Mystery dirt in my M1A???

T

twoblink

New member
So I'm cleaning Betty (My M1A). I've run a dozen patches through, and the patches finally are coming out pretty much clean.

I was going to clean the rest of the gun, but went to bed instead.

Next day (err today) I thought I'd run a few more patches through, just to make sure she is absolutely clean, and the patches come out pitch black... Magic dirt?? Someone slip some dirt into my barrel??

My theory is, there was some solvent left in the barrel, it loosened up the dirt, and so the second day, there was dirt that I could clean. BUT, I'm talking a LOT of dirt. 16 patches later, the patches are still black... hmm.. Now I'm concerned.. Does that means the previous times I've cleaned my gun, and the patches ran clean, it actually wasn't clean?? Does this mean, in the future, I have to breakup my cleaning into 2 day sessions?? Also, I just ran a dry patch through, the patch was a bit greenish.. I'm running some Hoppes Copper Solve, so I'm hoping the green I see, is actually copper fouling that is has been oxidized??

Hmm... I am running more patches, and they are still coming up dirty... I'm probably going to go to bed, and clean some more tomorrow..

But I'm quite disturbed now, I liken this to the wine stain in the carpet that comes back...

Any of your experiences will be of great help.

Thanks.
Albert
 
May I venture a non-educated guess?

Sounds like you may be breaking down an old copper-fouling the barrel had. That'd explain the green. The copper fouling could be hiding a dirty barrel underneath.

I wouldn't bother with 2-day cleanings but about once a year for a well-used gun. To clean my guns, I just soak the barrel good with a wet patch, set it aside, clean the rest of the gun, and re-clean the barrel just before assembly of the barrel.

Oh, and in my opinion, copper solvents are meant to eat metal. I wouldn't leave it in a barrel overnight without making sure to neutralize it with heavy oiling.

Barrels are pretty indestructible in regards to cleaning, but the thought of acids eating miniscule amounts of my rifling keeps me awake at night, but that's the cleaning Betty in me talking.:D Nothing to seriously worry about.
 
Santa leaves good little boys and girls presents by the tree. He leaves bad little boys dirt down their M1A barrels.

Actually, there is no magic dirt. The barrel was not clean before and now dirt is coming out in response to a more vigorous cleaning. Use a bronze bore brush and plenty of a good bore cleaner (Hoppes #9 or G96) then patches, and repeat. It will eventually really clean up. (If you hear from those folks who think bronze scratches steel, ignore them; they are just being silly.

Jim
 
Black powder shooters face the same problem and many wipe down their barrels again after the day they've cleaned them. Apparently the dirt does work its way to the surface and necessitates more wiping down of the barrel.
 
Well, that's great to hear... I thought it was a conspiracy on the part of the MMM against me and my M1A...

yanky, makes sense. I don't leave the barrel wet, that much cleaning solvant can't be good for it. So I usually wipe it dry pretty well.

I guess the correct thing to do is take it for a spin on the range when I'm done cleaning it to see if there's a vast improvement huh?

I've never used any copper solvant in the past, only hoppes, and I'm just amazed at home much more gunk is left in the barrel. I'm thinking the copper was hiding crud underneath like you all described...

Well, later on today, out comes the dental mirror... we'll have a peek amd see.. Thanks, I feel a bit more relieved.
 
I don't think so, since I've yanked out the gas piston, and swabbed everything in there very clean..

Anybody have a link to copper fouling that I can read up on?

Albert
 
Leaving Hoppe's in the barrel.

I hope Jim Keenan will correct me where I'm wrong.

Hoppe's contains copper solvent. Unless it is washed out with an oily patch or otherwise neutralized, it will keep dissolving copper until it dries completely. That's what probably happened to your barrel if you left it wet with Hoppe's. I feel that it is a good idea to run an oily patch or a CLP patch through the barrel as a final measure.

Regards.
 
Jim's right, Captain.. oops soory wrong forum. It was only logical to know that bronze brushes won't scratch steel, but PLEASE use a bore guide, because that damn rod will get your crown quick! I like nylon with copper solv since the bronze brushes don't last long in it. Use them with #9 or CLP.
 
The only caution on Hoppes (or any ammonia cleaner) is that it should not be used on nickel plated guns, since if it can get to the copper undercladding, it will dissolve it and leave the nickel peeling. Personally, I don't like to leave a cleaner in the barrel at all; I like to clean until a dry patch comes out clean. Cleaning on successive days is not a bad idea, but shouldn't be necessary unless corrosive primers have been fired.

I have used several cleaners; for all around use I like G96 Gun Treatment, but it does not clean out copper fouling and Hoppe's does.

Jim
 
I use to run some Hoppes #9 through, unless there are "guest females" who volunteer to help clean.. Then I use the M7Pro, since it has not smell, and feels like soap.

I bought some Hoppes Copper Solve, and was amazed that after my usual cleaning, I ran a wet patch of this stuff through, and my patch came out black... I never leave my barrel wet, I run it through until my dry patches come out clean. A little CLP in the bore or else some bore conditioner is usually what finishes it off..

But I did bust out the flashlight to take a peek, and I have to admit, my bore is now shinier than when I first bought it..

Some people say beware of barrel wear.... Where?? At the mouth? At the land and grooves?

Betty's furniture gets a nice orange oil polish too... So she smells great on the inside, outside, and has a shiny barrel and Land O'Lake smooth action. I love my M1A.. :D I just want to make sure I am giving it the best care I can.
 
What is happing is that weapons "sweat". The M1A1 has a chamber pressure of 50,000 PSI and by the time the bullet gets to the gas port hole. Gas bleeds off in to the gas chamber (12,000 PSI in chamber), all this pressure and heat force carbon and crud into the metal.
Using good cleaning products and having good cleaning habits will cause "stuff" to sweat or seep out of the metal.

Stored weapons; a light coat of oil in the bore and chamber(s).
BUT!!!, always run a patch through the bore and chamber(s) before you settle down for a day at the range.

Daily carry weapons; dry bore and chamber(s).

Clem
USMC Retired
 
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