Carbon build up??

[3rdTennCoC]

Hope this is a good place to post this
I assume this is built up carbon after years of use and someone not cleaning it. I feel like I have done everything since I bought this rifle but it does not seem to be improving well, heres what Ive tried

hoppes no9 bench rest, my normal
jb bore shine
scrubbing like hell with bore size and up from bore size brushes
home made electrochemical cleaning with ammonia and the hoppes
letting it soak for 3 days in the hoppes bench rest then scrubbing
Ive shot and then cleaned like some recommend to no avail.

Any other advice for baked on carbon?

Information

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[Lee Enfield]

your pictures look to me like corrosion and pitting - a so called "dark" bore.

If you want to try to remove carbon, go to your local hardware store and buy CLR -

wet patch with CLR, but do not leave it in for an extended period.

[browningautorifle]

corrosion and pitting

Kind of what I was thinking. With all you've done, it's all that can remain. Yes, I had one exactly like that. Can you get your hands on a borescope for a real look inside?

[Patrick Chadwick]

Unfortunately - yes - that's corrosion and pitting. Using a borescope will only discourage you further.**
And leaving the bore to soak in aggresive chemicals can cause further pitting underneath the hard deposits!

About all you can do is to smooth it out. May I suggest that you take a look at this contribution?

https://www.milsurps.com/showthread....ight=challenge

Otherwise, I can only suggest bore-lapping.

Give the above-mentioned methods a try.

Good luck!
Patrick

** I have an original Winchester 94 in 32-40. An expert with a borescope told me it was scrap and I should pass it on to a collector. I ignored his advice and continued with my methods (see above). It now shoots better than most modern replicas, regardless of how it looks.

[Singer B]

Unfortunately - yes - that's corrosion and pitting. Using a borescope will only discourage you further.**
And leaving the bore to soak in aggresive chemicals can cause further pitting underneath the hard deposits!

About all you can do is to smooth it out. May I suggest that you take a look at this contribution?

https://www.milsurps.com/showthread....ight=challenge

Otherwise, I can only suggest bore-lapping.

Give the above-mentioned methods a try.

Good luck!
Patrick

** I have an original Winchester 94 in 32-40. An expert with a borescope told me it was scrap and I should pass it on to a collector. I ignored his advice and continued with my methods (see above). It now shoots better than most modern replicas, regardless of how it looks.

That's pretty cool but since I am not allowed to have tools, I would let my gunsmith do it!

[browningautorifle]

It now shoots better than most modern replicas, regardless of how it looks.

This part brings us back to past discussions about sh*tty bores shooting magic and perfect bores that wouldn't group sh*t. You can't tell until you get to work. Maybe that's what you could do, shoot it and work it until either success or defeat is proven.

[Patrick Chadwick]

"Maybe that's what you could do, shoot it and work it until either success or defeat is proven."

- Which gives me an idea. Thanks Jim. There are now quite a few lead-free bullets available for hunting in areas where lead is forbidden. Quite expensive, as they are turned from some kind of brass or copper. However, you only need a pack of 20 or so. If you load some rounds with light charges and fill the bullet grooves with lapping paste, you will achieve the same effect as with the two methods described previously. But clean and check the bore after every 5 shots, as you don't want to overdo the lapping. You will never get it to look like a new bore again, but this would remove a lot of crud and take off any rough edges from rust pits.

"...since I am not allowed to have tools..." ??? But you are allowed to have a gun??? Or is this a domestic restriction? Are you allowed to reload? If nothing else is permitted, how about buying some rounds loaded with lead bullets and smearing a touch of lapping paste on the noses before firing. And I really do mean just a smear, not a blob! And real lapping paste, like the NECO 1200 grit, if that is still available.

I did precisely this to recover a neglected bore on an Artillery Luger (LP08). It worked a treat. Clean. 5 rounds with lapping paste. Clean. 5 rounds without paste. Clean and repeat until it looks good enough.

[ssgross]

wet patch with CLR, but do not leave it in for an extended period.

do be careful, CLR works great but will remove bluing and some other finishes (don't ask how in know). When I have a rifle needing CLR, I tilt the bore slightly down, and work from the muzzle end. Keep towel handy and continually dry the muzzle as you patch. It only takes a few minutes for bluing to wear off the crown if you aren't careful.

[Singer B]

"Maybe that's what you could do, shoot it and work it until either success or defeat is proven."

- Which gives me an idea. Thanks Jim. There are now quite a few lead-free bullets available for hunting in areas where lead is forbidden. Quite expensive, as they are turned from some kind of brass or copper. However, you only need a pack of 20 or so. If you load some rounds with light charges and fill the bullet grooves with lapping paste, you will achieve the same effect as with the two methods described previously. But clean and check the bore after every 5 shots, as you don't want to overdo the lapping. You will never get it to look like a new bore again, but this would remove a lot of crud and take off any rough edges from rust pits.

"...since I am not allowed to have tools..." ??? But you are allowed to have a gun??? Or is this a domestic restriction? Are you allowed to reload? If nothing else is permitted, how about buying some rounds loaded with lead bullets and smearing a touch of lapping paste on the noses before firing. And I really do mean just a smear, not a blob! And real lapping paste, like the NECO 1200 grit, if that is still available.

I did precisely this to recover a neglected bore on an Artillery Luger (LP08). It worked a treat. Clean. 5 rounds with lapping paste. Clean. 5 rounds without paste. Clean and repeat until it looks good enough.

Definitely a domestic restriction! I have been told that when I use tools, people get injured and kids learn new words. It's a good thing firearms aren't listed as tools or I would be in big trouble!!

[browningautorifle]

lapping paste,

Maybe, what's he got to lose?