Copper Fouling and dirty barrel in new rifle.

It is if you don't clean it regularly. Time to break out the copper solvent and brass brushes and get to work. Buy lots and lots of patches because a bunch of them are going to get used.
 
Do you mean off the shelf it was dirty?

I don't know if every rifle is proof tested still, but it was always standard practice that a rifle was proof tested, and many were accuracy checked before leaving the factory. Oftentimes you would get the test target in the box. I don't expect that a proof tested rifle got anything more than a swab of powder solvent followed by an oil swab. Most would have been boxed straight from the proofing bench.

so, maybe there is an explanation, and maybe he got a "previously used" or test fired gun.
 
I've never bought a NIB firearm that didn't need cleaning. I would think they test fire all of them. At least I hope they do.
 
i have been to many gun shows where they tried to sell me a "new" rifle. Last guy tried to sell me a Weatherby Vanguard as new and it had scope bases installed on it, no box no manual but he was sure it was new because it had a plastic tube on the bolt knob. If your friend bought the gun from wal mart or bass pro/cabelas he got a new gun, if he got it from a gun show or elsewhere, caveat emptor.

All new guns are test fired and not cleaned but they put just a few test rounds down the barrel and gun shouldnt be copper fouled. Powder residue yes, copper fouling to where you dont get good groups would indicate you got a used gun. If you want to see how much copper fouling is in there get some foaming copper cutting bore cleaner, fill the barrel and let it sit for an hour or more, put a clean rag at the end of the barrel and fill it up again to push out the old foam and you can see the blue fouling pour out. anything under 10 rounds and there isnt much blue that comes out. 20 rounds or more and you should see a lot of blue foam.
 
The first patches before firing my HK SL8 looked like someone melted a green crayon in there! It was a 1/2 moa gun with no fouling problem so Im guessing the barrel wasnt too rough?

The only new rifles I have bought that weren't dirty off the shelf have been Steyr Mannlichers which get cleaned before sale :)
 
How does he know it had copper fouling in it? Did he use the color changing foam? Could you physically see it looking down the barrel? Or did he just see a little dirt and assume there was copper fouling also? I ask only because I can't remember looking down the barrel and being able to see copper fouling.. it would have to be pretty bad if that were the case.
 
When the bbl goes in the hot salts blue tank,the bores get blued.That makes the bore a bit toothy for a while.
 
I've never had a gun that didn't have carbon and soot in there right from the box. Also you can get blue from an immaculately clean barrel just by running a brush down there with a dab of solvent. The brush itself makes the mess.

-SS-
 
I have no idea where he got the rifle from guys. As far as how he knew it was copper fouled....he said he ran a patch with Hoopes through it then followed up with a copper solvent he purchased from the local Bass Pro Shop and it came out blue/green. He ran the patch with the copper through it because the 1st patch with Hoopes came out dirty.

Thanks Kreyzhorse. I pretty much told him the same thing. Thanks for the replys guys.
 
It's a confirmation of testing.

Yes, this usually normal but cannot speak to all makes and models. Some of the guns I purchase, come directly from the factory and this is the way they come. I've inquired and been informed that this is from the range test quality control process and if for whatever reason it does not pass this test station, they send it back to the production line and eventually get retested again. They do not clean during or prior to shipping. .... :)

Frankly, I don't mind this as it tellls me that it has been fully tested. .... :)


Be Safe !!!
 
My Vanguard not only came with a fouled barrel, it had a three-shot group target that came with it, when they test fired it in Japan before it left the factory!:):) ( it was about 1 inch).;)
 
If you use brass brushes while trying to get copper out, it will be an endless cycle, because you keep thinking copper is still coming out...You can use brushes in the begining to get powder fouling and stuff out




one time I asked here about 10% ammonia from the hardware store. Since then I have tried it and it works...use a plasitic jag and no brass brushes till the blue goes away... then follow with hoppes no9 solvent, dry it...then do what ever you do when you put it away.
 
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