cleaning a dark bore

Joe Portale · February 16, 2002, 10:27 AM

A while back, I saw a web page where some guy discribed a method of cleaning up dark rifle bores. It promised to clean up the dark to almost/near shiny condition. Of course, I didn't book mark the page.

If I remember the process it involved household ammonia

, Bon Ami cleanser or similar and something else.

Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Or would anyone care to share their dark bore cleaning secrets?

I have some surplus rifles that have dark bores that make me crazy when I clean them. The rifles shoot fine and yep, I'm just being anal.

johnwill · February 16, 2002, 10:54 AM

I'm having difficulty imagining any truly effective method of making a major change on a dark bore, other than a barrel swap.

**4V50 Gary** · February 16, 2002, 11:56 AM

Shoot it first and see if it shoots straight. A pitted dark bore may still be a decent shooter.

johnwill · February 16, 2002, 03:00 PM

Gary,

I believe he mentioned it shot fine, just that he wants to "clean it up". I know of no sure way to do that. I've often considered firelapping a dark bore, anyone tried that? I would expect you'd have to remove some metal to "clean it up", that's about the only way I've thought of...

C.R.Sam · February 16, 2002, 03:06 PM

Using abrasives......lot easier to make it shoot worse than better.

Sam

johnwill · February 16, 2002, 04:28 PM

Actually, I agree that fire lapping it might not yield an improvement, but we were just working on making the bore look better.

sleeping dog · February 17, 2002, 09:47 AM

Here's a method of copper removal that uses ammonia:

http://www.storm.ca/~debin666/html/projects9.html

I tried it on a beat-up israeli conversion mauser. The bore looks a lot brighter. It doesn't shoot any better. WARNING- do this in a well-ventilated area.

Regards.

Hen · February 20, 2002, 04:13 AM

Try some brasso or flitz metal polish to brighten it up.

Hen

HankL · February 20, 2002, 08:38 PM

The world class, all time, definative work on this subject is right here. The Only Source For Barrel Cleaning Please note that some of the names have been changed to protect................

tomsas · February 21, 2002, 10:07 AM

Try some JB Bore Paste & Kroil first...If that doesn't do it, go the Flitz route, it's slightly more abrasive than JB...

Tom

JR_rcsd · February 22, 2002, 03:13 AM

If the dark bore is from the machining marks left from the rifling process, then you probably shouldn't mess with it. If it shoots straight and needs to be cleaned more often than not, oh well..If it's from fouling, look into the Outer's Foul out, well if its fouled so bad conventional cleaning processes don't work the first and second go round.

February 16, 2002, 10:27 AM	#1
Joe Portale Senior Member Join Date: June 8, 1999 Location: Tucson, Arizona Territory Posts: 715	cleaning a dark bore A while back, I saw a web page where some guy discribed a method of cleaning up dark rifle bores. It promised to clean up the dark to almost/near shiny condition. Of course, I didn't book mark the page. If I remember the process it involved household ammonia , Bon Ami cleanser or similar and something else. Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Or would anyone care to share their dark bore cleaning secrets? I have some surplus rifles that have dark bores that make me crazy when I clean them. The rifles shoot fine and yep, I'm just being anal. __________________ Joe Portale Tucson, Arizona Territory "Even now in heaven there are angles carrying savage weapons". - St Paul

February 16, 2002, 11:56 AM	#3
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,829	Shoot it first and see if it shoots straight. A pitted dark bore may still be a decent shooter. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

February 20, 2002, 08:38 PM	#9
HankL Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 1999 Location: The Sunny South Posts: 2,174	The world class, all time, definative work on this subject is right here. The Only Source For Barrel Cleaning Please note that some of the names have been changed to protect................ __________________ Check 6

February 22, 2002, 03:13 AM	#11
JR_rcsd Member Join Date: November 23, 2001 Location: Newcastleton, Scotland Posts: 25	If the dark bore is from the machining marks left from the rifling process, then you probably shouldn't mess with it. If it shoots straight and needs to be cleaned more often than not, oh well..If it's from fouling, look into the Outer's Foul out, well if its fouled so bad conventional cleaning processes don't work the first and second go round. __________________ Every day's a holiday

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February 16, 2002, 10:54 AM	#2
johnwill Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2000 Location: PA Posts: 3,451	I'm having difficulty imagining any truly effective method of making a major change on a dark bore, other than a barrel swap.

February 16, 2002, 03:00 PM	#4
johnwill Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2000 Location: PA Posts: 3,451	Gary, I believe he mentioned it shot fine, just that he wants to "clean it up". I know of no sure way to do that. I've often considered firelapping a dark bore, anyone tried that? I would expect you'd have to remove some metal to "clean it up", that's about the only way I've thought of...

February 16, 2002, 03:06 PM	#5
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	Using abrasives......lot easier to make it shoot worse than better. Sam

February 16, 2002, 04:28 PM	#6
johnwill Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2000 Location: PA Posts: 3,451	Actually, I agree that fire lapping it might not yield an improvement, but we were just working on making the bore look better.

February 17, 2002, 09:47 AM	#7
sleeping dog Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2000 Location: MI Posts: 536	Here's a method of copper removal that uses ammonia: http://www.storm.ca/~debin666/html/projects9.html I tried it on a beat-up israeli conversion mauser. The bore looks a lot brighter. It doesn't shoot any better. WARNING- do this in a well-ventilated area. Regards.

February 20, 2002, 04:13 AM	#8
Hen Member Join Date: January 29, 2002 Posts: 39	Try some brasso or flitz metal polish to brighten it up. Hen

February 21, 2002, 10:07 AM	#10
tomsas Junior Member Join Date: October 15, 2000 Posts: 10	Try some JB Bore Paste & Kroil first...If that doesn't do it, go the Flitz route, it's slightly more abrasive than JB... Tom