Dirty Firing Ammo?

[GFK]

Yes, I just happened on seeing the present of copper doing a cleaning with Hoppe's as well. I was getting a bluish green tint also. I used Tetra because that what the LGS had and recommended. From what I understand, Sweet's 7.62 Solvent does a great job (link below). I plan to try it next. It is my understanding also that there should be less copper residue after the barrel has been shot for awhile. I have only shot about 100 rounds through it so far. So, time will tell.

https://www.amazon.com/Sweets-OK-762-7- ... B001OPNO44


P.S.

Before and after pictures using Tertra:

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P.S. x 2

Note: Patches are after cleaning with Hoppe's No. 9 (i.e. before and after using Tetra).

[Mags]

Found it! Was at the LGS yesterday and buried among all the other products was a couple bottles of TetraGun Copper Solvent.

I read, once upon a time here in a older post I can't remember who shared, about plugging both ends of the bore and leaving it to soak for several minutes with solvent inside. I've ordered a couple of .30 caliber bore squeeg-es to use as plugs. But now thinking I should have ordered a larger caliber one for use as a chamber plug. Or maybe not with my receiver being brass. I foresee being very careful not to expose brass to Tetra.

[JEBar]

looking forward to your continued reports

[GFK]

Glad you found it. I have not tried the plug method. I just followed the directions on the bottle (more or less). I typically use patches. And, I finish up with Hoppe's No. 9 Gun Bore Cleaner and Remington Oil. So far, so good.


P.S.
I can understand the concern about the brass. I typically use a brass colored patch loop. I rinse it after each use, and it has still retained its color. That is the main reason I use Hoppe's after Tetra. I want to make sure that no cooper cleaning solution was left in the barrel.

[Mags]

I can understand the concern about the brass. I typically use a brass colored patch loop. I rinse it after each use, and it has still retained its color.

Was actually more worried about a Tetra leak or spill causing the externals of the shiny brass receiver to patina. I also have a brass patch loop. It was already patina the day I got it. Some folks like patina, but I like my Henry brass to be shiny.

[GFK]

Understood. Sorry I was not clearer. The brass receiver is what I was referring to. Considering it cost more than a typical H009, (yes) I suspect it would be of high concern.

[Mags]

Glad you found it. I have not tried the plug method.

The bore squeeg-e's came today. I put one in a brass casing and fed this one into the breech to plug the barrel at the receiver end. Using the medicine dropper squirted 1/2 tsp of Tetra Gun into the muzzle followed by the other squeeg-e to plug the muzzle. I then rotated the Henry in various orientations to distribute the Tetra Gun throughout the bore. Let it soak for 20 minutes. Then with dry swabs cleaned it all out and repeated the process a 2nd time.

I got a lot of purple. I was not expecting purple. I don't know what to make of the purple. What is purple, I was expecting bluish green.

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First pass

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2nd pass

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[JEBar]

what color is the solvent

if not purple, could it be a chemical reaction with the last cleaner/lubricant you used

[GFK]

The squeegee is very interesting. I may have to try one. I typically get a purplish tint as well. I just keep cleaning until it is pretty much gone. I also used a brass brush and tornado brush as well. As I recall, I spent a couple of days initially on the process. I worked on it a few hours each day. Now, I may spend a couple of hours one day (soak time mostly), and an hour or do the next day. I seem to get a purple color patch (like yours) on the next day as well. But, the next few patches are clean. Then, I check the barrel with a bore light. Once I see no more copper, I am a happy camper. I would just keep cleaning and use a bore light to check my progress. It seem like you are making progress. Just may have been a lot of copper fouling in the barrel.

[PT7]

I'm a little late getting to this thread.

Recently in another thread http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=719 I mentioned that I changed my cleaning routine and used rolled-up patches to block each end of barrel, and I soaked it for about 1-1/2 hours using Sea Foam. The "soaking" I believe provides a better, easier cleaning job for me.

I'd also like to comment on the OP's question below. There may be certain ammo brands that "fire cleaner," but once you pull that trigger on a clean firearm, it's dirty again. One range visit I had a few years ago, the RO called a cease-fire due to a thunderstorm moving overhead, and it generated some lightning. They fairly quickly closed the range, and we all had to leave. I had my SP101 .357 Mag. revolver that day and had only shot 3 rounds. Looked it over when I got home, ready to clean, and it was interesting to see how dirty the three cylinder chambers were against the two unfired ones. Of course the barrel was also dirty. So again, pull the trigger = a dirty firearm. Taught me I'll always need to pull out the patches and cleaning rod!! Such is the way of it, ad infinitum.

Not at all scientific; just what I saw. And probably less than those usual two cents.
Have a good day.
PT7

I tried some web searches looking for ammo that fires cleaner. Is there such a thing?

[Mags]

what color is the solvent

colorless/opaque, is best way I can describe it.

[Mags]

Recently in another thread http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=719 I mentioned that I changed my cleaning routine and used rolled-up patches to block each end of barrel...

...There may be certain ammo brands that "fire cleaner," but once you pull that trigger on a clean firearm, it's dirty again...

Looks like the older thread I was referring to in my earlier post above. Where I got the idea from to plug the bore ends and soak. I didn't want seepage is why I chose to use the squeeg-e instead of rolled swabs. Thank you for the soak idea.

No doubt. Obvious truth in pulling the trigger it's dirty again. What I was getting at is it seems my Henry is dirtier after a firing session than my other firearms. Cleaning both side by side, takes more swabs to clean out my Henry and the initial swabs are blacker. From there this topic segwayed into copper fouling.

I haven't observed the orange copper fouling that GFK shows in his pictures. I discovered it earlier while running a sopping wet swab with Hoppes through the bore and getting blue/green gunk out of the bore. I knew what I was doing wasn't going be particularly effective at getting the copper out. So your plug the barrel soak idea I adopted from memory, put together with GFK's using Tetra Gun. Since then you provided the link I couldn't find earlier, from the details there I should be soaking over night and keep at it until I get no more purple. I just don't want purple to be a sign I'm eating out my bore.

I have to surmise that Henry must have put a lot of ammo down range during their test firing for the level of copper fouling I'm getting out.

[GFK]

I discovered it earlier while running a sopping wet swab with Hoppes through the bore and getting blue/green gunk out of the bore. I knew what I was doing wasn't going be particularly effective at getting the copper out. So your plug the barrel soak idea I adopted from memory, put together with GFK's using Tetra Gun. Since then you provided the link I couldn't find earlier, from the details there I should be soaking over night and keep at it until I get no more purple. I just don't want purple to be a sign I'm eating out my bore.

I have to surmise that Henry must have put a lot of ammo down range during their test firing for the level of copper fouling I'm getting out.

I originally noticed the copper fouling while using Hoppe's as well. The longest I have let the stuff soak so far is about 1-1 1/2 hour (wife wanted to go to the store). The directions on the bottle state 15-30 minutes. I try and follow the directions unless something comes up (i.e. wife wanting a driver for a store run).

I also thought Henry must have fired a few test rounds. I looked at a 2018 H009 earlier and noticed no copper streaks. So, someone at the factory knows how to clean a barrel. I guess it is not a fun job to have or not considered important (Being, it is going to get dirty anyway. Why worry about it? Let the owner clean it to his or her heart delights. It works, and that is good enough). Just a thought.

[Mags]

I tested Tetra on some copper pennies and got purple. Initially, like within the first 20-30 minutes the copper on the pennies got cleaner without any sign of purple. I went about my day's tasks and came back to the pennies late afternoon. And there is purple. OK so now I'm truly convinced that with Tetra Gun purple means the presence of copper and not something else going on.

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[GFK]

Good for you. Now, all that is left is to get the rest out of the barrel. The delay in turning purple could be due to the amount of copper in the pennies. Pennies made in 1982 and prior made more copper (95%) than those later (2.5%).

http://m.nbc12.com/story/17003531/jens-coin-story

[Mags]

... The delay in turning purple could be due to the amount of copper in the pennies. Pennies made in 1982 and prior made more copper (95%) than those later (2.5%).

I know. That's why I used two different pennies. The one on the right 1973 and left 2013. Although copper content is different, I believe the penny surface is 100% copper. The pennies were left unattended so I couldn't say which if either went purple first. Before I flipped the 1973 they looked the same.

If the time it took to turn purple on pennies is any indication, then the 20-30 minutes soak time listed on the bottle isn't near enough. Yup now it's time to give another go or few at the Henry.

Since this topic has wondered off into cleaning, I'm redirecting/resuming this in the cleaning forum under the copper fouling topic.
http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.p ... 091#p67091

[JEBar]

Mags ...

just curious .... how many rounds would you estimate you have fired through that barrel ....

[Mags]

Mags ... just curious .... how many rounds would you estimate you have fired through that barrel ....

http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.p ... 124#p67106