Bar Keeper's Friend for bore polishing

[Hammond79]

Alright this might be a stupid question but is Bar Keeper's Friend (powder) an acceptable substance for smoothing a rough bore. I've never heard of using it. But I figured I would ask considering the wonders it does on pots and pans.

I understand it's acidic so that might make it undesirable.

I look forward to thoughts from those with much more experience and knowledge.

Thank you

 

[bigstick6017555]

It has Oxalic acid (rust remover), and yes I have tried it and it seemed to do a decent job. just do a good thorough flush with detergent and clean water, and dry and oil when done. Nothing really super special from other products.

 

[Maven]

I think I'd try Bon Ami ("Hasn't Scratched Yet"), i.e., a slurry of Bon Ami and ATF + Marvel Mystery Oil before Barkeeper's Friend. Just sayin....

 

[LME]

I think I'd try Bon Ami ("Hasn't Scratched Yet"), i.e., a slurry of Bon Ami and ATF + Marvel Mystery Oil before Barkeeper's Friend. Just sayin....

The best and cheapest product I have found is car compound. There are two grits and one should work. It is water soluable as well. If you have ever compounded a car you know it will do a great job? You can pay more but you can't get anything better.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

I like a chunk of red scotchbrite pad well oiled on a snug jag to do this. It will knock the rough edges of the rifling and make a sharp rifled barrel smoother to load. If anything accuracy will improve, and patches can be saved from tears and blowouts.

 

[kansas_volunteer]

Oxalic acid is also a wood lightener or bleach.

 

[Hammond79]

Oxalic acid is also a wood lightener or bleach.

Good to know

 

[Eric Krewson]

I oiled the bore of my Rice .54 barrel with Rem oil, I came back and looked at it 6 months later and found a red potato patch in the bore.

I scrubbed and scrubbed but the bore was pitted, I shot the rifle and only got 5" groups at 50 yards, the patches were shreaded, I can't stand a poor shooting rifle.

I thought to myself, "I am going to fix this bore or ruin it". I cut a square of green scotch bright pad, soaked it in soft scrub kitchen cleaner and went to work on the bore. After a while I could see metal flakes on the pad, my bore scope showed that I had rounded off the edges of the lands. After seeing this, I thought I had ruined the bore but decided to take a few test shots to see if I did.

First shot from 50 yards with 80gr of 2F, a .015 patch and a .530 ball, in the bull, second shot touching the first and third touching as well. I could have reshot the patches.

Well, I will be darned.

Here is my bore after the scrub, just a little pitting left at the breech, I didn't take a before picture but it was bad. The ring closer to the camera is a reflection of the breech plug. There is not a sharp edge on any of the lands.