Green residue from barrel

Doctor Larry K · 12-02-2007, 05:27 PM

Brand new Kimber .38 Super with one range trip. Upon running patches thru the bore I'm getting a green residue out of the bbl on every patch (Hoppe"s #9)

The last time I got something like this was an old Swedish Mauser whose bbl showed some rust and inactivity for a number of years.

What is this green stuff?

Doc

Mooseman684 · 12-02-2007, 05:34 PM

That is Nomal Copper Fouling,from jacketed bullets ..Copper starts turning green when exposed to chemicals and moisture..
Rich

Doctor Larry K · 12-02-2007, 06:14 PM

Thanks Mooseman. I always have a tendency to think the worst.

Doc

SilverRun · 12-02-2007, 06:20 PM

Yep - normal copper fouling. As the barrel breaks in, that may get a little better. I am jealous of the Kimber .38 Super!

How did it shoot?

just_a_car · 12-02-2007, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mooseman684

That is Nomal Copper Fouling,from jacketed bullets ..Copper starts turning green when exposed to chemicals and moisture..
Rich

Correct.

More specifically, it oxidizes. Just like when a penny sits in water for a length of time. Or, better yet, look at the Statue of Liberty... originally, she was a shiny 'bronzish' copper due to the copper in the outside panels, but the "petina" that formed over time was green from the copper oxide.

The chemicals just "help the oxidation along" a little faster than normal. Plus, copper fouling is left in your barrel to oxidize while it is stored and will come out green for the lifetime of the barrel. Nothing to be worried about.

billy · 12-02-2007, 06:53 PM

is it infected? put some bactine on it.

JBS · 12-02-2007, 07:05 PM

Penicillin

nathangdad · 12-02-2007, 08:22 PM

not to worry. it is copper residue. it is common to have this.

jerry · 12-02-2007, 08:48 PM

billy & JBS beat me to it. Take your gun to the free clinic.

billy · 12-02-2007, 09:11 PM

and next time be more careful of what you put it in....i mean put IN it!

Pumpkinheaver · 12-02-2007, 11:07 PM

For your safty I'll take it off your hands for you! I'll send you my dealer FFL information. I'll only charge you $100 for disposal.

samuel · 12-03-2007, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billy

is it infected? put some bactine on it.

Do you use liquid or pills? sam.

billy · 12-03-2007, 03:52 PM

the spritzer bottle!

NRAJOE · 12-03-2007, 04:06 PM

Pick up some "Shooters Choice" xtra strength copper remover...that has worked wonders for me...especially on old Mosin barrels

redhed · 12-03-2007, 08:51 PM

Try cleaning a 60 year old Mosin Nagant Rifle some time and you will discover shades of green that the crayola people can only dream of.

If you think you really have your weapon clean, try switching to a black powder solvent. Then go back to your standard cleaning solvent. You might even want to try running some patches with oil on them through it. We have found that switching solvents several times while cleaning seems to help cut though the copper build up quicker than using just one standard cleaner.

ArkansasHunter · 12-03-2007, 08:57 PM

Send me the gun and I'll clean it for you

billy · 12-03-2007, 09:39 PM

or you can speed things up and REALLY get it clean.
(homade electronic bore cleaner)homade electronic bore cleaner

Doctor Larry K · 12-04-2007, 08:19 PM

The pistol shot 1.5 @ 15 yards, less recoil than my 1911s, excellent trigger.
I really am impressed.

Thanks for the great offers to "dispose" of this POS, but I think I'll keep it.

Doc

ouch · 12-05-2007, 07:07 PM

sorry of hijacking this thread

Billy
I noticed the cleaning agent that you are using. Vinegar and ammonia. You are probably thinking that vinegar cleans and ammonia cleans then they should do great together. Vinegar is an acid and ammonia is a base. They react with one another immediatly and you end up with salt water. Maybe salt water works but I doubt it is what is desired. I have no desire to soak my 70 year old mosin in salt water.

I think I will stick with the tried and true cleaning methods.

Mosins really are the real thing. Bayonet, Healthy kick lots of velocity of a heavy bullet. I havent chrono'ed mine but they will cut through 3/8" mild steel with surplus ammo. My wife is pretty small and loves shooting hers. Rumor has it that our neighbors hate us.

Quote:

Originally Posted by billy

or you can speed things up and REALLY get it clean.
(homade electronic bore cleaner)homade electronic bore cleaner

billy · 12-05-2007, 07:19 PM

im no chemist but i have a sneaky suspicion you are wrong

here you can argue with these guys .
this is where i got it .
Making the Surplus: Homade Electronic Bore Cleaner

12-02-2007, 05:27 PM	#1
Doctor Larry K Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Palm Springs, Calif. Posts: 401 Trader Rating: (0)	Green residue from barrel Brand new Kimber .38 Super with one range trip. Upon running patches thru the bore I'm getting a green residue out of the bbl on every patch (Hoppe"s #9) The last time I got something like this was an old Swedish Mauser whose bbl showed some rust and inactivity for a number of years. What is this green stuff? Doc

12-02-2007, 05:34 PM	#2
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness Posts: 9,169 Trader Rating: (0)	That is Nomal Copper Fouling,from jacketed bullets ..Copper starts turning green when exposed to chemicals and moisture.. Rich __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

12-02-2007, 06:53 PM	#6
billy spiritual counselor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 10,655 Trader Rating: (0)	is it infected? put some bactine on it. __________________ i'll keep an eye out for ya!

12-02-2007, 08:22 PM	#8
nathangdad Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2,184 Trader Rating: (0)	copper not to worry. it is copper residue. it is common to have this.

12-02-2007, 09:11 PM	#10
billy spiritual counselor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 10,655 Trader Rating: (0)	and next time be more careful of what you put it in....i mean put IN it! __________________ i'll keep an eye out for ya!

12-02-2007, 06:14 PM	#3
Doctor Larry K Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Palm Springs, Calif. Posts: 401 Trader Rating: (0)	Thanks Mooseman. I always have a tendency to think the worst. Doc

12-02-2007, 06:20 PM	#4
SilverRun Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: AL Posts: 1,658 Trader Rating: (0)	Yep - normal copper fouling. As the barrel breaks in, that may get a little better. I am jealous of the Kimber .38 Super! How did it shoot?

12-02-2007, 07:05 PM	#7
JBS Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 747 Trader Rating: (0)	Penicillin

12-02-2007, 08:48 PM	#9
jerry Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 10,757 Trader Rating: (0)	billy & JBS beat me to it. Take your gun to the free clinic.

12-02-2007, 11:07 PM	#11
Pumpkinheaver Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,297 Trader Rating: (0)	For your safty I'll take it off your hands for you! I'll send you my dealer FFL information. I'll only charge you $100 for disposal. __________________ Just because your paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you!

12-03-2007, 03:52 PM	#13
billy spiritual counselor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 10,655 Trader Rating: (0)	the spritzer bottle! __________________ i'll keep an eye out for ya!

12-03-2007, 04:06 PM	#14
NRAJOE Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Toledo,OH Posts: 18,992 Trader Rating: (0)	Pick up some "Shooters Choice" xtra strength copper remover...that has worked wonders for me...especially on old Mosin barrels __________________ U.S. Army 1976-1979 237th Combat Engineers Heilbronn, Germany

12-03-2007, 08:51 PM	#15
redhed Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Armpit, Illinois, USA Posts: 325 Trader Rating: (0)	Try cleaning a 60 year old Mosin Nagant Rifle some time and you will discover shades of green that the crayola people can only dream of. If you think you really have your weapon clean, try switching to a black powder solvent. Then go back to your standard cleaning solvent. You might even want to try running some patches with oil on them through it. We have found that switching solvents several times while cleaning seems to help cut though the copper build up quicker than using just one standard cleaner.

12-03-2007, 08:57 PM	#16
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 10,465 Trader Rating: (0)	Send me the gun and I'll clean it for you

12-03-2007, 09:39 PM	#17
billy spiritual counselor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 10,655 Trader Rating: (0)	or you can speed things up and REALLY get it clean. (homade electronic bore cleaner)homade electronic bore cleaner __________________ i'll keep an eye out for ya!

12-04-2007, 08:19 PM	#18
Doctor Larry K Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Palm Springs, Calif. Posts: 401 Trader Rating: (0)	The pistol shot 1.5 @ 15 yards, less recoil than my 1911s, excellent trigger. I really am impressed. Thanks for the great offers to "dispose" of this POS, but I think I'll keep it. Doc

12-05-2007, 07:19 PM	#20
billy spiritual counselor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 10,655 Trader Rating: (0)	im no chemist but i have a sneaky suspicion you are wrong here you can argue with these guys . this is where i got it . Making the Surplus: Homade Electronic Bore Cleaner __________________ i'll keep an eye out for ya! Last edited by billy; 12-05-2007 at 07:31 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost