After reading @Frank Green talk about cleaning and carbon ring removal I decided it’s time I take care of my neglected barrels. Some of my barrels are getting up there in round count, and cleaning carbon is getting harder and harder. Jb bore paste is what Iv seen some recommend as a mild abrasive so Iv got a couple jars coming.
Question for guys using an abrasive cleaner, how do you use it? Patch and jag? Back and forth in the throat or one single pass? How often are you using it?
Thanks in advance.
I use JB Bore Paste in the following manner. Use an appropriately sized bronze brush. Wrap a patch around the bronze brush and soak it with Kroil penetrant oil. Apply JB Bore past to the soaked patch. Insert into bore through a bore guide and brush back and forth in the bore. Clean bore with fresh patches following use.
This was the method taught to me by Kenny Jarrett of Jarrett Rifles. Seems to work well in my hands.
After reading @Frank Green talk about cleaning and carbon ring removal I decided it’s time I take care of my neglected barrels. Some of my barrels are getting up there in round count, and cleaning carbon is getting harder and harder. Jb bore paste is what Iv seen some recommend as a mild abrasive so Iv got a couple jars coming.
Question for guys using an abrasive cleaner, how do you use it? Patch and jag? Back and forth in the throat or one single pass? How often are you using it?
Thanks in advance.
I seldom use it. I clean the barrels every 100 rounds and use a really good carbon remover and that is pretty sufficient. When I do use JB, it is always in the manner that Frank described. Never use a bronze brush with the paste or you'll do more damage than good. Doesn't matter if you wrap the brush in a patch. Look at the pictures he posted. Never used nylon so no opinion there.
The JB with a patch is more than adequate.
Last edited: Oct 4, 2021as been told by every reputable barrel maker. forever
clean your rifles regularly and all these questions go away.
Hey Folks,
If it's time to use an abrasive, Please, Please, Please do not use a brush or a patch wrapped around a brush--you can/will damage your barrel.
I wrecked the best 6PPC barrel I ever had by using an abrasive on a nylon brush, taking almost .0008" out of the back half of the barrel in only 700 rounds--please don't do it.
Also use CLR at your own peril--we've found it does etch stainless very quickly and do not recommend it's use.
When I use an abrasive I only use it on a patch and even use a separate rod guide so as not to keep dragging residual paste into the bore when done.
I start by doing a normal cleaning, then switch guides and use 3 patches with JB bore compound short stroking them concentrating on the throat and then down the rest of the bore. Then about 3 dry patches to get most of it out and switch back the guide and do another full cleaning with 2 wet patches, a wet brush for about 10 strokes, followed by 2 more wet patches and let it sit for a bit. Then 2 dry patches followed by a patch with a little light oil or Lock Ease and I'm ready to go.
Later, Mark Buettgen
Bartlein Barrels
no need to follow. thread should be locked
several do's and do-nots in the above post
from a buy who sees barrels all day and who messed up his own.
Hey Folks,
If it's time to use an abrasive, Please, Please, Please do not use a brush or a patch wrapped around a brush--you can/will damage your barrel.
I wrecked the best 6PPC barrel I ever had by using an abrasive on a nylon brush, taking almost .0008" out of the back half of the barrel in only 700 rounds--please don't do it.
Also use CLR at your own peril--we've found it does etch stainless very quickly and do not recommend it's use.
When I use an abrasive I only use it on a patch and even use a separate rod guide so as not to keep dragging residual paste into the bore when done.
I start by doing a normal cleaning, then switch guides and use 3 patches with JB bore compound short stroking them concentrating on the throat and then down the rest of the bore. Then about 3 dry patches to get most of it out and switch back the guide and do another full cleaning with 2 wet patches, a wet brush for about 10 strokes, followed by 2 more wet patches and let it sit for a bit. Then 2 dry patches followed by a patch with a little light oil or Lock Ease and I'm ready to go.
Later, Mark Buettgen
Bartlein Barrels
Thanks for this follow up and information. It appears that what I learned about how to use JB bore paste may not have been the best information after all. I trust your findings.
Mark summed it up pretty good and we are on the same page.
I would caution you also that we are talking here on this thread two different types of JB.
You have JB bore compound.
You have JB bore brite.
I/we will only use the JB Bore Compound. Not the bore brite.
This is what happens when you use a brush with an abrasive cleaner! I've posted this picture several times and it never gets old as to what can happen!
This was a 7mm (284W) F class barrel. At 100 rounds accuracy started to suffer. The picture is at 800 rounds. The bore and groove should measure .277" x .284". It now measures .279" x .2855"! So basically polished a full .002" out of the bore and .0015" out of the grooves. The lands (the bore) sticks up so it will take the brunt of the damage from improper cleaning.
The gouges are from the bristles of the brush and the brush is trying to rotate with the twist of the rifling but there is no way every bristle is going to follow/stay in the grooves. So the bristles will ride up and over the top of the lands and down the trailing side of the land.
