Is it me or to big bores tend to jacket foul a heck of a lot more than small bores?

Starting at .338 with two different PacNor SuperMatch barrels, .358, .375, .411 and ESPECIALLY .458s foul so much it looks like the barrel was made from jacket material.

Accuracy is fine but it sure is worrisome see all that copper based metal fouling in there. Living on a north Pacific island with no place further than 15 miles from saltwater, corrosion and galvanic action are constant companions around here.

Got somebody you don't like? Hide a few chunks of copper wire in the bilge of their aluminum skiff and they'll corrode through 3/16" plate in less than a year.

while you may have a barrel that fouls a bunch - however, if the SD is constant, there is less relative jacket material touching the barrel

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Square-cube_law

In my opinion big bores foul less than small bores. Ever see a .17 Rem foul? Sometimes a button rifled barrel will foul for awhile. I Use JB paste on a wire brush wrapped with a cotton patch to remove it.Do this every 20 rnds. Then oil. After a few hundred rounds the fouling disappears.

You can sure see the fouling down a 458 cal barrel much more than the smaller cals.

quote:

Originally posted by Dead Eye:
You can sure see the fouling down a 458 cal barrel much more than the smaller cals.

+1

I'd always used Shooter's Choice for copper fouling, but just tried the Barne's equivalent and it worked great. Need to watch it as it seems to be pretty aggressive.

In some cases, depending on what you call more fouling!! A big bore has more surface than a small bore, so it gathers more copper, simple as that..just depends on how you look at it..A small bore can foul"worse"..

Barnes is more aggressive so don't leave it in the barrel more than a couple of hours if that. Same for the foaming agents..

It is also my experience that I get more copper fouling with big bores. My experience is limited to various 308's for comparison, then a double in 9.3x74R and a Mauser M98 in 416 Rigby. Yesterday I shot 12 rounds with the 416 Rigby, starting with a clean barrel, when I got home from the range one could clearly see the orange streaks. For me it seems like the 308's have slower copper fouling than the 9.3, which again has slower copper fouling than the 416... at least that's my experience.

quote:

Originally posted by Robgunbuilder:
In my opinion big bores foul less than small bores. Ever see a .17 Rem foul? Sometimes a button rifled barrel will foul for awhile. I Use JB paste on a wire brush wrapped with a cotton patch to remove it.Do this every 20 rnds. Then oil. After a few hundred rounds the fouling disappears.

+1 My 500 Jeffery even with TSX bullets is easier to clean, with less carbon and copper fouling than any other rifle I own. The worst is our 270 Weatherby.

My I suggest wipe out for a bore cleaner. It is a foam and can be messy if you do not pay attention. I use a bendy drinking straw to apply. But it works as advertised. No need to brush and safe on the rib of a double rifles and autos. It does not contain amonia (sp).

In my opinion, stay away from Gun Slick easier to use, but does not work near as good. Something about it is very corrosive and not recommended in gas autos by manufacturer.

Thanks for the responses, everyone.

While the larger calibers foul much worse than the small bores I've had, I've also wondered if it's because my favorite small bores have been Hart and Krieger barrels and the typical big bore have been the likes of MRC, standard match Shilens, and Winchester factory.

They've all shot well but given a choice, I'd much rather have a barrel that shoots well and doesn't foul much.

I'll try some of the cleaning suggestions.

My worst fouler is a Remington 7 in 22 Hornet with a factory barrel. By comparison, my .375 LOOKS like a heavy fouler because you can see copper in the stainless barrel about 1/2 to 3/4" down the bore. The reality is the 5R bore in the .375 cuts the jacket a bit, but the button rifled .22h nearly strips the jacket off, but you just can't see it 'til you clean it. I use Barnes and Butch's.

To many varibles to make a flat out statement which fouls more, depends on the bore and how smooth its been polished how tight it is or isn't, and other factors..As often said and truer words were ever spoken, in that every rifle bore, pistol bore and shotgun bore is an inity unto itself..

There are many variables, but a lot depends on how the barrel is or isn't broken in. Want minimum fouling, with a brand new barrel, shoot one shot, clean, then JB paste, clean, shoot round 2 and repeat. Do this 20 times. If it still fouls, pour a lead lap and Lap with JB paste. Few barrels foul at all after doing this. BTW you get max accuracy as a bonus. Yes it's tedious, but the results are worth it.

I have broken in barrels as you posted and its an accepted method no doubt about that..By the same token, it seems to me that 200 to 300 rounds down the barrel seems to work as well, but I wouldn't swear to either method..

I do know that quality barrels such as Lothar Walthar, come accurate right out of the box. Ive had good luck with other well known barrels, but Lothar Walthar has been the most consistant and the most accurate for hunting rifles.

Generally you get what you pay for.lothar Walther has a good reputation for their barrels as do many other high end makers. I break em all in as described and if they are accurate , I really don't worry too much over the degree of fouling. When I hunt I also do so over a one or two shot fouled barrel anyway. It's the first shot from a cold fouled bore that really matters anyway!