Bore Pics

[mrandig]

Back to the kitchen counter for some cleaning.

If you don't' have one, get a carbon fiber cleaning rod. I also like these disposable pipettes, as it keeps me from getting solvent everywhere. If you buy the pipettes off Amazon, they're like 1000 for $10 USD.



I'm going to use Pro Shot Copper Solvent and JB bore cleaner. The Pro Shot works great; the JB paste is like a fine polish, but gritty enough to remove almost any type of rust, fouling. etc. I'm using VFG pellets, which is basically like a bore mop, along with the JB Paste.

[mrandig]

Two wipes with solvent patches, the we move on to the pellets and JB paste. I'll let the solvent sit in the barrel for about 30-45 minutes, then run the pellets back and forth repeatedly. After that, a final solvent patch and dry patches until clean.

Repeatedly is a very subjective word. In this case, i ran the pellets back and forth about 30 times.



In all, I repeated the entire process above, with solvent wipes, pellets, solvent wipes, and clean wipes, a total of 3 times. My arms are tired.

[mrandig]

Not really a true title.

What happened was I got bored. And tired. I was also becoming concerned at the rate I was going through cleaning supplies. Some of these supplies, particularly the VFG pellets, are in short supply at the moment.



Let's see what it looks like now. Same shots, throat, 1/3 bore, 2/3 bore, muzzle.



Almost looks like a rifle barrel. Unfortunately not a useable rifle barrel. Looks more like an old musket. An old musket that someone found buried in their back yard. Still a very ugly baby.

Kudos however to the Pro Shot Copper Cleaner, JB paste, and the VFG pellets. They did a better job then I was expecting. I suspect I could clean this bore a little more, but I don't think it would ever be enough.

[mrandig]

The indications at the throat almost look like they're a material flaw?

Bump...

Anybody have any thoughts? To me, this looks like a material defect that was inherent to the original steel bar, and then reamed and rifled over. It definitely doesn't look like it came from use, or wear, or the environment.