Barnes TSX bullet barrel fouling?

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CoElkHunter

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I had never used Barnes bullets before I bought some factory 450gr. .458 Win Mag loads. After about a dozen rounds in my CZ 550, I cleaned the barrel and noticed some copper fouling in the barrel which I couldn’t brush out even after using Gunslick “Foaming Bore Cleaner” soaking in the barrel for twenty minutes. Probably using the wrong stuff, but haven’t shot all copper bullets before. Any suggestions?
 
I shoot a lot of Barnes bullets. Different rifles foul at different rates. As far as cleaning out the copper, Shooter’s Choice solvent will take care of copper to some degree but to seriously get the copper out, I use JB Bore cleaner. Barnes CR10 or Shooter’s Choice Copper killer work well if you want to go the chemical route.
 
Or not worry much about it. I shoot a lot of mono-metals and different barrels catch copper more or less than others. I never remove it, and have never had barrel accuracy adversely affected. All I ever use in Balistol in rifle bores. Seems to work. MOA rifles remain MOA rifles.
 
meigsbucks said:
I shoot a lot of Barnes bullets. Different rifles foul at different rates. As far as cleaning out the copper, Shooter’s Choice solvent will take care of copper to some degree but to seriously get the copper out, I use JB Bore cleaner. Barnes CR10 or Shooter’s Choice Copper killer work well if you want to go the chemical route.
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Thank you! I’m not really looking for a total cleaning for accuracy purposes, the copper streaks just bother me as I’m not used to seeing this after cleaning a rifle barrel? Maybe it’s not s big deal?
 
Red Leg said:
Or not worry much about it. I shoot a lot of mono-metals and different barrels catch copper more or less than others. I never remove it, and have never had barrel accuracy adversely affected. All I ever use in Balistol in rifle bores. Seems to work. MOA rifles remain MOA rifles.
Click to expand...
That’s what I thought, but I just wanted to check having not used all copper bullets before. Thanks!
 
Co elk all copper aka mono metal bullets will generally cause more copper fouling and as meigs said some foul way faster than others and the ones that tend to foul more and faster are factory barrels that tend to be rougher on the inside. custom barrels tend to be smoother and lapped more thus foul less. The best way to find out how bad it is , is to use a bore scope and look at the barrel, if it is seriously copper fouled up after that few rds then I suggest you don't shoot any more barnes in it. There are lots of good chemical copper removers out there but all are hard on a barrel so be careful with them and good luck.
 
I shoot TSX and now TTSX in my .338wm. Stainless barrel with +/- 1000 rounds. I was "worried" about copper fouling due to all the online chatter about it. I cleaned it with the Hoppes foaming bore cleaner and couldn't tell a difference in the bore or shooting. Still shoots like it did on the first day.....
 
CoElkHunter said:
That’s what I thought, but I just wanted to check having not used all copper bullets before. Thanks!
Click to expand...
I should note, we will shortly be joined by those who obsess over fouling. ;) Ross Seyfried convinced me it was all so much nonsense, and we are both advocates of Balistol.
 
Actually, I just started using a nylon brush recently. I use the bronze brush first, then soak the barrel with CR10 then use the nylon brush. It works better than the cloth patches as far as I'm concerned. My 2cents.
 
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CoElkHunter said:
I had never used Barnes bullets before I bought some factory 450gr. .458 Win Mag loads. After about a dozen rounds in my CZ 550, I cleaned the barrel and noticed some copper fouling in the barrel which I couldn’t brush out even after using Gunslick “Foaming Bore Cleaner” soaking in the barrel for twenty minutes. Probably using the wrong stuff, but haven’t shot all copper bullets before. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Use Wipeout
 
Red Leg said:
I should note, we will shortly be joined by those who obsess over fouling. ;) Ross Seyfried convinced me it was all so much nonsense, and we are both advocates of Balistol.
Click to expand...
Yeah, you know I really don’t believe the copper fouling leads to an increase in “pressure” as far as the bullet going down the barrel, so to speak? In this caliber and other large bore calibers, I wouldn’t think MOA “accuracy “ is relevant even if it was affected somewhat by the copper left in the barrel?
 
All monumental bullets foul. Barnes especially. The fact that they are solid copper means they have to be softer to work properly. Wipeout works well. Montana copper killer works well but be careful if left in the barrel too long it can be corrosive .
 
Mekaniks said:
I shoot TSX and now TTSX in my .338wm. Stainless barrel with +/- 1000 rounds. I was "worried" about copper fouling due to all the online chatter about it. I cleaned it with the Hoppes foaming bore cleaner and couldn't tell a difference in the bore or shooting. Still shoots like it did on the first day.....
Click to expand...
These are the first Barnes copper bullets I have shot. BUT, I just bought a bunch of Barnes 450 and 500gr .458s off GB for reloading my WM. So, I guess I’ll shoot them till the barrel wears out, then sell it to Toby?
 
I shoot Barnes in just about all of my rifles and use the Barnes CR-10 cleaner with great results.

You just need to clean them outside unless you like the smell of ammonia in the house
 
It won't wear your barrel out. But can foul it to the point of accuracy issues.
CoElkHunter said:
These are the first Barnes copper bullets I have shot. BUT, I just bought a bunch of Barnes 450 and 500gr .458s off GB for reloading my WM. So, I guess I’ll shoot them till the barrel wears out, then sell it to Toby?
Click to expand...
 
I’ve used Hoppe’s #9 for 65 years. I’m addicted to the smell. :confused:
I have found in my rifles that Barnes bullets shoot tighter groups once the bore is fouled well. I do clean it well occasionally. First Hoppe’s soaked for 15 minutes or so. A few patches. Then Hoppe’s again. While wet, a bronze bore brush 10 strokes each direction. Then patches until they come out clean (usually 5-6).
My rifles are mostly stainless steel Tikkas, Kimbers, and MRC. There barrels were polished from the factories supposedly.
 
I rarely worry about copper and clean as little as possible. Shoot plenty of Barnes. But if a rifle loses accuracy, I’ll clean and probably remove copper too. KG-12 is the best I’ve found. No ammonia to smell or damage your barrel if not removed.
 
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