Black streaks on patches

[VEARL]

I cleaned my 58 cal. rifle and got some patches that had black streaks where the patch came into contact with the grooves. Shows up very dark (blackish gray) on a patch as I start to dry the barrel.As I progress to additional dry patches, it becomes less noticeable. They are not brownish in color, so I don't think it is rust. Thinking it might be lead build up in the barrel. Think the previous owner shot only conicals. Barrel is otherwise smooth as glass.
What is good to help in getting the lead from the barrel?

 

[jamesthomas]

I don't think it's lead. I get those black streaks when I use Mink oil, it's just black powder residue. Use two or three squirts of dawn with some water and it will come clean after about three patches. Thats in my case, yours may vary.

 

[Matt85]

im betten its just powder residue. leading wont come outa the barrel with just patches.

i like to pour a 1/4 cup of denatured alchohol in my barrel with the nipple or vent plugged and slosh it around a bunch to loosen up such residue. let the alchohol soak in and you will be surprised how much stuff comes out.

 

[LeMat1856]

Vearl,

just out of curiosity, how have you been cleaning the bore ? i know of two methods: dry and wet...


:v

~d~

 

[VEARL]

Warm water and a little Dawn soap. After cleaning, I dry the bore and oil it. The next day I can put a dry patch down the bore and there it is again. Put several more dry patches down the bore and they seems to disappear on the patches.
Beginning to unnerve me.

 

[Flash Pan Dan]

I believe what you are getting is graphite from the coating on the powder granules. It’s like someone took a No. 2 pencil and ran it up and down your bore. Nothing to worry about unless you are one of those clean freaks that has to wear out their barrels trying to get every speck of schmutz out.

 

[stormcrow]

You may want to try a patch with JB's bore paste, followed by a good alcohol cleaning. If it's not rust that should cure the problem, whatever it may be.

 

[Bill Hall]

I get that same thing from time to time. I always figured it was something like Flash Pan Dan described, just a little something something that was left over, even after swabbing with water and dish soap. Just off the top of my head, if I use a really tight patch when drying the bore, then just a little wd-40 on a tight patch, it seems to wipe that stuff out of there on the first go.

Anyway, if that doesn't work, I wouldn't worry about it. If it's just a small amount of residue, and you oil the bore properly, it shouldn't be a problem. If you absolutely must have a squeaky clean bore, then keep doing what you're doing, run a couple of patches down the bore the day after you initially clean it. Bill

 

[VEARL]

I may try some of that paste and see what happens.
Not a real clean freak...just don't like to leave harmful stuff in my guns.
When I bought the gun used, it was not in the best of shape. At least I find no evidence of pitting.
Going to remove the blueing ( whats left of it) and Brown the barrel and the furniture. Leave lock as it is.
That would make me a good Winter project and out of the wife's sight. :thumbsup:

 

[LeMat1856]

Vearl,

i might simply suggest a little more "elbow" grease.. sounds to me like you're not using any wire brushes or jags to sufficiently agitate the bore surface.

usually i cut a cleaning patch in half and wrap that around a wire brush soaked in the warm soapy water, or just for fun, use Hoppes #9 plus, which is both BP cleaner and bore lube.. one 8 oz. container will last a long time.

check back if the problem doesn't disappear,

:hatsoff: ~dg~

 

[Rifleman1776]

What is good to help in getting the lead from the barrel?

What are you shooting from that barrel? Patched round balls or bare bullets?
A prb does not leave leading in the bore.
You just need to explore a more thourough cleaning technique.

 

[VEARL]

Cleaned the barrel several times with warm water and Dawn soap. Don't have a bore brush, but used a thick patch over jag and pumped water in and out till I thought my arm was coming off.
On advice from a local gunsmith, I went and bought some brake cleaner.
Filled the bore and let it set for a day. Poured it out and refilled with fresh cleaner and sat for another day.
Had more crud come out of the bore. Washed it with another bucket of warm water and soap. Dried real well. Put my new bore light down it and saw that it was really clean looking. Some very minor pitting at the breech area. Oiled it with a good gun oil.

 

[Ken Rummer]

I found the same problem. After a good soap and water cleaning I dry the bore, then run a Ballistol wet patch down the barrel. The Ballistol seems to get under the graphite flakes and loosen them so the patch picks them up. I have spent as long as 10 minutes using the Ballistol wipes and the graphite is still showing up on the patch. I don't worry about it any more. As long as the stuff on the patch looks like graphite it's clean.