Martin52

Try this: SC:Plotter https://shootingcompanion.com

Here's a good outline: https://www.accurateshooter.com/technical-articles/reloading/complete-precision-case-prep/

Good to hear Geoffrey, will await to hear.

Geoffrey, Do you have any plans to include Hodgdon Varget, H4895 and 8208 ? Very useful for US palma shooters. Martin

That was a very good post, I've read it a few times. The primary cause seemed to be the faulty non-turning rod that caused the bronze brush (with paste) to skip over the lands and grooves resulting in the 'vine' looking damage down the bore .

The Iosso stiff nylon brush is good, I use one occasionally but with a bore solvent, not with the paste.

There is still carbon remaining and this takes me back to my original query. Having cleaned generally after each shoot, I was getting an unusual heavy build up of carbon including long black streaks. I asked whether anyone found VFG felts to be more effective because in this particular barrel a normal cleaning regime was not working. I was looking for something that would potentially work. Having now tried the main brands, KG, BT, Sweets and the 'old school' Ed's Red and using bronze brushes, soaks etc. I can only think the heavy carbon is due to hotter loads of 8208, my other barrels only see Varget or H4895 and do not have anywhere near this level of carbon (or firecracking). Thanks for your replies.

The throat looks good.

Mixed up a batch of Ed's Red, plugged the chamber, filled the bore and taped the muzzle. Let it sit for 2 weeks with an empty and refill at the end of week 1. A bit more scrubbing and some improvement. The 8208 just seems harder on the barrel than Varget and H4895.

pics to be updated

Here are a few 'after' pics. That is after overnight soaks followed up with brushing with BTE and CU2. The carbon seems embedded, not much change. Over the next few days I am going to check a retired barrel that only saw H4895 and Varget for comparison with this one that seems to have incurred more wear and tear as a result of a faster, hotter powder, 45.4 gr Benchmark 8208 with 155's. Martin

l'll post the 'after' photos in a few days and work on the borescope focus.

Just read this interesting test by Shooting Shed: https://shootingshed.co.uk/wp/2013/01/borebullet-cleaning-comparative-the-last-chapter/ Similar disappointment at Boretech's performance (also KG 12) with C2R and WipeOut Patch Cleaner well ahead. I have a Sinclair Chamber plug somewhere in my shed, it was new several years ago and never used.

There's the quandary...the rifle shoots fine. I was not expecting to see quite so much fire-cracking and carbon build up given a reasonably good cleaning regime and a moderate round count (600). The first of my images seems to show a streak of carbon and some fire-cracking in the groove, the second shows black carbon in the groove with copper above, the third image both copper and carbon. I'll try the plug and soak option as I can do this over the next few days, I'll have to order the C2R. Thanks Martin

Thanks, 2 options there,) 1plugging the barrel and letting it soak and 2) CR2. I have not previously contemplated either, thinking my cleaning regime was doing the job, the recent purchase of a borescope tells me otherwise... I usually clean after each shoot using Boretech Carbon solvent on a bronze brush then CU2 on a nylon brush, patched out with Ballistol to finish. I clean until the patches come out white but this no longer appears (to me at least) to be a reliable indicator of a clean barrel. Martin