Black Bore Blues

[denton]

I have a rifle that I'm doing barrel break-in on. It's quite a nice rifle, with a Pac-Nor barrel on an FN action.

The loads I have been using were made with a really, really old batch of H4831. It probably dates back to the days when Hodgdon was selling milsurp powder in paper bags.

Anyway, I shot 10 rounds, cleaning after each. Then I shot 30 rounds, cleaning after each 10.

Then, I noticed that the barrel is absolutely as black as the ace of spades. Evidently, that is from very high levels of graphite in that very old powder.

I've used JB paste several times, and a bronze brush dipped in Witch's Brew (solvent and mild abrasive). My right arm aches from swabbing that bore. I've got it down to the point that a patch comes out gray, instead of jet black, when swabbing after a brushing.

Anybody got any secrets for removing graphite?

[Rocky Raab]

Frankly, I'd be tempted to just change powder and shoot it a bit. It might clean itself. Is that the 7x57?

[denton]

That may be the only answer. Graphite is really hard to completely remove. There isn't a solvent that I know of, that you want to be exposed to, that will dissolve it.

This is my 6.5x55. I started it last year, intending to take it pronghorn hunting, but ran into problems, and am just getting it up and running. I got a heavy contour barrel for it, which should help with accuracy, but makes it a little on the heavy side.

The 7x57 is waiting for the stock to get shipped. It's a lightweight, and I think it is going to become my main hunting rifle.

[reload]

Have had the same thing happen with JB paste! You can run it in a clean barrel and the patch will come out black. Try something like butchs bore shine and you will most likely fine that your bore is clean. Good Luck

[gumpokc]

You might try some navel jelly, no idea how well it would work on graphite, but it works on everything else.

the only two other things i know of, #1 Aqua Regia (a combination of nitric and hydrochloric acid) used for dissolving metals. isnt something you use without knowing exactly what your doing with it.

#2 i've been told peroxide can bleach out graphite, the purer the better, but i have no idea how long it would take. Also remember the purer the peroxide is, the more careful you have to be with it.

[PJgunner]

I'm wondering is the problem might not be from something else? I still have some .270 ammo loaded with Hodgden's surplus 4831 and it does not turn my barrels black.
I've also found in cleaning my barrels, that I've never gotten a pure white patch after cleaning.
What you might want to try is some Mpro-7. They may have changed the name to MP-7 now, but either way it's some good stuff. What it is, is strictly a powder solvent that smells like carpet cleaner. It's a bit on the pricey side, but I use it prior to using one of the copper or lead solvents. It seems to clear the way for the metal solvents to work a bit faster.
If the Mpro-7 doesn't work, you might try it with some Chore Boy scouring pad wrapped around a brush. If it works for leading in a barrel, it might work for graphite, if in fact it is graphite.
:D FWIW, no matter how long you scrub with JB Bore Paste, the patch will always come out black. :eek: :D :D :D It's the nature of the beast.
One more thing about Mpro-7. After you are through using it anddoing what other cleaning chore on the rifle, be very sure to do a proper reoiling of that barrel. Mpro-7 will literally suck all the oil out of the pores of the steel. If you gun has an oil finish, do not get on the stock. You'll never patch it up to look the same.
Paul B.