Remove the copper fouling?

rocklobster

rocklobster

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I have about 80 rounds total through my new Tikka T3 30-06, I broke in barrel the first 20 rounds (first 10 - clean 10X, second 10 clean 3x).

Yesterday I was getting ready for moose hunting and I shot another 40 rounds, I cleaned the barrel lightly after with Hoppes 9, 2 passes with a bronze brush and repeated wet and dry patches until the patches came out clean.

When I look at the rifling lands at the end of the barrel I now see copper fouling. Should I bother cleaning it out now or just forget about it and go moose hunting?

Sorry for the newb type thread I tried searching first...
 
There was probably copper fouling present during the first 20 rounds, but you just didn't notice it. I find that barrels copper foul the most when new, and then the fouling usually diminishes with more use. If the rifle is shooting well, I would leave the copper as is for your moose hunt, and then remove it.
 
how was it grouping? If it starts to open up then clean it, the groups on target will tell you what the barrel needs for cleaning. I will go way out on a limb here but for hunting at normal ranges you should be fine.;)
 
Good to see some one who takes the time to break in a new rifle, most don't. Agree with above, copper was deposited with the first rounds. I do first couple cleanings with JB's just a couple passes, then #9 to remove JB's. I would leave it as is for now and clean it after seasons over.
 
If its shooting, leave it alone. You can take it out for long term storage if it makes you feel better, but don't be too surprised if you have to put the fouling back in before it will shoot again.
 
After your moose hunt I'd recommend hunting down some Wipe Out follow the directions you won't need a brush just patches. Hoppes is good stuff in many ways it drives the babes wild as after shave and its got old school swagger but its a poor copper remover. Wipe out is in another league there's other good metal removers as well I just like the simplicity of using WO. You'll find that your barrel will foul less and less as it gets used more as more and more of the teeny little burs and crevices get smoothed out but what you're seeing is pretty common for a new barrel. Good luck on your hunting trip!
 
Thanks for making me feel better guys, I will get some wipe out after hunting and give it a thorough cleaning.

BTW it is shooting better than I can, which isn't saying much!!
 
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grumpyold said:
Good to see some one who takes the time to break in a new rifle, most don't. Agree with above, copper was deposited with the first rounds. I do first couple cleanings with JB's just a couple passes, then #9 to remove JB's. I would leave it as is for now and clean it after seasons over.
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If you weren't removing the copper during those break in cleanings, you weren't really following the break in as you should have.
 
I never heard of a break in were you shoot 10 rounds then clean .I always clean after every shot till I reach 10 shoots .
 
I'm one that doesn't think there is much of any good to anal break in procedures ie. cleaning after every shot at first. I don't shoot any more than 10 rounds or so without cleaning a new barrel at first it may take longer to achieve the same result this way but I have a few rifles that shoot extremely well following my lazy approach. Maybe I could have turned some half MOA barrels into 1/4 MOA shooters? I dunno but how would I know I can't shoot that well consistently. I even did it this way to a *gasp* target rifle with 26 inch heavy barrel and it prints crazy little groups.
 
rocklobster said:
I was using a brush and Hoppes cleaning solvent. I did not see any copper on the lands until just yesterday.
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I used to use hopes copper remover as well. Didn't do a darn thing. Got some white out and after the first treatment all copper was gone. Tossed all my other cleaners in the garbage after that.
 
hometownhero said:
I used to use hopes copper remover as well. Didn't do a darn thing. Got some white out and after the first treatment all copper was gone. Tossed all my other cleaners in the garbage after that.
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I have heard of many different methods of removing copper, and I have tried a few myself, bit I have never heard of using white out to remove copper.:)
 
Wipe out is OK, but unnecessarily slow, IMHO. I use KG 12 on tough copper, Butch's on all ordinary chores.

Some barrels will shoot their best with a bit of copper visible. Others are best clean.

I just acquired a used rifle. I sent the borescope down the tube.....yikes!! copper as heavy deposits in several places.

So I have been cleaning it up. After several cleaning routines, it is starting to look better.

Still needs some work, though. Dave.
 
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