go at it with some g96 till it’s all removed.

If it’s lead the brass or copper scrub pad as mentioned would be the was to go.

G96 as in their CLP?

 

[Sniffer]

No matter if it's lead or plastic you can use the choir boy copper scrub pads to remove it. Just wrap some around the proper gage brush and have at it til it's clean.

I shoot a lot of cast lead and in my early days I'd see leading on a regular basis. I tried many different cleaners that claimed to get the lead out. My experience was nothing worked better or faster than good old mechanical methods.

You have to make sure you get the pure copper pads though as copper is much softer than your barrel and won't damage barrel steel in any way.

Thanks for the tip, I have ordered the exact pads mentioned.

 

[Butcherbill]

G96 as in their CLP?

Yes, or use whatever solvent you regularly use. If it’s plastic wad fouling I find some solvent in the mix helps, I’ve never had lead buildup in any of my 12g barrels it’s always been plastic wading.

 

[Sniffer]

Yes, or use whatever solvent you regularly use. If it’s plastic wad fouling I find some solvent in the mix helps, I’ve never had lead buildup in any of my 12g barrels it’s always been plastic wading.

I use G96 CLP so I'm good to go.

 

[cosmic]

Some bore cleaners are specifically designed for shotguns and plastic wad fouling. I have some old Parker Hale product that literally melts the plastic wad residue. I believe this is due to acetone in the mix, perhaps someone can confirm.

 

[Sniffer]

Some bore cleaners are specifically designed for shotguns and plastic wad fouling. I have some old Parker Hale product that literally melts the plastic wad residue. I believe this is due to acetone in the mix, perhaps someone can confirm.

I did a little digging and looks like there is mention specifically of tailored plastic wad removal agents in many shotgun cleaners (Boretech mentions it and Brownells does a liquid or gel cleaner specifically for removing plastic shotgun wads).

I might pick up some but from what the folks here say though elbow grease is the main driver for removal of the stuck on stubborn plastic wadding.

 

[Butcherbill]

I might pick up some but from what the folks here say though elbow grease is the main driver for removal of the stuck on stubborn plastic wadding.

Last time I had to remove it I seem to remember it taking 30-60 min of work with a drill and a brass brush/cleaning rod, including the soak time with the solvent. I hadn’t cleaned that shotgun barrel in a couple seasons of hunting grouse so it was pretty filthy.

 

[Auggie Doggie]

Butch's Bore Shine also works very well to remove wad fouling.

Auggie D.

 

[guntech]

Add some 000 steel wool to that spinning brass brush and the plastic fouling will disappear very quickly...