Copper Fouling Guide

When shooting brass bullets, copper fouling can affect accuracy, pressures, and reduce the inherent benefits to shooting brass projectiles. Before sighting in your rifle, it is important to thoroughly clean your barrel and remove all copper fouling. There are many methods and products you can use to remove copper fouling. Outlined this is the protocol we use when switching to brass from solid copper or copper jacketed bullets.

Equipment used:

• Cleaning Rod
  • Tipton Max Force 1-Piece Cleaning Rod Carbon Fiber
  • Montana X-Treme (MTX) 1-Piece Cleaning Rod Coated Spring Steel
• Cleaning Jag
  • Tipton Cleaning Jag Set 13-PieceThreaded Brass
  • Bore Tech V-Stix Patch Cleaning Jag
• Cleaning Patches
  • MidwayUSA Cotton Cleaning Patches
• Nylon Brush
  • ** It is necessary to use a nylon bore brush and not one made with metal bristles
  • Tipton Bore Brush Set 13-Piece Rifle Nylon
  • Montana X-Treme Heavy Duty Rifle Bore Brush Nylon
• Bore Solvent
  • Modern Spartan Systems Carbon Destroyer
  • Hoppe’s #9 Bore Cleaning Solvent
  • Bore Tech Eliminator Bore Cleaning Solvent Liquid
• Copper Solvent
  • Modern Spartan Systems Copper/Lead Destroyer
  • Hoppe’s Black Copper Bore Cleaning Solvent 4 oz Liquid
  • Montana X-Treme Copper Killer Bore Cleaning Solvent
• Oil
  • Modern Spartan Systems Accuracy Oil
  • M-Pro 7 LPX Gun Oil

1. Using the proper caliber jag on a rifle length cleaning rod, run a patch coated in a bore solvent that will aid in removing built up carbon, oils, and other residues in the bore. Follow by scrubbing the bore with a nylon brush. After scrubbing the bore, run one or two dry patches through with your cleaning jag. Repeat this process until your dry patches are coming out clean.
2. Using your cleaning jag, run a patch coated liberally with copper solvent through your bore. You should see blue streaking on the patch indicating oxidized copper is being removed. Switch to your nylon brush and scrub vigorously. Like you did in step 1, follow up with 1-2 dry patches and repeat the process until you are no longer getting any blue tint to your dry patches.
3. Using your cleaning jag, run a patch with an oil of your choice to lightly coat and preserve your bore. Follow with one final dry patch.

Written By:

Weston Rogers

G9 Defense, Director of Special Projects