So based on reading around and out of a desire to see how accurate I can get my Mosins I got into cleaning the barrels more aggresively.
The guys are right. For the little I've shot mine there is simply no way that I could have as much powder and copper fouling as I found in my two rifles.
I worked at the copper fouling over about 2 to 2.5 days each using Hoppes Copper Solvent. Not the best or fastest product by any means but I had some which was given to me so I just kept at it until the patches came out with near zero blue colour after a 4 hour "soak".
Then I went at it with a somewhat worn .357 bore brush. Some regular cleaner and about 20 passes through a barrel which had SEEMED fairly clean produced stuff that seemed almost grease like it was so black and thick. So I kept up with alternately brushing about 20 passes and swabbing out the muck. It took a good half dozen or more repititions of this brush n' flush before patches were coming out with only a slight greying on them.
Things I learned;
Now I look down the bores and the surfaces are smooth and shiney and the rifling is clearly seen for the shape.
Now to get back out shooting and see how it helped.
The guys are right. For the little I've shot mine there is simply no way that I could have as much powder and copper fouling as I found in my two rifles.
I worked at the copper fouling over about 2 to 2.5 days each using Hoppes Copper Solvent. Not the best or fastest product by any means but I had some which was given to me so I just kept at it until the patches came out with near zero blue colour after a 4 hour "soak".
Then I went at it with a somewhat worn .357 bore brush. Some regular cleaner and about 20 passes through a barrel which had SEEMED fairly clean produced stuff that seemed almost grease like it was so black and thick. So I kept up with alternately brushing about 20 passes and swabbing out the muck. It took a good half dozen or more repititions of this brush n' flush before patches were coming out with only a slight greying on them.
Things I learned;
- The oversize brush does a much better job of deep cleaning the stubborn deposits left by time and use in the Mosin.
- Wrapping a cloth patch around the bore brush makes for a really good fitting high pressure "jag".
- Mosin barrels are BADLY fouled under all that cosmoline when we get them.
Now I look down the bores and the surfaces are smooth and shiney and the rifling is clearly seen for the shape.
Now to get back out shooting and see how it helped.
