Copper problems in .45ACP

[tango2echo]

This post is a follow up to one I started last week on the .45ACP and Power Pistol. I finally found the best load for the Ruger KP90DCO with the Speer TMJ.

Rem Brass
CCI LP
7.9gr Power Pistol
Speer 230 TMJ
COL 1.225

This is a REALLY hot load, but is one of the most accurate I have ever found for this pistol. (All 10 ring at 10 yrds). The problem is that it leaves terrible copper fouling in the bore. I switched to another TMJ style bullet of the same weight and worked the load back up to about the same velocity (980fps), and guess what? Same result. So, my question is, I would like to keep the accuracy and velocity, but loose the fouling. Does anyone know of a round nose, copper bullet that you can shoot above 900fps without copper issues? I also want a bullet that is cost effective, as I shoot the .45acp ALOT (about 300rds a week or more).

Thanks,

t2e

 

[45ACPUSER]

Well, you may well have a bore that needs some fire lapping to allow for less copper fouling! http://www.davidtubb.com/finalfinish.html

 

[JDGray]

Some copper solvent, and a nylon brush will fix the copper fouling. If your not loosing accuracy, I wouldn't sweat it

I don't run my loads that hot (7.0gr PP), but Zero bullets have been working just fine.
http://www.rozedist.com/

 

[jeepmor]

My experience is that a good bore scrubber and a LOT of elbow grease reduced my cleaning time so much that I had more time for reloading.

1. I double patch with a brass jag and bore scrubber until the color does not change.
2. I run several dozen more bore scrubber soaked jags through the barrel.
3. My guns always clean much easier regardless of how much I shoot them each session.
4. Best up front preventive maintenance I've found yet for barrel cleaning, hands down.

If the barrel is really tough, I go with chrome cleaner until the color doesn't change. Abrasive, yet very fine. Turtle wax brand is what I used because it is what I had. My thoughts at the time, chrome polish, yeah, it's fine. However, this is a one time up front thorough cleaning to take the rough edges off, not a ritualistic cleaning routine after every range session. I need to make that clear.

I bought a 45 and just cleaned it with patches and started shooting it. I had copper fouling that wore my arms out scrubbing with the proper ammonia cleaners. Then I tried the steps above once I was copper free. Now my cleaning is literally 10% of that initial work. The difference is night and day in my experience. This is why I now go through this ritual all my guns.

 

[Sport45]

Not to say you don't have a problem, but much of the "copper fouling" I've seen in .45acp was actually the ammonia reacting with a brass jag.

 

[The Bushmaster]

T2E...Just how new is that Ruger KP90DCO? If it relatively new it may just need a few more rounds ran through it to smooth out the "bumps and pot holes" in the barrel. I have noted that in all of my firearms that when new tended to have copper fouling. But after a thousand rounds and cleaning it after every 100 rounds the copper fouling was just a copper smudge in the barrel that cleaned out with one swipe of copper solvent.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

ditto jeepmor. a bore polish will make a difference.

 

[tango2echo]

It's had about 1500 rounds through it, and I clean it thoroughly with Butch's or Shooters Choice. The copper fouling is very visible to the naked eye, and the bore is actually "copper coated" for the first inch and a half. It takes a solid hour to clean it and get it out. My 1911's are the same way with this load, so I don't think it is specific to the gun. I have fired cast lead bullets in this gun, and after 100-200 of those I can fire 3-4 copper jacketed HP's through it which gets rid of 95% of the lead fouling.

 

[Sport45]

My 1911's are the same way with this load, so I don't think it is specific to the gun. I have fired cast lead bullets in this gun, and after 100-200 of those I can fire 3-4 copper jacketed HP's through it which gets rid of 95% of the lead fouling.

I think I'd rather deal with just the lead than lead and copper combined.

If 100-200 rounds of cast is fouling the bore very much I think there's a problem with your load or bullet. You should be able to shoot 500 or more without excessive fouling.

 

[Clarence]

Typically copper fouling doesn't really become an issue until your velocity gets around 3000 FPS.

However, if you have a particularly rough bore it could happen.

In any event Sweets 7.62 will take it out pronto.

 

[DBR]

Try KG12 if you really want to get the copper out:

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/cid=0/k=kg12/t=P/ksubmit=y/Products/All/search=kg12