Just got back from the rifle range after working up a load for moose in my Ruger m77 in 7mm rem mag.
After only 11 rounds it began to shoot the odd flyer.The load was 57 grains of IMR 4350 pushing a speer 175 grain mag tip seated to 3.255 oal.When I got home I went to clean the barrel before storing it and was shocked at the fouling I encountered.In the over 20 years that I have had this rifle I have never see this occur.Never mind after only 11 rounds. First swabs were jet black .One hour later and still not coming totally clean.Using Barnes CR 10 as a solvent as well as Hoppes #9 and patches still showing lots of color.Is this a bullet problem or am I missing something? Any help would be appreciated.

[ 09-26-2003, 07:04: Message edited by: turnerhunter ]

Are you using the same bullets you have used in the past? You didn't mention changing brands. If you did, I'd be suspect of the bullets.

This is the first time that I have loaded the mag tips.I have loaded other Speer bullets including Grand slams and have not had a problem.

turnerhunter,

You may have a build up of copper in your bore. Have you ever used an ammonia based copper remover? If not, then there is a good chance that you have alot of copper in your bore.

I use Sweets with a nylon brush to remove copper. Swab it thru a few times and leave it in the bore for about 3 - 6 minutes. Don't use as brass brush and dont leave any ammonia based cleaners in your bore for more than 10 minutes.

Run several patches thru the bore until they come out without any blue coloring.

Flush the bore out with Hoppes #9 both before and after using any ammonia based cleaner.

You know you have copper in your bore when you see blue on your cleaning patches.

I believe that the Barnes CR 10 has ammonia in it.It does turn the patches blue.The Hoppes patches come out green.

Blaze is on to something. You may be dealing with 20yrs worth of copper fouling that you were not aware of. If there is any, Sweets will take it out, but you may have to work at it a bit. Good luck, let us know what transpires.

Thanks guys.I will pick up some Sweets and give it a try.I have always used Hoppes #9 in this rifle since new.I thought that it was effective,but now I am not so sure.

While I have just about all of the stuff including three bore pastes and an Outers Foul Out kit I just use Hoppes #9 and a brass brush.

But some bores foul up finally and then I can feel it in the throat in particular with the brass brush. When this rough stuff is detected I use Remington Bore cleaner which is a very mild abrasive on a patch that's wrapped on a smaller bronze brush. It works for me.

Try a can of WIPE-OUT and you will be amazed how this stuff works and what comes out of your bore.

Good Shooting,
Ben H

I'll second what Ben says. Wipe out is marvelous stuff. - Dan