cleaning the American?

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boomer92266

Single-Sixer
Joined
Jan 21, 2008
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Kentucky
I have a new Ruger American 308, and have a question on cleaning the copper. I use Hoppes Bench Rest copper solvent, let it soak 30 minutes and wipe out. It got most of the copper out except just a small amount at the edge of the muzzle, I am talking about just small specks of it. Do ya'll get it all out or will a little be ok left in there? I can soak again but if I don't need to, I would rather just wait as I will be shooting again in a few days at coyotes and will be cleaning again. also would it hurt to leave a little copper for a few weeks in between trips out? thanks for any help.
 
Joined
Dec 25, 2007
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You can SEE the copper fouling??
How much did you shoot the rifle before cleaning?
I used to haul a .308 as my long ranger and often shot it all winter w/o cleaning(of course it wasn't a brand new barrel).
 

boomer92266

Single-Sixer
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Jan 21, 2008
Messages
481
Location
Kentucky
Mobuck said:
You can SEE the copper fouling??
How much did you shoot the rifle before cleaning?
I used to haul a .308 as my long ranger and often shot it all winter w/o cleaning(of course it wasn't a brand new barrel).

Yes, its not much, after a soak in Hoppes bench rest there is just specks in there. I fired it 10 rounds in setting and making sure of scope set then 2 more at two coyotes. Yes I killed both.
 
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That seems an excessive amount of fouling from 12 rounds. My advice: find some of the cheaper grade .308 FMJ ammo and spend an afternoon doing a 'barrel break-in' exercise. Start by shooting 3 and cleaning with a dedicated copper remover. Continue until you see a reduction in copper deposit or run out of ammo. You can leave the bore wet with Hoppe's #9, Kroil, or CLP but I can't recommend leaving the more volatile products even overnight.
Just a note: If you're using brass patch jags, even Hoppe's #9 will pull enough brass off the jag to result in green patches following.
 
Joined
Mar 29, 2017
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Sweets 7.62 is a go to copper remover from years ago used by most if not all high power match shooters to remove copper. The green and greenish blue is copper. There are a few others now on the market. As long as they come out those colors there is copper fouling in bore. If I have done the brush with cleaner and several dry patches after the color is still on the patches I repeat. I am currently working on a 308 that if you look down the bore it looks brand new until you look at the muzzle and back about 3 inchs there are still streaks of copper. Sometimes it takes a few times over a few days. In the end, on a hunting grade rifle is some copper left in the barrel going to be a problem, likely not. I see far too many hunting rifles with copper in barrels and the guys still kill deer every year.
 

wwb

Hunter
Joined
Nov 18, 2004
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2,867
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wisconsin
Clean the holy heck out ofit,and then invest in the "Tubb's Final Finish". Done properly, you have a mirror finish in the barrel that almost completely eliminates copper fouling, and makes it very easy to remove what small traces you get. Also, almost guaranteed to improve accuracy.
 
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If any of Tubb's stuff is as good as he is a shooter it would be the best or near best. I almost bought a Tubb 2000 match rifle. It kind of became a rifle many copied. That was back in 2000 and I have lost skills to use such top class equipment. So not sure what the world class shooters are using.
 
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