[DutchmanDick]

I am FINALLY going to get my breechplug wrench from DGW, so I can pull the breechplug on my Nepalese P1853 Enfield. The bore near the muzzle looks like it just has a coat of surface rust, and a patch run down the bore goes in and comes out without catching, so there are no apparent rough spots in the bore. Would naval jelly be OK to use to clean the bore rust out, if it was then cleaned out carefully? Or is there a better way that doesn't call for hours of elbow grease? There's no original finish to speak of left on the gun, so I'm not overly worried about getting naval jelly on the outside of the barrel (and a little cold blue would help blend things in again anyway).

[mtgale00]

The active ingredient in naval jelly is phosphoric acid. Even though the ph is only 1, I'm not sure I would use the stuff in any of my rifles. I would be more inclined to use a hydrogen peroxide based solvent like Sweets 7.62.

[rcmodel]

Bad idea!

Navel Jelly will etch the surface of anything steel you put it on.

It's supposed to etch so battleship gray paint will stick to the steel better.

rcmodel

[dfariswheel]

For a rusted bore JB Bore Paste and Kroil will remove it and will make the bore look as good as possible, WITHOUT doing further damage as other methods will:

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=1159&title=J-B~%20BORE%20COMPOUND%20&%20KROIL

Apply a heavy coat of the Kroil and let soak a day or two to loosen and soften the rust, then use the JB and Kroil to polish the bore.

[Curator]

Try soaking the bore with Kroil and then use Bronze wool wrapped around a nylon bore brush to scrub out the rust. You may need to do this a few times to get it all out. Then use JB or a very mild (600 grit) abrasive on a cloth patch wrapped around a bore brush. Watch the muzzle when using any kind of abrasive.

Bronze wool is available in the paint or boating sections at most good hardware stores in three grades; coarse, medium, and fine. If there is a lot of rust and scale use the coarse. Bronze is softer than steel but harder than rust. It will also take rust off blued surfaces without damaging the bluing and lead out of a fouled bore without damaging the rifling. Cool stuff--we museum guys use it on really valuable artifacts.

[Bartkowski]

Even though the ph is only 1,

If the pH is 1 then isn't it very acidic?

[DutchmanDick]

Would "Chore Boy" copper scouring pads work instead of bronze wool? They're much easier to come by...

[ants]

Naval jelly removes bluing. Instantly.

I know. I did that to a Remington 870 once. Fortunately it was the barrel only.

[dfariswheel]

Would "Chore Boy" copper scouring pads work instead of bronze wool? They're much easier to come by...

Yes.

[plexreticle]

Naval jelly and guns don't mix. It's really not that good of a rust remover and etches anything it touches.

[dclevinger]

+1 for dfarriswheel's reccomendation

I use naval jelly to do selective french gray on my engraving. It will take the bluing off in a heartbeat and will etch most stainless steels as well.

David

[mhinagoya]

It may not actually be rust. I have seen more than one rifle barrel that was heavily plated with bullet jacket material which looked exactly like rust. Before you risk damaging that bore, try some Sweets 7.62 bore cleaner and see if the 'red' color starts to come out as blue. The color blue on the patches is a sign of copper fouling.
If the Sweets doesn't remove anything, then I have to second the recommendation for JB bore paste. Kroil is fantastic stuff, but if you can't find it, try wetting the bore with penetrating oil and letting it sit overnight to soften the rust before you hit it with the JB.