I purchased my first SS barreled rifle just over a year ago, Ruger #1 in 7 STW. As with all new rifles, the first thing I did with it was clean the bore and apply Action Product's Friction Block.
I cleaned the bore with Shooter's Choice on bronze brushes from Midway, followed by dry cotton patches, followed by USP bore paste on a tight cotton patch, followed by dry patches to remove paste, and finally a patch with a couple drops of Hoppe's #9 to remove the last of the paste. Then repeat and repeat again.
Each time I applied the brush and Shooter's choice to the bore I got lots of black gunk which resembled powder fouling from the moly barrels in my past experience. I spent about three hours repeating the procedure listed above. And the black came back each time, until I switched the bronze brush for a patch with Shooter's Choice.
I have never had any such experience with moly barrels. They are always very easy to clean before firing. After firing the powder residue always responds in a predictable manner.
My cousin subsequently bought a Rem 700 Sendero SS in 7STW, and we had the same experience when cleaning it brfore shooting. He finally purchased a nylon brush to use on his rifle.
I also saw the same results when cleaning my new Ruger 77MKII SS in 260 Rem.
Is there an adverse chemical reaction occurring between SS, Shooter's Choice, and the bronze brush?
Is SS just so abrasive to the bronze that it makes things turn black, and why would the color be black instead of bronze colored, if so?
I am not confident in a thorough cleaning job using a nylon bore brush. I now clean the barrels of my SS rifles using the process shown above and repeat once. Then I trade the brush for a patch soaked in Shooter's Choice,and repeat a couple more times. I then leave a final light coat of Hoppe.s in the bore.
Please respond if you know why a SS barrel responds to cleaning in this manner or if you have a cleaning method which works better.

Idaho Shooter

Here's how I clean both my Howa 1500 and Sako 75 (both are SS):

1) Push through a patch soaked in Shooters Choice to remove loose powder fouling.

2) Wet a brass brush with SC and run it back a forth as many times as rounds shot. I push the brush about halfway out the muzzle and pull back in.

3) Clean out gunk with alternating wet and dry patches. Wet patches are soaked in SC. I continue until blue copper residue is faint on the patch.

4) Dry bore with as many patches as necessary.

5) If the rifle has been shot more than 20 rounds since its last cleaning, I clean out the copper buildup with Sweet's 7.62 FOLLOWING THE DIRECTIONS LIKE THEY WERE THE BIBLE.

6) Finish off with two patches wet in Break Free CLP, and dry patches until bore is dry. CLP will remian in the metal's pores to protect it.

[ 12-23-2002, 07:28: Message edited by: ksduckhunter ]

Have you tried wipeuot?

It may be your answer. And if your time has any value whatsoever, it beats the clock out of shoving in patch suppositories for three hours!!

ksduckhunter,
I am not familiar with Break Free CLP. Who makes it, and where do you get it. I might be interested in getting some if it will protect the bore better than a light coat of Hoppes # 9.
I always wondered about leaving #9 in the bore. It is a Cu solvent after all, if a weak one. Though I think it has little or no ammonia.