Suggestions for cleaning SxS barrels

[General Ledger]

I've been trying to clean the "stuff" out of my SxS and no matter how many patches I run through the barrels, using Lucas solvent, I can't get the barrels clean/shiny. I've also used a brass brush, but again, can't get them clean.

 

Any suggestions?

 

Thanks!

 

GL

[Eyesa Horg]

Try a tornado brush.

If you're getting nasties at the forcing cones, lengthening and polishing them does wonders and reduces recoil noticeably. Otherwise try shooting a handful of real BP shells thru it and then spritz in some Windex/Vinegar and plug the barrels for ten minutes while rotating occasionally . Then push a quarter sheet of paper towel thru from the breach. Most of the crud will come out the first time. If not repeat.

Don't let the Windex with vinegar sit on any blueing, I've been told that it will remove blueing. I just wipe it off the outside and haven't had any issues. Good Luck

[Oklahoma Dee]

Hmmmmm, never used that Lucas solvent.  Are you shooting black powder subs?

 

I do use any carb cleaner spray, from the chambers to the far end of the barrels....followed by a long brass brush up and down 3 -4 times.  Usually that breaks the plastic wad debris, carbon, etc...., then one to three cloth patches coated with Hornady one shot gun cleaner and lube. from the chambers to the end of the barrels.

 

How old is this SxS?

 

 

 

 

[Jack Spade]

Old trap shooter's trick.  Spray the barrels liberally with WD-40.   Let sit for about 5 mins.  Use a brass brush or a tornado brush several passes, 3-4. Then I run a bore snake through them.   My skb barrels shine like mirrors.  

[General Ledger]

Thanks Pards! Oklahoma Dee-I don't shoot BP. Also, the shotgun is brand new. Only used 50 rounds-2 matches

[Scarlett]

3 minutes ago, General Ledger said:

Thanks Pards! Oklahoma Dee-I don't shoot BP. Also, the shotgun is brand new. Only used 50 rounds-2 matches

The Hornady One Shot Gun Cleaner & Lube that @Oklahoma Dee mentioned is really good. I bought it by accident - meant to get the case lube. Couldn’t return it so I used it and love it. I’m now selling it!
 

FWIW, you won’t have these issues if you switch to Frontier Cartridge! 😉😘😂. A couple of squirts of the windex or PAM (peroxide alcohol Murphy’s oil soap in equal parts which I use) and a couple of patches and SHINY! Especially if you use fiber wads!  
 

Good luck! 
 

Hugs!

Scarlett

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708]

Brownell's has a "dingle-ball" barrel honing tool for 12 gauge barrels.   A "cheaper" new factory barrel set is probably not well honed!   Get the roughness off the barrel bore and forcing cone (especially) and it cleans up real quick with Carb Cleaner and a tornado brush.  Don't get that on the oiled wood stock sections - it pulls the finish quickly!

 

If you don't want to spend $60 or so for the ball hone, then take a 12 gauge brass brush on couple sections of cleaning rod, wrap the brush with a layer of FINE steel wool, and add a little automotive polishing compound worked into the steel  wool.   Using a cordless drill, run that through the forcing cone and barrel until it shines.  Clean out with any good solvent.    good luck, GJ

Edited September 23 by Garrison Joe, SASS #60708

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

Try a 10ga brass bore brush.

[WindyCity Red]

Try Brownells shotgun wad solvent.

It's a  beautiful thing.

[Diamond Jake]

Here's an easy trick:

 

Take a strip of toilet paper about 24-36".  Wad it up so it's a tight fit in your chamber.  Squirt it with lube of choice (I use Windex with vinegar for both BP and smokeless) and shove it in the chamber.  Use a STOUT cleaning rod (I use a Muzzle loader steel cleaning rod) and shove it through the barrels.  perfect tightness you'll hear a squeaking noise as you push it through.  They're usually shinny clean with one pass.

 

If you have a tornado brush, use that one pass before the TP.

[Rye Miles #13621]

I use CLP on all my guns. On the shotgun I spray liberally with CLP then brush with a brass brush, then go over with a soft brush and it comes out great! 

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

PLUS ONE fer SCARLETT ABSOLYTELY!!

 

PLUS ONE fer Rye Miles too!!

 

APP cleans up SO EASY!!  Squirt the bores, squirt a Blue Paper Towel wrapped brass brush, couple passes, DONE!!

[Scarlett]

13 hours ago, General Ledger said:

Thanks Pards! Oklahoma Dee-I don't shoot BP. Also, the shotgun is brand new. Only used 50 rounds-2 matches

 

 

@General Ledgeryou said that wrong, you should have said, “ I don’t shoot BP YET!” 😉😘😂

 

Hugs and SMOKE!!

Scarlett

[El Chapo]

I use moose milk (a mixture of ballistol and water).  Plug your barrels with a paper towel, soak them for 5-10 minutes, and then send a wadded up paper towel from breech to muzzle in both barrels.  Even in camp, this is sufficient to push out all of the melted plastic and powder residue.  I generally don't worry too much about smokeless rounds but I do this every day in camp for (real) black powder and it works great.

[Eyesa Horg]

I find BP in the shotgun is actually easier to clean than smokeless!

 

It's pretty amazing how well BP will clean your revolvers too. It gets that ring off the front of the cylinder and the baked on carbon between the back strap and barrel too! Then clean with a bit if moose milk, easy peasy!

[Irish Pat]

One of my friends i rented a house with at Comin at Cha got in the shower with his double barrel shotgun barrels... I wish I had not seen that.  I still have some flash backs of PTSD from what i saw. Irish Pat 

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

Hoppes #9.   

Wrap a cleaning patch around a 12 gauge brass brush.

A couple of squirts of Gunscubber helps too.

So does the 12 gauge "mop" that came with your cleaning kit.

Works like a charm.

[Choctaw Jack]

I use Ed's Red (home-made)Solvent on all my firearms, SG included. 

Cleans shotgun bores as well as any commercial solvents I've tried. An added plus is that all of the ingredients are stuff I had in my shop anyway, and if you have to buy them, for a minimal investment, you'll have cleaning solvent for a long time.

I use this recipe:

Equal parts of

Kerosene (regular or odorless)

Mineral Spirits (regular or  odorless)

ATF( Use Dexron III ONLY)

Acetone

It's best stored in a glass container,as the acetone can soften plastic containers.

It may also remove stock finish if left in contact too long. I've been using this stuff for years and haven't had a problem ,so far.

As usual,YMMV.

Choctaw Jack 

[SnakeM]

Got tired of arm wrestling a bore snake and endless patches on the traditional rod.

 

So got this! Work great!!

https://shotgunsportsmagazine.com/shop/product/big-brute-new-improved

 

Edited September 24 by SnakeM

[Slick McClade]

Ok Dee and some others are on the right track. Carburetor cleaner works wonders, followed up by a bronze bore brush. I’ll always finish mine off with a bore mop coated with oil.

 

Slick 

[Old Man Graybeard]

One of the best things they have come out with is a 12 gauge jag. I use about 1/4 blue paper shop towel...spray the barrels with PAM...let them soak a bit...soak the piece of blue towel with PAM...start working the towel...folded up on the jag...up and down the barrel...progressively farther each time...usually one or two passes and the barrels are clean and shiny. I am mostly using either APP or real black and it works well with either

[Sgt. Hochbauer, SASS #64409]

I take the barrel off and run hot water through each side,then push a rolled up quarter sheet of paper towel through each side. Usually cleans up nice on the first try. Then after making sure its dry then run a patch with some ballistol  through. I do shoot real BP and it is easy to clean up. Its a bit more work cleaning up my 87 but not as simple as cleaning the double. 

 

 

Hochbauer

[KatfishKid]

Fastest way I've found so far for me is to spray some hoppes #9 foaming bore cleaner in the barrels after I shoot, let em sit while I'm wiping down my other guns and then run a tornado brush through each barrel once, then a bore snake with a bit of ezox on it once through each barrel.  

[General Ledger]

I really appreciate all your suggestions!!!I really appreciate all the suggestions!!! 

[Turquoise Bill, SASS #39118]

I have tried a lot of different methods this stuff works great! Spray a little in each end of the barrels (breach & muzzle) let it soak for 15-20 minutes, run a clean patch through each barrel with a brush attached  behind the patch, you will be amazed as to what comes out. I then run a clean patch down each barrel and the bores are bright and shinny. Real easy with this stuff.

 

https://shooters-choice.com/shotgun-and-choke-tube-cleaner/

 

TB

Edited September 30 by Turquoise Bill, SASS #39118

[Lazy Eeyour]

I use Ed's Red and a turbo brush. It contains acetone. Acetone loosens the plastic from the wad. Be careful, as acetone will also affect the finish.