doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Gun powder accumulations in barrels during use

I was always told to wipe the bores free of any oils before use, although I will admit to seldom doing so. I believe these instructions come in most owner's manuals, but the reason why is never given. One thing I've noticed with no consistency is that sometimes powder will really accumulate in the bores, particularly right in front of the chamber. I've noticed a lot of fouling before, but then I might or might not notice it to be less after the next shot. I was shooting a Parker 12ga with RST's recently and thought the first 3 or 4 inches past the chamber looked like a Chia pet was growing inside. I was wondering if the powder, soot, or whatever it is probably absorbs the oil in the bore. Under the right conditions, could this build up result in enough of a "partial obstruction" to cause a pressure spike or other such problems?

If you think this is a stupid question, then please keep that thought to yourself.

I do not believe that gunpowder residue and bore oil creates any type of coagulate, or substance that can build up to dangerous levels. The sealing of the wad, whether it is fiber or poly, is enough, IMO, to wipe the bore pretty doggone clean after each shot. Even the shot load itself, in the case of a "naked" payload which has no shot wrapper preventing it from contacting the bore, would remove any previous deposits, with the exception of leading and maybe some plastic buildup. In high volume shooting, like 1000+ rounds in three hours, I've never seen buildup become a problem in the bores. Chambers are a different matter, as plastic will build up to the point that the gun will start ejecting the hulls sluggishly or not at all, and require a quick chamber brushing to restore function. What you see deposited there in the bore is from the previous shot. I have never wiped the bore dry before firing a shotgun, but will own up to not using large amounts of bore protector. I feel a film is all that's needed. Rifles, and muzzleloaders are exceptions. I always wipe them dry before shooting, even to the point of pouring alcohol down the bore of the m/l and letting it run out at the breech to dry it completely of oil, but that is to prevent a misfire, not for safety sake necessarily.

I see varying amounts of residue in my shotgun bores, from different shells and loads, but never enough to look anywhere near dangerous. I'd like to see what that looks like in your barrels, from the RSTs. Wish you could take a pic and post it.

SRH

I believe the reason one wants to get all of the oil out of the barrel prior to shooting is to prevent 'rivelling'. I have to admit, and before I knew any better, to having had shot guns with oil in the barrels, with no ill effect. I know this rivelling effect can occur, I've just never had it happen. My guess is, it happens more likely in guns with thin barrel walls. But, I'm not sure if anyone really knows what causes rivelling for sure.

I knew the owner of a shot gun range who was a championship skeet shooter. There is a wall in the club house literally filled with awards for winning. She always said why clean the bores. They are cleaned each time you shoot. She shot Remington 1100's and a Krieghoff. I don't think she was kidding and she probably shot a million rounds.

I am always concerned that the residue will hold moisture and cause a problem. I have no idea where I got that idea. I spend too much time cleaning my guns but I rarely shoot the same gun twice in a row or even twice in a month so it does sit in the safe for long periods.

I gun under unspeakable conditions, as did generations of my family on the rocky, salt-laden shores of Nova Scotia. Our guns received a modicum of care, a pull-through every week or two and a wipe with an oily rag. Now, fading into obscurity, I handle them more tenderly, more to honour the memories. I believe my guns are more at risk to abuse from unnecessary fiddling.

I see lots of vintage doubles with significant pitting just past the forcing cones, and am of the opinion that plastic and powder residue can build up at the bottom/within/above those craters. Some are close enough to the breech that I can feel the rough edges of the pit if a 12 or 10g.
Possibly a justification for EXPERT honing.

Drew,
Am I correct that your opinion in regards to "hone or not to hone" has definitely solidified in the "hone" camp.

Drew, is the significant pitting from high volume or abuse i.e. insufficient cleaning or neglect?

I've seen family sealing guns, Tobins, without pitting, at least 100 years old. My old gunning, subsistence/market hunting relatives wouldn't put more than 250-500 through in a year. No plastic, though.

Non-corrosive primers that did not leave a residue of hygroscopic potassium chloride salt were not available until the 1920s. Powder (and later plastic) residue over salt over steel = pits. And I've seen some unbelievable craters just past the forcing cones.

Yes, I am in the EXPERT honing camp, and have been amazed that what I thought to be at least moderate pitting was cleaned up with only .0015 of barrel wall removal. If .0015 renders the barrel unsafe, it was likely unsafe to start with.

As a victim of a public education from K past post-graduate in the great state of Missouri, I could be wrong

Chrome lined bores are probably the best innovation in shotgun barrels in the last few decades. While it is not a necessity, and proper maintenance makes it moot, there will be many more perfect Beretta, Benelli, Perazzi, etc. barrels than American manufacturers who don't plate. Chrome lining is nigh immune to corrosion, and much quicker, and easier, to get squeaky clean.

There are just too many shooters out there who never clean their barrel bores.

SRH