Removing fouling in the barrel

[Joe D.]

I shot my .50 Omega and I can't seem to get it clean. It looks like there is plastic from the sabot embedded in the rifling of the barrel. I used hopps and cleaned it with a swab. Is it safe to use a bore brush in these barrels without screwing up the rifling?

[rishowl54]

I run a brass brush down mine. I always figured brass is softer then steel. Mine still shoots true.

[Pagrizz]

Are you using triple seven pellets?I seem to have a spot right at the end of where the pellets sit in my omega and encore.Solvent most of the time will take it out , but sometimes I will use a brush .A bronze brush will not hurt the barrel on these guns.How many shots do you take between cleaning it? I find I can not go more than three to keep my groups where I want them.

[Joe D.]

Yes, I'm using trip. 7. I'll try the bronze brush with some solvent and see what happends. Also, I'll try cleaning it more frequently between shots as well.

[BarnesX.308]

I've had the same effect with mine. Just cleaning, cleaning and cleaning some more got rid of it. I'm afraid to run a metal brush down the barrel. Like Joe D said, makes me nervous. :eek:

[Uncle Buck 31]

Joe D. once you get the barrel clean, season it with bore butter. I have never had a fouling problem with my knight ever since I did that, in fact I only clean the barrel with warm soapy water right in the kitchen sink. I swab it dry and re apply a thin coat of bore butter.

[swab1985]

Joe D. once you get the barrel clean, season it with bore butter. I have never had a fouling problem with my knight ever since I did that, in fact I only clean the barrel with warm soapy water right in the kitchen sink. I swab it dry and re apply a thin coat of bore butter.

Blackpowder soap? Or something else?

[rishowl54]

http://www.eabco.com/Muzzleloader04.htm try this site just found it tonight

[Pagrizz]

Blackpowder soap? Or something else?The new powders you can use warm water ,but if you shoot the real black powder [goex] use boiling hot water with a little dish soap.The hot water gets the barrel hot and the water evporate's right away and does not let the barrel rust.

[Pa Poorboy]

I use bore butter also realy helps with less fouling and easier clean up.

[SEMIAUTO]

Load the gun with the powder change only ( no bullet ) and fire it off like your drying the barrel and it'll burn out the plastic,then clean it .

[tpjankowski]

I use a brass brush and it works fire. You may find that this condition will stop after you have shot some more rounds through it. It seems that the machining of these barrels is not what it used to be and they tend to be alittle rough when new.

[Jeremiah Johnson]

Joe D. once you get the barrel clean, season it with bore butter. I have never had a fouling problem with my knight ever since I did that, in fact I only clean the barrel with warm soapy water right in the kitchen sink. I swab it dry and re apply a thin coat of bore butter.

This is what I do as well..

[swab1985]

This is what I do as well..


same here... dont even have to use soap. just warm water works great. I think using soap acts against seasoning the barrel, kinda like cast iron pans

[Rickhem]

The new powders you can use warm water ,but if you shoot the real black powder [goex] use boiling hot water with a little dish soap.The hot water gets the barrel hot and the water evporate's right away and does not let the barrel rust.

This is very good advice. The chemical reaction that takes place when you fire black powder generates organic salts, and that is why the black powder arms are so prone to rusting. The newer powders, the ones without the sulphur, still generate salts, but not as much. Using very, very hot water will not only dissolve the salts, but it also heats up the barrel while you're cleaning it. A patch on a snug fitting jag will act like a pump and let you suck water up into the barrel as you pull out the cleaning rod, then just let it drain back out, and do it again and again. Do that with really hot water and eventually you won't even be able to hold the barrel because it will get so hot. That's also a good thing since any residual moisture will quickly evaporate. Any plastic fouling can be removed with a bronze or brass brush. If you are concerned about damaging the bore with those brushes, then use a nylon brush, they're harder to find, but they do exist. (that said, I use brass and bronze on even my custom centerfire barrels, so I personally don't believe it damages them)

[30Pac]

Use brass brush all day long.

[playinhooky]

Try using 2+2 carburetor cleaner for the plastic wad fouling. Works wonders!

[TRACTOR]

Try thompson/centers cleaning patches they are pre soaked and they work very well for powder and plstic removal you can buy them at dicks sporting goods

[Setterman]

Joe D. once you get the barrel clean, season it with bore butter. I have never had a fouling problem with my knight ever since I did that, in fact I only clean the barrel with warm soapy water right in the kitchen sink. I swab it dry and re apply a thin coat of bore butter.

The same for my Renegade and I've never had a problem. Try not to introduce oils when cleaning a muzzleloader.