Removing stubborn black build up from shotgun bore.

Josephfromdowntheroad

Gun: Baikal O/U

I shot alot of clays recently and stupidly left it 3 or so days before I gave the gun a clean with my gun oil and bore snake but after several attempts some stubborn black looking residue continues to stick to inside of barrell.

I'm thinking of ordering a brush cleaning kit instead of snake to be able to give insides more of a consistent brushing I feel the snake is just running through more than anything.

Any recommendations on special oil or anything or anyone else run into this problem and how to solve it?

Thanks

Cass

First off, and not trying to be a dick, bin the snake. They're an "emergency" pull through tool but not a proper cleaning item. Every bit of dirt from the first pull through gets embedded and you're pulling that crap through each time you use it. Plus they have nowhere near the same cleaning ability as a proper kit.

Get a shotgun cleaning kit with proper brushes, jags, and either a single piece or two piece rod. Steer clear of the three piece ones.

As for chemicals. KG 1 is a brilliant carbon remover. Soak a patch and run it through the bore and depending on where it is inside the bore I'd consider spraying it directly onto the carbon stain. Let it sit for a bit (don't work on it immediately, let the chemicals do their job). Aggitate with a nylon brush (try avoid using steel brushes, personal choice of course) then soak again. Finally wipe through with soaked patch. Repeat as necessary until the stain is gone.

One last tip. Keep the bore "wet" for as long as you're cleaning as allowing it to dry or using dry patches will mop up any chemicals that can continue to work.

JP22

+1 with Cass on bore snakes.

Yuch, ugly useless buggers, complete rubbish. They are only fit for the bin.

Josephfromdowntheroad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118017255#Comment_118017255

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118017276#Comment_118017276

Thanks guys great information and will get rid of snake and get proper cleaning kit immediately and see how I get on.

I suspected as much with the bore snake it's just sliding through not exactly doing much.

I will get to it and report back with good news of a shiny bore hopefully.

Cass

You won't go wrong and they're cheap as chips. Between €15 to €30 for a kit and say a tenner for the kg1. Any carbon remover will do, and there are plenty out there, but getting them in Ireland is tricky. Don't go for copper cleaners thinking they'll do, they won't. You need adedicated carbon cleanrr. You can try a motor factors, but be very careful about using such chemicals around your barrels as they may damage yuo're bluing so be careful.

Josephfromdowntheroad

https://www.sportsden.ie/milfoam-forrest-bore-cleaning-foam.html

I couldnt find the KG 1 in Ireland but this seems to have good reviews.

Is this a carbon cleaner aswell?

Cass

Its a general purpose cleaner designed to rmeove both copper and carbon. I've used it before and its quite good. Its not a harsh solvent so you might need to apply it a couple of times. A tip would be to remove the barrels of the shotgun, plug the end of them, then use the foam. Take care the foam does not spew up over the top and run down the outside (protect the bluing just in case) then leave them to sit, standing vertically.

clivej

Try car break and clutch cleaner, great for removing carbon

J.R.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118017294#Comment_118017294

I wouldn't get rid of the snakebore.

I have one in a pocket on the side of my shooting bag.

Each day when I finish shooting and return to the car I run the snake bore through the barrel a few times.

It removed all the heavy fouling and lots of the dirt immediately, while fresh.

When I get home sometime later (could be a few hours) I clean the gun properly with a brush, rod and jags...easy and quick to clean then as most of the heavy stuff has already been removed by the snake bore and had not been allowed to soak in and harden.

JP22

Good man JR, cleaning immediately after shooting while barrel is slightly warm makes a thorough cleaning later on real easy. Cleaning 101, I learnt that lesson over 35 years in Defence Forces.

However, IMHO the big mistake is using a bore snake unless you also clean it thoroughly. Bore snakes are fine for shotguns but I would never ever use one in a high end accurate rifle or any rifle for that matter.

Over time the snake soaks up crud (unburnt powder/chemicals/oils etc) and all this soaks into the snake. I have seen some so bad they felt like sandpaper, I doubt anyone would pull sandpaper through their barrel.

By all means clean, but please dump the snake in the bin and use a rod or old fashioned pull-through with brushes/patches.

We all have our bug-bears; bore snakes (useless buggers) are one of mine.