Barnes CR-10 bore cleaning solvent

[getitdone1]

Over the years I've never concerned myself with copper build-up in the bores of my guns. Recently I began shooting some of the all copper Barnes bullets in my 270 Win and they really add to this problem.

I read the instructions on the Barnes CR-10 solvent container and see it requires nylon bore brushes plus extra caution. Is there a solvent that will do the same job but allow the use of brass bore brushes and not be so potentially harmful to wood and metal?

Since I've never shot any one centerfire gun a lot I've gotten by without addressing the copper build-up problem. (Well, other than using Hoppes and brass bore brushes.) I expect if I had shot one of these guns enough the build-up could have led to high, unsafe pressure even when using Hoppes. Is this true?

Is this special copper removing solvent mainly for maintaining accuracy rather than safety in a gun?

Don

[Old Savage]

I never use bore brushes and have rifles with 1000-1500 rounds through them. I use CR 10 and patches. Then I use Shooter's Choice to protect the bore. I used Sweets before but it is messier and I think CR10 works faster to dissolve the copper.

[earlmck]

Like Old Savage says, just use patches with the copper solvents. But my bottle of CR-10 doesn't get much use anymore since I discovered the foaming bore cleaners. And they just like patches, too.
Also I never have noticed increased pressures from super-coppered bores, though you'd certainly expect some pressure rise. Haven't had a lot of experience, but one rifle a friend acquired was so bad it shot terrible "groups" until we hit it with the cleaner (back in my CR-10 days and it required many cycles of soak-set-scrub to get clean). Pressures seemed normal enough from that one even before the cleaning. So from my viewpoint I see this copper-fouling as an accuracy thing rather than a safety thing.

[getitdone1]

Seems there's a dislike for brass bore brushes. Why is that? (I understand why they can't be used with copper solvent.) I can't see how they'd be hard on the bore, even with lots of use. They are much softer than the steel of the bore. Would seem like the brushes would remove fouling the patches could not. I've always used a combination of both and am sure many people do likewise. I like to apply Hoppes twice with brass brush, let set for a while and then use patches. But, I still often see traces of copper after this procedure. Of course that's where the copper solvent would or could come in.

The foaming bore cleaners. Is there one that is best? Are they harmful to wood and even to steel if left "on" too long?

Thanks for your responses.

Don

[Old Savage]

earl - what foaming cleaners?

[earlmck]

Seems there's a dislike for brass bore brushes. Why is that?

Not from me, Don: I use bronze brushes except when going after the copper fouling using copper solvent stuff. Which is not that frequent an event around here.

earl - what foaming cleaners?

I've got a can of Outers "foaming bore cleaner" that has a nice nozzle for getting in the breech end, and I have a can of Brush-Off "brushless bore cleaner" that has a nice nozzle for putting down the muzzle. They seem pretty much identical to me. I try to be careful but that foam really expands and when I get foam on stuff I don't want it on I just wipe it off and haven't seen any detrimental effects to blue, stock finish, etc.

[Pisgah]

The reason you don't use a brass brush with a copper solvent has nothing to do with the bore. The solvent eats brass brushes FAST and will ruin one in about one cleaning.

[getitdone1]

The reason you don't use a brass brush with a copper solvent has nothing to do with the bore. The solvent eats brass brushes FAST and will ruin one in about one cleaning.

Pisgah,

Well....that's what I assumed.

What's your approach for removing copper fouling?

Don

[Pisgah]

The reason you don't use a brass brush with a copper solvent has nothing to do with the bore. The solvent eats brass brushes FAST and will ruin one in about one cleaning.

Pisgah,

Well....that's what I assumed.

What's your approach for removing copper fouling?

Don

Solvent -- mine is Sweet's 7.62, but there are many good ones out there, CR10 included -- and patches. Hoppe's+brushes+patches first for powder fouling; then the copper solvent+patches, repeated until clean.

[Mike D.]

I have been shooting the Barnes TSX bullets for years yet have noticed no CU buildup in the bores of any of my rifles, many of which are in excess of 100 yrs old. What gives?

[roundup]

I've been using the foaming bore cleaner WIPE-OUT. I ordered it through Midway. It works well. I have an old 03 Springfield serial # 80x-xxx which had a terrible build up of copper fouling. I had to let it soak over night for two nights, two seperate applications and it took care of the problem. Only need one cleaning session after that per season. The accuracy on the 03 improved dramatically. In fact it shoots better 5 shot groups at 100 yds than my 700 BDL 7MM rem. Mag. with handloads
and this is with the original barrel.

[Bullard4075]

I've been using the foaming bore cleaner WIPE-OUT. I ordered it through Midway. It works well. I have an old 03 Springfield serial # 80x-xxx which had a terrible build up of copper fouling. I had to let it soak over night for two nights, two seperate applications and it took care of the problem. Only need one cleaning session after that per season. The accuracy on the 03 improved dramatically. In fact it shoots better 5 shot groups at 100 yds than my 700 BDL 7MM rem. Mag. with handloads
and this is with the original barrel.

Agreed !
I also just started using Wipe-Out and my group size shrink has been dramatic.

[buckeyeshooter]

I have been shooting the Barnes TSX bullets for years yet have noticed no CU buildup in the bores of any of my rifles, many of which are in excess of 100 yrs old. What gives?

barnes has done a better job in making bullets that do not foul lately-- the first X bullets fouled pretty badly, the XLC's better and the new ones are pretty good.