Bore Cleaner

[Taciturnicus Letum]

What is the best and most effective bore cleaner for old surplus rifles? I want the inside of that baby to shine.

 

[rangerruck]

I like a foaming cleaner, most guys don't but I prefer to let it do all the work. Think oven cleaners.... then you simply brush the gunk out.

 

[dfariswheel]

Sweet's 7.62 is probably the strongest, but DON'T leave it in the bore any longer then the label says.

A great deep cleaner is JB Bore Paste from Brownell's.
It's a very fine, non-embedding paste that really cleans and polishes a bore as well as is possible.

An old trick is to use Hoppe's #9 bore solvent in a plugged bore.
Buy a chamber plug that really seals the chamber tight, then just fill the barrel with #9 and let soak 24 hours or so.
Don't keep the solvent, it's used up.
#9 is safe to leave in the bore indefinitely.

 

[Bitswap]

+1 on foam cleaners.

Brass brushes never ever french my barrels. Get a Dewey rod and a good jag for your caliber. I use Wipe-out. Once it's conditioned, one spray cleaning and your good to go. Cleans and lubes, no worries.

I've done before and after cleanings with other products. The foam cleaner always does it right the first time.

Then again, you may want copper fouling in your rifling. If that's the case, get Hoppes or Shooters Choice.

If you bought a used gun that has been neglected then nothing better than JB.

IMO, a little fouling is a good thing. I don't think it's a good idea to get it all out. The copper fills minute pores in the metal of the bore and actually helps the bullet speed along. I've known many match shooter that don't clean their barrels till they hit 200 rounds. Over cleaning, especially with a brass brush, and especially from the muzzle end will hurt your barrel.