Copper solvent issue (help please)

Status
Not open for further replies.
D

DK65

Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2008
Messages
3
I use Sweet's 7.62 as a copper solvent. On every rifle I've got (5) it works great - except one. I recently picked up a Rem. VTR .223, and it's been a great rifle - except one thing.

When I clean it, no copper comes out. Zero. Normally (with the other rifles) I'll get one round of Sweet's where the swab will come out bright blue, next round will be very light blue, third round will be clean as a whistle.

I have got ZERO blue color out of the VTR .223 - and I've tried at least 5 rounds of the Sweet's.

What's going on?
 
Fouling comes out - but it's all black and sooty.

My procedure is:

1) Patch back and forth a couple times with Hoppe's 9 (regular stuff - just powder solvent). Usually get a couple rounds of patches coming out black - eventually they're clean.

2) Phosphor bronze brush.

3) More Hoppe's 9 (to clean out the crap loosened by the brush). Tons of junk comes out in this step - all black fouling.

4) Dry patch.

5) Sweet's.

6) Hoppe's 9.

7) Dry patch.

8) Oil.

Works great on everything else I own... but usually on the Sweet's step, I get some copper fouling out (turns the Sweets bright blue). I have not had the Sweets turn blue yet with this VTR.

???

All help appreciated...
 
DK65 said:
Fouling comes out - but it's all black and sooty.
Click to expand...

That's not fouling, that's powder residue and it's normal. As for the lack of copper in the barrel, I have exactly the same "problem" as you on two of my rifles when I use Sweet's 7.62 ... I'm thinking about sending the barrels back to Krieger since they're obviously defective. :p

:)
 
10-4.

Relatively new to rifle shooting (still - only been at it for about two years). I knew the black residue was powder... but I've never had a rifle that didn't copper foul.

I've never seen a barrel that didn't copper foul - I didn't know that it was possible!

I guess I'll just keep the powder residue clean, and keep on shooting golf balls @ 200... which is my new favorite hobby with this rifle...

Thanks for the input.
 
Try a different copper solvent like Gunslick foaming bore cleaner. I don't know if it's certain copper alloys or what, but I've have some barrels that my copper solvents wouldn't clean. All copper solvents work a little differently and will usually clean what copper a different brand leaves behind. Just don't mix them in the bore. Clean the first one out with brake cleaner/gun scrubber before using the new cu solvent.

Sweet's will also loose it's effectiveness as it ages. The ammonia will evaporate through the plastic and top to a degree. My bottle isn't nearly as potent as it was when new.
 
If you have a bolt action just plug the muzzle and our household ammonia cleaner down the bore and fill it up to the top. Let it sit for 10 minutes then run some patches soaked in the cleaner and repeat if necessary. Then allow to dry clean as normal with your CLP or whatever. I bet there will be more ammonia cleaner then in your gun products especially if they have been sitting around for a while.
 
you worry too much. The rifling on 223 is so shallow that your Hoppes and brushes get the stuff out. I don't use Sweets on my 223 , just because it's a SS, but Gunslick foaming bore cleaner comes out barely blue and sometimes no blue at all. Most of the times I just use Ezox and a few patches is all it needs.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top