Advice on best method of cleaning an air rifle bore, post-bluing

[CapitalBee]

HI, I just wanted advice on the best method of cleaning an air rifle bore after it has come back from bluing. I have an HW95 carbine barrel I recently purchased from off of the forum. It had been reblued with Colin Molloy. I was able to remove a lot of staining from the bore, but just wondered the best method for cleaning. I've used pull thro's and Ballistol and a .177 mop and bore cleaner.

[Mat E Lot]

Speaking without the benefit of personal experience I would just try and shoot it clean if it is shooting straight that is.Harry.

[deejayuu]

The US Military published the results of a trial to determine the effect of plugging/not plugging barrels for rebluing. Loads of data but basically no detrimental effects with no plugif I remember right there was some improved.
Will try to find it if interested.

[CapitalBee]

Well, I cleaned mine and had a 1fpe increase, but I don't think it's fully clean, hence my question.

[Doxbox]

Just shoot it. Unless bore was scrubbed out before blueing its unlikely much will have happened in the tube. Lead residue doesn't take blueing too well!

[Hsing-ee]

Well, I cleaned mine and had a 1fpe increase, but I don't think it's fully clean, hence my question.

Hi, if that is the 95K barrel I sold you, it was reblued by RichardH and I put alot of 3-In-1 in the bore to keep it from rusting. Usually I tell people when I do things like that, sorry I should have said for you to run a few patches through it to get it dry again. Sorry.

[CapitalBee]

Alistair, I think you did, but I had some really black gunk come out when I gave it the Balistol and pull thro' treatment, which got me slightly paranoid. I've been putting a fair few pellets thro' it now and it's looking very clean upon inspection. I also sourced a very nice blued steel silencer from Konceptus which sets it all off very nicely

[RichardH]

If it's one of mine the salts will have all been removed before return.

My salts will appear a green/brown in the unlikely event any remain, pull it through with meths or thinners to remove any oil and a syringe of boiling water will remove any residual salts instantly.

Then pull through with oil as the meths will remove the protective coating I added afterwards.

If you aren't happy to do this (and it's definitely one of mine!!) pop it in the post and I will do it for you.

Regards

Rich

[thisisdonald]

I fume blued an old barrel and didnt plug - I did use a bronze brush after each boil.. my advise would be plug it if you are fume bluing - there is definitely some pitting to the bore... on the other hand, there was some pitting on the barrel as well as I think my fume box was too small and the acid concentrated a little too much.