Imr 4350?

jasonc84 · February 28, 2005, 04:43 PM

I started loading (for my .270) a 150 gr. Nosler Balistic Tip and 51.8 gr. of IMR 4350. The Nosler manual said 52.0 gr. of H 4350 is the most accurate.
My load would shoot .65" 3 shot groups, i was pleased. After about 20 to 30 shots over a period of 6 months i noticed a lot of powder and copper fouling. It didn't gradually get bad it got bad fast after those 20 to 30 shots. I can clean the barrell as clean as it can get and after one shot, there is A LOT of copper and powder fouling. At first it didn't do that. It isn't as accurate now. Could the powder be bad? And is H 4350 any better than IMR 4350? Any other suggestions?

Thanks

Leftoverdj · February 28, 2005, 05:35 PM

Whatcha cleaning with? Copper fouling is not necessarily visible. My guess is that there is enough residual copper fouling to greatly accelerate the process.

Do your regular cleaning process and follow up with Sweets. It's ammonia based and chemically reacts with copper. Patch will come out green if there is any remaining copper.

Ackley Improved User · February 28, 2005, 07:00 PM

Best copper remover I've come across is BORE FOAM cleaner by Gunslick - better than the other stuff. Give it a try, then shoot for groups.

HankL · February 28, 2005, 07:23 PM

Jason, It might just be that you are going over max by around a grain of powder. IMR & H are not identical even in 4350.

Copper fouling tends to build up faster the quicker you push the loads down the barrel and you are pushing pretty quick. You are going to need to REALLY clean your bore and reduce your load a little.

Welcome aboard as well.

Hank

bill k · February 28, 2005, 07:26 PM

I finally found Gunslick's foaming bore cleaner today and used it. I've been using IMR 4350 with nosler accubond bullets in my 300 and my accuracy has been inconsistant at best. Last night I ran at least 50 patches with isso bore cleaner and outers solvent. I thought I had it clean but when I put the foam in the barrel today the foam turned bright blue meaning copper residue. I'll shoot it tomorrow and let you know if copper build-up was my problem.

jasonc84 · March 1, 2005, 10:30 AM

Thanks for the reply's. I was doing regular cleaning during this time with Birchwood Casey Copper Remover. And i did try to reduce the load 2 grains but I didn't see any difference in the fouling. And accuracy went down the drain. Can you find that "Gunslick's Bore Foam" anywhere?
I'm thinking there is still copper in the barrel after I clean, speeding up the proccess like you said. The reason i thought it might be the powder is because I left the top off of the powder for 3 or 4 hours one day and thought it got moisture in it. But I keep it in a dry place so....

bill k · March 1, 2005, 10:51 AM

The only place I found it was Wally World and ours just got it in. I bought the first two cans in the display.. I checked the internet, local sporting goods store, and all our firearm shops and wasn't able to find it there.

jasonc84 · March 1, 2005, 11:46 AM

I'll check in our Wal-Mart and see if they have it.
Another thing, i could clean the barrel so that it looked powder and copper free and shoot it once and it would be filthy. I can see the copper build-up at the end of the barrel and tons of powder in the barrel.

bill k · March 1, 2005, 01:48 PM

I'm back from the range. Like the absent minded person I am I forgot my 300 ammo so no report on that. However my groups on my 7mm mag went from .7" last trip to .54" this trip. After 9 rounds my groups began to open up to the 1" range
I didn't notice any change in my 22-250 from last trip to this trip. This is after using the foaming bore cleaner on both. I think it helped my 7 mag quite a bit.

jasonc84 · March 1, 2005, 02:16 PM

How far does that Bore Foam go? Does it take alot to fill the barrel?

bill k · March 1, 2005, 02:43 PM

If you're not carefull it shoots across the room and will hit you wife as I found out. Just a short 1 second burst and it comes out the barrel. I put a rag over the end of the barrel now to stop the mess. Cleaning a rifle takes me minutes instead of an hour.

jasonc84 · March 1, 2005, 04:33 PM

How many times do you have to fill the barrel with that stuff to get it clean?

Tim R · March 1, 2005, 09:01 PM

JB's bore paste also makes for short work on cleaning copper.

February 28, 2005, 04:43 PM	#1
jasonc84 Member Join Date: February 28, 2005 Posts: 35	Imr 4350? I started loading (for my .270) a 150 gr. Nosler Balistic Tip and 51.8 gr. of IMR 4350. The Nosler manual said 52.0 gr. of H 4350 is the most accurate. My load would shoot .65" 3 shot groups, i was pleased. After about 20 to 30 shots over a period of 6 months i noticed a lot of powder and copper fouling. It didn't gradually get bad it got bad fast after those 20 to 30 shots. I can clean the barrell as clean as it can get and after one shot, there is A LOT of copper and powder fouling. At first it didn't do that. It isn't as accurate now. Could the powder be bad? And is H 4350 any better than IMR 4350? Any other suggestions? Thanks

February 28, 2005, 07:00 PM	#3
Ackley Improved User Member Join Date: January 31, 2005 Posts: 56	Try BORE FOAM by Gunslick! Best copper remover I've come across is BORE FOAM cleaner by Gunslick - better than the other stuff. Give it a try, then shoot for groups.

February 28, 2005, 07:26 PM	#5
bill k Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 2004 Location: Dog Creek, CA Posts: 457	I finally found Gunslick's foaming bore cleaner today and used it. I've been using IMR 4350 with nosler accubond bullets in my 300 and my accuracy has been inconsistant at best. Last night I ran at least 50 patches with isso bore cleaner and outers solvent. I thought I had it clean but when I put the foam in the barrel today the foam turned bright blue meaning copper residue. I'll shoot it tomorrow and let you know if copper build-up was my problem. __________________ Retired Air Force 8th TFW The Wolfpack

March 1, 2005, 10:51 AM	#7
bill k Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 2004 Location: Dog Creek, CA Posts: 457	The only place I found it was Wally World and ours just got it in. I bought the first two cans in the display.. I checked the internet, local sporting goods store, and all our firearm shops and wasn't able to find it there. __________________ Retired Air Force 8th TFW The Wolfpack

March 1, 2005, 01:48 PM	#9
bill k Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 2004 Location: Dog Creek, CA Posts: 457	I'm back from the range. Like the absent minded person I am I forgot my 300 ammo so no report on that. However my groups on my 7mm mag went from .7" last trip to .54" this trip. After 9 rounds my groups began to open up to the 1" range I didn't notice any change in my 22-250 from last trip to this trip. This is after using the foaming bore cleaner on both. I think it helped my 7 mag quite a bit. __________________ Retired Air Force 8th TFW The Wolfpack

February 28, 2005, 05:35 PM	#2
Leftoverdj Senior Member Join Date: October 15, 2004 Posts: 934	Whatcha cleaning with? Copper fouling is not necessarily visible. My guess is that there is enough residual copper fouling to greatly accelerate the process. Do your regular cleaning process and follow up with Sweets. It's ammonia based and chemically reacts with copper. Patch will come out green if there is any remaining copper.

February 28, 2005, 07:23 PM	#4
HankL Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 1999 Location: The Sunny South Posts: 2,174	Jason, It might just be that you are going over max by around a grain of powder. IMR & H are not identical even in 4350. Copper fouling tends to build up faster the quicker you push the loads down the barrel and you are pushing pretty quick. You are going to need to REALLY clean your bore and reduce your load a little. Welcome aboard as well. Hank

March 1, 2005, 10:30 AM	#6
jasonc84 Member Join Date: February 28, 2005 Posts: 35	Thanks for the reply's. I was doing regular cleaning during this time with Birchwood Casey Copper Remover. And i did try to reduce the load 2 grains but I didn't see any difference in the fouling. And accuracy went down the drain. Can you find that "Gunslick's Bore Foam" anywhere? I'm thinking there is still copper in the barrel after I clean, speeding up the proccess like you said. The reason i thought it might be the powder is because I left the top off of the powder for 3 or 4 hours one day and thought it got moisture in it. But I keep it in a dry place so....

March 1, 2005, 11:46 AM	#8
jasonc84 Member Join Date: February 28, 2005 Posts: 35	I'll check in our Wal-Mart and see if they have it. Another thing, i could clean the barrel so that it looked powder and copper free and shoot it once and it would be filthy. I can see the copper build-up at the end of the barrel and tons of powder in the barrel.

March 1, 2005, 02:16 PM	#10
jasonc84 Member Join Date: February 28, 2005 Posts: 35	How far does that Bore Foam go? Does it take alot to fill the barrel?

March 1, 2005, 02:43 PM	#11
bill k Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 2004 Location: Dog Creek, CA Posts: 457	If you're not carefull it shoots across the room and will hit you wife as I found out. Just a short 1 second burst and it comes out the barrel. I put a rag over the end of the barrel now to stop the mess. Cleaning a rifle takes me minutes instead of an hour. __________________ Retired Air Force 8th TFW The Wolfpack

March 1, 2005, 04:33 PM	#12
jasonc84 Member Join Date: February 28, 2005 Posts: 35	How many times do you have to fill the barrel with that stuff to get it clean?

March 1, 2005, 09:01 PM	#13
Tim R Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2004 Location: God's side of Washington State Posts: 1,601	JB's bore paste also makes for short work on cleaning copper. __________________ God Bless our Troops especially our Snipers.