Crud ring,

[jdw276]

Ok, shooting 40 cal, 42", colerain, roundbottom groove, 40gr ole eynsforth, .390 roundball and seem to be getting a tough crud ring about 5" above the powder charge. Tough to get the load past this spot to avoid a short start. I do NOT swab between shots but just run a damp patch when tough to load. Damp patch seems to clean it up for ease of loading.

So question, what is creating this crud ring and why above the charge? Was using store bought patches pre lubed .015 i believe. Crud ring or rough loading spot this far down the barrel is new to me. Used to tough loading first 6" or so from the muzzle but the the patch settles in the rifling and the load can be shoved down pretty easily. I have not run my bore scope down to see if that spot has issues.

 

[deermanok]

Are you using real black powder or a sub?

 

[jdw276]

Are you using real black powder or a sub?

3f ole eynsforth. 40ge charge.

 

[Crow-Feather]

Are you using any petroleum product, in cleaning or loading? Also, try 35 grains.

 

[deermanok]

3f ole eynsforth. 40ge charge.

Interesting, I use Old Ensyford 3f powder in my 45 caliber rifle.
60 grains under a patched ball.
I hardly have to swab between shots.

 

[deermanok]

Just a side note, I use dry cotton patches, .010" thick.
I mostly use saliva for a lube, good old spit patch.
Crisco is another thing I use for a lube.

 

[Grimord]

The bore scope will tell you if there is a rough spot in the bore. If so, some JB bore paste on a tight patched jag will remove the roughness with a few strokes.

 

[hanshi]

Crud rings mostly occur 2 or 3 inches from the breech plug. Sounds like you may have bore roughness at that area that's fouling up. If J&B doesn't get it out a Scotch-Bright patch should do it. And don't be afraid to use 0000 steel wool if you have to.

 

[jdw276]

Ok so bore scope show a light grey (black white scope) in the rifling. Probably from this dumby not quite getting all the crud out when cleaning. So brushed with 40 cal brush, i know do not use, but seemed to make the grey matter in the black grooves, rifling, smaller areas. Continue with brushing? Lapping compound would do the lands but not get in the rifling as much correct? The lands look good, it is the rifling which would make sense. Patch material fills the rifling as loading, hits spot, tough to drive through to finish loading. When running a ballistol pacth after i scrub i am not getting red rust, but just a more grey patch.

Keep doing what i am doing to get rid of the grey matter in the rifling? Different technique? Do a better job cleaning after shooting? Other tools? Thoughts? Hanshi have not gone to the scotch brite or steel wool yet. Would those do better getting into the rifling for cleanup?

 

[hanshi]

I've used both on occasion, jdw276. You're actually safe using either one as long as you're not overly zealous with them. My favorite .45 has a "rough" spot in the bore and I've used 0000 steel wool to smooth it up just a bit. No accuracy problems with the rifle, it just collected more fouling at that spot before I polished it.

 

[Uncle Miltie]

Smaller calibers demand more frequent cleaning between shots: cleaning your barrel every third shot will help.

 

[Johnny Tremain]

C.R.U.D. Creek River Unidentified Deposits.
A nuclear term for the first radioactive particles found in the water system of the Creek River plant.

Dont need a bore light, it should glow

 

[Don Steele]

To address your existing "Crud"...Hanshi's recommendations are Spot On.
In the future I suggest that you try changing patches. I caution folks against the use of pre-lubed patches. Some work good, some great, some awful. Age of the pre-lubed patches is a factor. A far better choice is to purchase un-lubed patches, or bulk patch material and test some of the ( literally) thousands of lubes available either commercially or homemade. Find what works best in your rifle, write it down ( you do keep a log don't you..??) and ENJOY.
My 40 cal. SMR has a Rice barrel, square bottom rifling. I shoot 3f Goex 35-55 gns. I do a LOT of testing of components "Just because". I'm a scientist by training ( Chemist actually) and enjoy experimentation. Some years ago I saw posts online about using pure Neatsfoot Oil ( not the Neatsfoot compound or blend product)as a patch lube. I happened to have some soooo....off to the range I went. It loaded well and shot well but over the course of those range sessions...I discovered that I was getting a "Crud ring" deep in the barrel as some others have noted, just a few inches off the breech face. Of the many I've tested Pure Neatsfoot Oil is the only lube that has produced such an issue. Other folks use it and have No issues. Go figure.