Rifle bore cleaning

[win22]

So, how do you know when the rifle bore you are cleaning is truly clean? I picked up an older Parker Hale on the EE to fill a gap in my meager collection (a grand old specimen in 7mm I really like), but I cannot seem to get the thing clean. With just a solvent, or a copper solvent, I can get fairly clean patch results, but when I run the brush through it the follow-up patch comes out black. Not blue or green, but black. I have given it ten cleanings each of ten return passes with the Hoppes phosphor bronze brush, but to no avail. Blacker than coal every time on the patch following the brush. Could my brush (brand new) be breaking down and producing the black gunge? I am dipping the brush into the Hoppes No. 9 and brushing the bore. Any insight would be appreciated. Could a barrel be this dirty? If so, how many more passes with the brush will do the trick? Thanks in advance.

woodlotowner

WIPE-OUT Liquid not Foam, and leave in saturated for a couple of days.

 

[Kelly Timoffee]

I just tried a new "method" recommended to me by a member here.

Janitorial strength ammonia.

What I found to work best was a nylon brush , then a patch soaked with ammonia, pushed through once and repeated until clean. Be surprised how well it works.I used brass jags but this showed blue signs of copper and gave me false indications, hence the use of the brush.