Talk to me about powder residue in the barrel

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#1 Post by **mag41uk** » Sun Apr 05, 2015 9:58 am

As I was cleaning my rifles I noticed that my 260 takes many patches to come out clean.
The first few are blacker than a black thing.
I use a bronze brush followed by 009 on a couple of patches.
Then put through a clean patch then use Ballistol on a patch which I leave for half an hour then further patches etc.
This is the recommended way by Ballistol.
I use Viht powders in particular N160 in the 260.
Assuming that the black on the patches is powder residue how does this affect the barrel with bullets passing over it?

Tony

#2 Post by **dromia** » Sun Apr 05, 2015 10:01 am

whoowhoop · #3 Post by **whoowhoop** » Sun Apr 05, 2015 4:08 pm

#4 Post by **ovenpaa** » Tue Apr 07, 2015 9:16 am

Tony, the residue is probably carbon and the more you shoot over it the harder it gets to remove it. I have spent many hours on the first clean of barrels to remove carbon and copper fouling however once they clean the condition is fairly easy to maintain. One truly grim example is the crown of a barrel which has had a muzzle brake fitted and not removed for cleaning, the crown develops a layer of burnt on carbon that is very difficult to remove.

#5 Post by **mag41uk** » Wed Apr 08, 2015 2:47 pm

Thanks for the relies chaps.
My cleaning regime I am happy with!
My concern is the effect of the bullet riding over carbon fouling in the barrel.
I used to use Vectan Tubal 3000 and 5000 and didn't notice the patches being that black.
I went round the Firepower museum in Gosport on Monday which is all to do with making BIG ammo for the Navy.
There was an item about bore wear due to powder fouling.
It is called scouring.

#6 Post by **meles meles** » Wed Apr 08, 2015 7:44 pm

Is the black stuff actually carbon, or something else?

If it's truly carbon then its going to be one of a number of allotropes: either soft and lubricating ( like graphite ), soft but not particularly harmful ( simple carbon), hard and abrasive (diamond) or plain weird (fullerenes). The only form that we think might cause problems regarding wear would be diamond - though if you are producing diamonds as you shoot then you'll be able to afford a new barrel.

The carbon won't be present as an oxide as those of carbon are gases, so if it isn't pure carbon then it will be a complex carbon compound. Anyone know?

#7 Post by **dromia** » Wed Apr 08, 2015 7:46 pm

Looks like a lot of hot air to me.

Gaz · #8 Post by **Gaz** » Wed Apr 08, 2015 10:31 pm

Winchester MSDS for primers: http://www.winchester.com/SiteCollectio ... DS_w63.pdf
MSDS for ball powder propellant: http://www.winchester.com/SiteCollectio ... DS_w64.pdf

Do they help? Lots of technomagical gubbins I don't understand at this time of day. Full list of MSDSes here: http://www.winchester.com/learning-cent ... heets.aspx

The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Talk to me about powder residue in the barrel

Talk to me about powder residue in the barrel

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