Does My Model 92 have A Bad Bore, Or Rather Lead Build-up?

[southfork]

Looking Down the bore of a 1909 vintage Model 92 rifle in Cal. 25-20, I got discouraged because the rifling looked pretty bad. So, I ran a wire brush through the barrel a bunch of times, but it still looked almost as bad. I began to wonder, however, whether it's all leaded up, because it doesn't look so much pitted, as gunked up. Is there a way to tell for sure if a bore has severe lead build-up? AND, what would be the proper way to remove lead from the riflings if it is lead? Sorry for the dumb questions, but I would like to shoot the old Winchester rather than leave it in the cedar chest where it has lain for most of my life (I got the rifle in 1975 after leaving the service, and have never fired it except just once recently after having the firing pin replaced).

[Chuck 100 yd]

Clean it good and see what it looks like after. A chore boy copper scrub pad wrapped around a wire brush is a good method to remove lead. Use it dry!! Any lube will just let it slip right past the lead.

[3leggedturtle]

Where do you fing the choreboy copper scrubbers, been looking in MN and only find copper coated steel ones

[JimT]

I would use something like the OUTERS FOUL OUT II or whatever is currently produced. This gets the bore cleaner than anything, though you do have to find out if you are dealing with lead or copper deposits.

My 94 had both. Use this link to read about it ... on the article, scroll down to the CAST BULLETS section where I describe using the Outers kit .... http://www.leverguns.com/articles/taylo ... 4_3030.htm

[J Miller]

southfork, 3leggedturtle,

Around central IL I could not find the copper scrubbers either. So I went onto the internet. There is a Do It Yourself pest control place that sells a copper mesh to stuff in the cracks around the house. The edges are supposed to dissuade the varmints from entering. The stuff I got looks exactly like the scrubbing pad stuff.
Here's their link:
http://store.doyourownpestcontrol.com/p ... x?iid=1245

The scrubbing pad method is not as efficient as the Outers Foul Out that JimT mentioned but at least it will get most of the lead (if that's the problem) out.
Here's an example of what it will do:

ChoreBoyresults.JPG

And like Chuck100yd said, use the scrubber dry. Solvents like Hoppe's #9 act as a lube and it just slides right over the lead.

Joe

[Tycer]

Even if you find the bore is pitted, it might still shoot great. Even if it does not, a 25-20 barrel liner or rebore to 32-20 will restore it to perfection without breaking the bank.

[Pisgah]

>Where do you fing the choreboy copper scrubbers, been looking in MN and only find copper coated steel ones

Some may howl in protest, but the fact is that the steel ones work as well as the copper and will not harm the bore. Compared to the barrel steel, the steel in cleaning pads is pretty mild stuff. I wouldn't use either every time I cleaned, but for a neglected bore they can work wonders.

[Old Time Hunter]

Here's an example of what it will do:

ChoreBoyresults.JPG

Joe

My Ruger does this too! Gave up slowing down the cast bullets any farther, just clean it out and get about that much lead every time I use it.

[jlchucker]

Try cleaning it with Kroil, leaving the bore wet with Kroil for a couple of hours or more before resuming cleaning. That stuff seems to lift a lot of stuff out of a barrel that you think is already clean. A gunsmith told me about this and it seems to work pretty well--although I've never tried it in a barrel that old.

[Dave]

Sometimes it doesn't hurt to fire a few rounds of jacketed stuff out of a leaded bore to blow some of the lead out.

[Don McDowell]

Put a cleaning jag on your rod, wet a patch with puregumspirits of turpentine. Push that jag and patch thru the bore. Then do a dry patch, repeat until the patches come out with no discoloration.

[2571]

Where do you fing the choreboy copper scrubbers, been looking in MN and only find copper coated steel ones

Any place that sells of stuff to crackheads will have them. Addicts use 'charboys' when they SMOKE cocaine

Amazing what you can learn on a levergun forum, isn't it? :>)

[Cimarron Red]

Don McDowell has a sound method. The first time I used turpentine, I couldn't believe how well it worked! Use repeatedly with a tight patch.

[1886]

I would use something like the OUTERS FOUL OUT II or whatever is currently produced. This gets the bore cleaner than anything, though you do have to find out if you are dealing with lead or copper deposits.

My 94 had both. Use this link to read about it ... on the article, scroll down to the CAST BULLETS section where I describe using the Outers kit .... http://www.leverguns.com/articles/taylo ... 4_3030.htm

Best way to remover lead and copper. Be certain to follow the directions and get all of the oil out of the bore first. 1886.

[pwl44m]

I've just been sitting back listening as I will have this chore in about a week. I bought a nasty looking 92- in 25-20. Will post pics when it comes Home.I could have bought an old box of 25-20 today for 50 bucks but passed, just seemed a little high.

[Don McDowell]

Nice thing about turpentine, 8$ at the local hardware store will get you a quart of the stuff, and that's a heck of alot of barrel cleanin

[J Miller]

Nice thing about turpentine, 8$ at the local hardware store will get you a quart of the stuff, and that's a heck of alot of barrel cleanin

Don,
Never heard of using turpentine as a bore cleaner. Which does it work best on, copper or lead?

Joe

[Don McDowell]

Joe it works on both, but it really peels the lead out . It's the dangedest thing I ever saw. You can feel the patch grabbing lead as it goes down a "clean" bore....

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

Most paint and or hardware stores will have bronze wool. It will usually be in with the steel wool. If yours doesn't have it I know Brownells sells it.

It's not considered safe any more but an old time Gunsmith trick was to plug the breech end with a rubber or tight wooden plug then fill the bore with mercury. It only takes about a minute or two but the mercury will leech the lead out of the bore. When you first pour it in you will see the shiny mercury but it soon turns flat grey in color. That's the lead rising to the top. Yes, the lead will float in the mercury.

BTW, I've used steel wool in old dark bores. It can't really hurt, but I would never use it in a pristine new barrel.