Remove leading with a chore boy

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Jbird45

Jbird45

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I have been suggested multiple times to remove leading with a copper chore boy to remove leading in my .45-70. it's a stainless Marlin. I haven't worked up the courage to do it yet.

Is there any potentially harmful things I could do to my rifle by doing this? I made sure to get the all copper and not copper coated steel. Would some lead remover help as well?

Thanks for the advice!
 
I have never seen or heard of damage to any bore from Chore Boy. I cannot see how copper wool could ever damage a bore. I personally have even used 0000 steel wool without harm.

I have not used any of it in conjunction with lead solvent. It is unnecessary - but I don't see how it could hurt, either. Of course, it would be a fine idea to ensure that the solvent doesn't have anything in it designed to attack copper as well.
 
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Bullets are frequently made from copper and even brass/bronze and you drive those through that barrel at thousands of feet per second pushed by very high pressure very hot propellant gases and that never damage the barrel. Wrapping a little copper Choirboy around an old brush is not going to hurt your barrel at all. It's going to make your barrel better by quickly and easily getting that lead build up out of your barrel.

Use without worry. :thumbup:
 
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mcb said:
Bullet are frequently made from copper and even brass/bronze and you drive those through that barrel at thousands of feet per second pushed by very high pressure very hot propellant gases and that never damage the barrel. Wrapping a little copper Choirboy around an old brush is not going to hurt your barrel at all. It's going to make your barrel better by quickly and easily getting that lead build up out of your barrel.

Use without worry. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

When you put it that way you are absolutely right. I guess I have read too much jabber from gun magazines and forums about cleaning guns that I was overly cautious
 
.38 Special said:
I have never seen or heard of damage to any bore from Chore Boy. I cannot see how copper wool could ever damage a bore. I personally have even used 0000 steel wool without harm.

I have not used any of it in conjunction with lead solvent. It is unnecessary - but I don't see how it could hurt, either. Of course, it would be a fine idea to ensure that the solvent doesn't have anything in it designed to attack copper as well.
Click to expand...

I used a copper brush once dipped in lead remover and it just turned it kinda black. Not sure if it was attacking the copper or just crud from the barrel. But I will hold off on using it
 
Use it for both Wadcutter leading in the .357 Mag., as well as heavy fouling in other firearms like Glocks when using dirty ammo.

1. Brass jag.
2. Make a patch out of folded kitchen paper towel that fits snug, but not tight.
3. Lube with solvent or grease, and run it down the bore.

4. Cut the end off a chore-boy with shears/cutters.
5. Unroll the expanded copper cloth.
6. Cut a generous patch (for the bore)

7. Drape the expanded copper cloth patch over the end of the jag'ed patch.
8. Lube and scrub.
9. Dry jag'ed patch to clean.
10. Repeat 'till clean.




GR
 
Jbird45 said:
I have been suggested multiple times to remove leading with a copper chore boy to remove leading in my .45-70. it's a stainless Marlin. I haven't worked up the courage to do it yet.

Is there any potentially harmful things I could do to my rifle by doing this? I made sure to get the all copper and not copper coated steel. Would some lead remover help as well?

Thanks for the advice!
Click to expand...

I too have a Marlin SBL (REP) and it is a great shooter, accurate and reliable to a fault. It has only seen maybe 20 jacketed bullets when I first bought it and decided I did not like the snap of the Hornady stuff. I use HMS Cowboy 405 grain at 1300 FPS, HMS Bear Load 430 grain for hogs and deer and BB 430 grain for bear protection and I load MBC 405 grain bullets over Trail Boss for 850 FPS plinking loads. I am somewhere north of 1,000 rounds down range and I have used the Chore By wrapped over an old bronze brush exactly once. My barrel does not seem to lead enough to warrant more frequent cleaning. I guess I am asking, what makes you think it is leaded up? BTW, my REP Marlin SBL will cloverleaf at 50 yards off bags, are your rifle groups opening up?
 
mcb said:
Bullet are frequently made from copper and even brass/bronze and you drive those through that barrel at thousands of feet per second pushed by very high pressure very hot propellant gases and that never damage the barrel. Wrapping a little copper Choirboy around an old brush is not going to hurt your barrel at all. It's going to make your barrel better by quickly and easily getting that lead build up out of your barrel.

Use without worry. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Thank you, my friend! Really is a bit of common sense here. Gun barrels face copper, bronze & even steel jacketed bullets, up to 65K PSI pressures & 3,000F flame front temps.... Thousands, & Thousands of times before any discernible wear occurs. Which starts as simple throat erosion. ALL that and some erosion that can typically be turned, bring accuracy right back!

Why do we continue to worry that a bronze brush or solvent is going to somehow MELT the rifling out or something? LOL!:rofl:
 
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3Crows said:
I too have a Marlin SBL (REP) and it is a great shooter, accurate and reliable to a fault. It has only seen maybe 20 jacketed bullets when I first bought it and decided I did not like the snap of the Hornady stuff. I use HMS Cowboy 405 grain at 1300 FPS, HMS Bear Load 430 grain for hogs and deer and BB 430 grain for bear protection and I load MBC 405 grain bullets over Trail Boss for 850 FPS plinking loads. I am somewhere north of 1,000 rounds down range and I have used the Chore By wrapped over an old bronze brush exactly once. My barrel does not seem to lead enough to warrant more frequent cleaning. I guess I am asking, what makes you think it is leaded up? BTW, my REP Marlin SBL will cloverleaf at 50 yards off bags, are your rifle groups opening up?
Click to expand...

There is a small build up of something about a 1/2" into the bore and it doesn't shoot very tight groups right now. I was shoot HSM cowboy loads but found those aren't very accurate. I have mainly been feeding it the HSM bear loads and that has helped accuracy.

I can only assume the little build up is lead and my normal brush won't take it out. So I was going to try the chore boy trick.

I only have 100 rounds through it so far
 
David Hoback said:
Thank you, my friend! Really is a bit of common sense here. Gun barrels face copper, bronze & even steel jacketed bullets, up to 65K PSI pressures & 3,000F flame front temps.... Thousands, & Thousands of times before any discernible wear occurs. Which starts as simple throat erosion. ALL that and some erosion that can typically be turned, bring accuracy right back!

Why do we continue to worry that a bronze brush or solvent is going to somehow MELT the rifling out or something? LOL!:rofl:
Click to expand...

It took me some time to save up for this gun. And it's the first rifle I brought brand new. Before I run something abrasive down the barrel I just want to be certain I am doing it properly. Sorry if it was a stupid question.
 
Jbird45 said:
It took me some time to save up for this gun. And it's the first rifle I brought brand new. Before I run something abrasive down the barrel I just want to be certain I am doing it properly. Sorry if it was a stupid question.
Click to expand...

Nobody was poking fun at you. Your question is good and you have gotten earnest answers. The Chore Boy will be fine. I would remove the bolt and push the rod from rear to front.

If there was ever a rifle/round that deserved home loading, it is the 45-70. No need to punish yourself with Bear Loads. The HMS Cowboy is not a target round, but it is fun to shoot and still thumps good and is a fairly authentic load, 405 grains at 1300 FPS, it will knock a pig over. I can ring my 10 or 12 inch inch gong at 100 yards over and over. At 50 yards it wraps it over the support. Bear Loads have knocked it off.

Enjoy your Marlin SBL. :) I love mine, it has a WWG Happy Trigger, WWG Bear Claw extractor, WWG follower, RPP take down screw and Burris 2.75X Scout scope on Warne QR rings so I can have quick access to the open sights and a Galco butt sleeve. Here it is:

IMG-4154.jpg
 
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Jbird45 said:
It took me some time to save up for this gun. And it's the first rifle I brought brand new. Before I run something abrasive down the barrel I just want to be certain I am doing it properly. Sorry if it was a stupid question.
Click to expand...

No, not at all Jbird. I’m sorry you took it like that. If you read my reply again, in the last part I wrote “Why do WE worry”... hence I was including myself. It’s not a YOU thing.... it’s a shooters thing. We ALL think about it at some point or another in our shooting careers. :D

Sorry you thought I was singling you out. I wasn’t.:)

Oh.. enjoy that Lever Thumper! Great rifle! I still love 45-70!
 
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3Crows said:
Nobody was poking fun at you. Your question is good and you have gotten earnest answers. The Chore Boy will be fine. I would remove the bolt and push the rod from rear to front.

If there was ever a rifle/round that deserved home loading, it is the 45-70. No need to punish yourself with Bear Loads. The HMS Cowboy is not a target round, but it is fun to shoot and still thumps good and is a fairly authentic load, 405 grains at 1300 FPS, it will knock a pig over. I can ring my 10 or 12 inch inch gong at 100 yards over and over. At 50 yards it wraps it over the support. Bear Loads have knocked it off.

Enjoy your Marlin SBL. :) I love mine, it has a WWG Happy Trigger, WWG Bear Claw extractor, WWG follower, RPP take down screw and Burris 2.75X Scout scope on Warne QR rings so I can have quick access to the open sights and a Galco butt sleeve. Here it is:

View attachment 938032
Click to expand...

That is a beautiful rig. Where did you get the stock cuff? I love the leather. I shoot mine with the open sights it came with. And I was going to try an act manly but those bear loads pack a wallop lol. I shot a dozen this weekend and it went back in the case. When you go through a mag of those you definitely know you were shooting something. I haven't tried buffalo bore yet but I can imagine those kick even harder.

But hey, it's fun getting knocked around every once in a while right? I have thought about doing the WWG trigger and extractor and a RPP loading gate upgrade, buy haven't bought any parts yet.
 
Oh yeah! Those Buffalo Bore 405gr loads. Just over 2000fps and 3600ft.lbs... Thats a stiff shot o’ bourbon!;)
 
David Hoback said:
No, not at all Jbird. I’m sorry you took it like that. If you read my reply again, in the last part I wrote “Why do WE worry”... hence I was including myself. It’s not a YOU thing.... it’s a shooters thing. We ALL think about it at some point or another in our shooting careers. :D

Sorry you thought I was singling you out. I wasn’t.:)

Oh.. enjoy that Lever Thumper! Great rifle! I still love 45-70!
Click to expand...

Sorry I should have reread your response. And rephrased my response. My mistake. No hard feelings.

I worry way to much about barrel wear and throat erosion sometimes. I drive myself nuts.

But I am going to get it in the cradle and work on it tonight. Thanks for the advice!
 
Nah... none at all. Like I said... we ALL think about it from time time. Either with a new, expensive gun.... Or a new custom barrel we’ve been wanting.. LOL! The “common sense” of how tuff 4140, 4150 Chrom-moly or 416R Stainless really is just isn’t thought about in some of those instances.
 
Jbird45 said:
It took me some time to save up for this gun. And it's the first rifle I brought brand new. Before I run something abrasive down the barrel I just want to be certain I am doing it properly. Sorry if it was a stupid question.
Click to expand...

Not a stupid question at all but make sure it is 100% copper and not the chicom copper coated steel that is out there. If in doubt have a magnet with you when buying it.
 
Well that was way easier than I thought it would be. The hardest part was cutting the chore boy apart. 2 passes up and down and the problem area is completely gone. No lead.

I even found an old brush that I can keep wrapped up so if I have leading again in the future all I have to do is screw it on.

Thanks everyone!
 

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Jbird45 said:
That is a beautiful rig. Where did you get the stock cuff? I love the leather. I shoot mine with the open sights it came with. And I was going to try an act manly but those bear loads pack a wallop lol. I shot a dozen this weekend and it went back in the case. When you go through a mag of those you definitely know you were shooting something. I haven't tried buffalo bore yet but I can imagine those kick even harder.

But hey, it's fun getting knocked around every once in a while right? I have thought about doing the WWG trigger and extractor and a RPP loading gate upgrade, buy haven't bought any parts yet.
Click to expand...

Congrats on the new gun my friend! I use chore boy over a cleaning patch pushed through with a dowel and that works good too.
 
Jbird45 said:
That is a beautiful rig. Where did you get the stock cuff? I love the leather. I shoot mine with the open sights it came with. And I was going to try an act manly but those bear loads pack a wallop lol. I shot a dozen this weekend and it went back in the case. When you go through a mag of those you definitely know you were shooting something. I haven't tried buffalo bore yet but I can imagine those kick even harder.

But hey, it's fun getting knocked around every once in a while right? I have thought about doing the WWG trigger and extractor and a RPP loading gate upgrade, buy haven't bought any parts yet.
Click to expand...

The leather cuff is a Galco but there are several custom leather shops that can make similar or better. Use google search and several custom shops should show up.

https://www.galcogunleather.com/butt-cuff_8_12_1041.html

The trigger is a big improvement, either the WWG or the RPP version get rid of the trigger flop and have better feel. As to the WWG Bear Claw ejector, well, the standard ejector is a two piece affair that is not exactly known to fail but I have seen one fail on a older SBL, the WWG part is a single piece ejector.

The Buffalo Bore stuff, that is way too strong for anything but brown bear protection, it is no fun to shoot at all. The HMS Bear Load is a good bit milder than full on Buffalo Bore or Garret and is tolerable for a hunting round. As to a scope, vs the open sights, I have both, the beauty of quick release Warne mounts and since I have an eye problem a scope is pretty much a necessity for me.

Glad to hear that the Chore Boy pad was able to remove the buildup easily for you.
 
3Crows said:
The Buffalo Bore stuff, that is way too strong for anything but brown bear protection, it is no fun to shoot at all. The HMS Bear Load is a good bit milder than full on Buffalo Bore or Garret and is tolerable for a hunting round.
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You are aware that some people get a kick out of shooting more powerful loads, yes?
 
David Hoback said:
You are aware that some people get a kick out of shooting more powerful loads, yes?
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So I have heard, I do too in moderation but BB ammo is expensive and I think I have six boxes of the 430 Grain +P that I bought before heading to Alaska a couple of years ago. I ran a box through to make sure the gun would function reliably with the ammo. The 430 grain HMS Bear Load is still plenty strong and I have been working a similar load on my bench. It will be fun enough and a useful hunting result. I will save the BB for trips where lever gun maximum power ammo could be needed.
 
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