Is it really true?

[Smitty of the North]

Recently, I read somewhere, that the copper fouling in a Stainless Steel barrel made the patches GRAY, while the fouling in a non-stainless barrel was BLUE.

I even repeated this, and I'm sorry I did. Because, IIRC I had BLUE on the patches when I cleaned my One and Only SS barrel rifle.

I won't be able to check it until I shoot that rifle again enough to copper foul it.

So, I'm asking if the above is a True Fact.

Thanks
Smitty of the North

[travelers]

Copper fouling, in my stainless guns, comes out blue when using wipe out.

[Smokey]

Never gave it much thought but I cleaned a SS 358 last weekend that had several rounds down it and the patches were a dirty grey color for what its worth.... I would think the type of powder one is shooting and how dirty it is combined with the copper would be a factor more than just the copper alone???

[Cast Iron]

I have cleaned copper from a couple different stainless barrels and it come out blue. I would guess that if you are getting gray patches out of your barrel that it is powder fouling and you have not got to the copper yet.

[PRDATR]

I think it is the chemical makeup of the cleaning solution you are using as to whether the copper turns blue or not. Sweets or MPRO in the stainless barrel of a 20 yo Model 700 I have does it.
I worry more about getting out the powder fouling more so than the last bit of copper. Sticking a Q Tip in the end of the barrel a 1/2" will allow light to reflect off of the whiteness and plainly show any copper. A patch with some Ezox protects the rifling from corrosion until the next time it gets shot.

[Steven_JR]

When I clean the barrel on my Rem Model Seven stainless barrel with Hoppes 7, the patches come out a grey color when wet. But after they sit in the air and dry out for a bit they turn a blueish green. I would say more green than blue though.

[Smitty of the North]

Thanks All:

I was using Wipe-Out, actually the Gunslick Version. That seems to be the only thing that really works for me.

I normally clean a gun with some kind of Copper Solvent, THEN the copper SHOWs at the end of the barrel, bright and shiny, on top of the lands, at which time I use the Foam till that goes away, usually only one application.

Smitty of the North

[Smitty of the North]

I think it is the chemical makeup of the cleaning solution you are using as to whether the copper turns blue or not. Sweets or MPRO in the stainless barrel of a 20 yo Model 700 I have does it.
I worry more about getting out the powder fouling more so than the last bit of copper. Sticking a Q Tip in the end of the barrel a 1/2" will allow light to reflect off of the whiteness and plainly show any copper. A patch with some Ezox protects the rifling from corrosion until the next time it gets shot.

The last bit of copper may NOT cause a problem. I have that on the authority of an Expert BR guy. He said it fills the cavities in the barrel.

To examine a barrel, I usually hold it up to a florescent light, OR put a white patch in the action and while letting light shine on it look down from the muzzle.

Looking at the barrel that way, I can't tell if there is copper or not. I look at the lands at the muzzle end, and pay attention to the patch color.

Thanks
Smitty of the North

[Smitty of the North]

Never gave it much thought but I cleaned a SS 358 last weekend that had several rounds down it and the patches were a dirty grey color for what its worth.... I would think the type of powder one is shooting and how dirty it is combined with the copper would be a factor more than just the copper alone???

I wonder if there is different makeups, of SS barrels.

I just remembered, I have TWO rifles with SS barrels. The 280 is on a Blued Action.

Smitty of the North

[Smitty of the North]

I have cleaned copper from a couple different stainless barrels and it come out blue. I would guess that if you are getting gray patches out of your barrel that it is powder fouling and you have not got to the copper yet.

OR, the patch is dry.

Smitty of the North

[ADfields]

Yup there are many types of stainless used for barrels but Id guess 80-90% of them are ether 410 or 411.

[hunterelk2002]

I use wipeout, and all of my patches come out dark blue cleaning stainless barrels.

[Smitty of the North]

I use wipeout, and all of my patches come out dark blue cleaning stainless barrels.

OK, Thanks.
SOTN

[.338 mag.]

I think the cleaning chemical makes a difference. A dedicated cooper cleaning chemical from Barnes and Shooters Choice turns my patches blue on my stainless barrels. Not so much with Hoppes #9.

[brav01]

Bore cleaners with a high ammonia content cause copper fouling to come out blue; It's a chemical reaction. There are other bore cleaners (ammonia free) that are used as copper removers and they may cause a different type of reaction and a different color change on contact with copper.