Copper fouling a good thing?

[Marcos Rodriguez]

If I must share a comment here, firstly during hunting season i only clean my barrels with good old Hopes No .9 and after hunting season I remove all the copper out of the barrels with a proper copper cutter and then i run a patch through all my barrels so as to leave a thin layer of oil in the barrels as a conditioner just to protect against corrosion.

If I remove all the copper during hunting season, I notice that my group open up quiet a bit, so I have stuck to the method above and never had a problem

I wonder this is an effect of copper in the barrels wich many shooters and hunters have observed as you explain!
Your method is right! the best way if the rifle works in a season, and then remains innactive!... In my case, i use the rifle in a permanent way! this is because I clean it after 20 or 30 shots...

 

[dsmerrills]

I wonder this is an effect of copper in the barrels wich many shooters and hunters have observed as you explain!
Your method is right! the best way if the rifle works in a season, and then remains innactive!... In my case, i use the rifle in a permanent way! this is because I clean it after 20 or 30 shots...

Nothing wrong with your method bud!

 

[lcq]

A very senior military armorer once told be there is a fierce debate about copper in a bore. Some feel that it fills in micro holes and cracks the other camp says it doesn't matter. AFAIK there has been no controlled studies. Empirical evidence with your gun is the only solution.


Rider "copper buildup within reason that is"

 

[matt85]

i see it this way, in the case of a new gun. you should clean all the copper out after each use. spots in your barrel that collect copper are rough spots and in order to smooth out these rough spots you need to have bullets pass over them. if you leave copper on the rough spots then they will never smooth down since they are being protected by the layer of copper.

I can tell you from personal experience that if you clean the copper out each time from a new barrel it will get easier and easier to clean the copper out. my CZ 550 collected copper like crazy and took a large amount of scrubbing to get clean in the beginning. now hundreds of rounds later it collects much less copper and cleans out very easily with very little effort.

-matt

 

[IdaRam]

Agree with matt My experience as well. My STW collected copper like crazy to begin with, but with repeated thorough cleaning and shooting it collects a lot less copper now.

 

[Red Leg]

A very senior military armorer once told be there is a fierce debate about copper in a bore. Some feel that it fills in micro holes and cracks the other camp says it doesn't matter. AFAIK there has been no controlled studies. Empirical evidence with your gun is the only solution.


Rider "copper buildup within reason that is"

I really do think that each barrel is different. Your comments about the debate in the military is exactly correct. I personally believe that most barrels build up a certain level of "fouling" which in effect fills in flaws in the barrel. Some continue to build fouling to a point of inaccuracy but the vast majority that I have owned seem to plateau at what is often the peak accuracy of the rifle. I rarely have any need to scour a barrel once this accuracy level is reached. If it is being shot a bit or carried in weather, a couple of passes with balistoil (miracle product) does the trick. I'll take my S2 and the two sets of barrels I am taking to Moz out to the range this weekend for a couple of shots to ensure they are dry and ready for departure on the 14th. Unless they get wet, I won't run a patch down them again until I get back.

 

[lcq]

I really do think that each barrel is different. Your comments about the debate in the military is exactly correct. I personally believe that most barrels build up a certain level of "fouling" which in effect fills in flaws in the barrel. Some continue to build fouling to a point of inaccuracy but the vast majority that I have owned seem to plateau at what is often the peak accuracy of the rifle. I rarely have any need to scour a barrel once this accuracy level is reached. If it is being shot a bit or carried in weather, a couple of passes with balistoil (miracle product) does the trick. I'll take my S2 and the two sets of barrels I am taking to Moz out to the range this weekend for a couple of shots to ensure they are dry and ready for departure on the 14th. Unless they get wet, I won't run a patch down them again until I get back.

If I am forced to use a one product for everything eezox is my choice.

 

[Brett Becker]

I was told by our distributor for Merkel here in Australia that I needed to shoot at least 200 rounds through my 450/400 without cleaning it what so ever to get it to regulate properly. After putting 200 rounds through it I still had to send it back for them to try and get it to regulate properly, didn't make it shoot any better. Oh by the way that was a couple of months ago and still haven't got the rifle back. Hoping that they won't have to send it back to Germany as that could mean I won't see it for a year or two

 

[CAustin]

Phoenix Phil I agree with you. Once I start shooting my 300 win mag at the start of the deer season shooting once or twice a week it doesn't get cleaned until season is over.

 

[35bore]

Guess I follow the fouling shot theory. During the shooting session prior to hunting season, all I do is use a bore snake to get the carbon out and leave some of the copper. As has been previously mentioned, and if you know one, ask. Most military snipers will always do some fouling shots before hitting the field.

 

[lcq]

Guess I follow the fouling shot theory. During the shooting session prior to hunting season, all I do is use a bore snake to get the carbon out and leave some of the copper. As has been previously mentioned, and if you know one, ask. Most military snipers will always do some fouling shots before hitting the field.

That would be my choice when hunting away from home

 

[JTEX]

Typically rough barrels shoot better with some fouling. Smooth barrels typically shoot better clean. I know we ain't needing "benchrest" accuracy but they clean between every realy and they do shoot "fairly" accurately. Generally every rifle even a lapped custom does best after a couple or three foulers after a thourogh cleaning.

 

[Marcos Rodriguez]

Typically rough barrels shoot better with some fouling. Smooth barrels typically shoot better clean. I know we ain't needing "benchrest" accuracy but they clean between every realy and they do shoot "fairly" accurately. Generally every rifle even a lapped custom does best after a couple or three foulers after a thourogh cleaning.

EXACTLY!!! You hit the point!... The "mirror barrels" don´t need the fouling to hit properly!
My guns have the lapping threatment and a molybdene disulphure impregnant too

 

[Russ Tippett]

Dan Lilja addressed this in a paper on his web site. Quite a good read. He provides an explanation of why both copper deposition and over cleaning are bad. He provides his rationale for a proper barrel break-in as well as why you likely need to do it again if you over clean.