So I buy a cosmoline soaked SKS...and have 2 questions.

[orangeninja]

for 149 bucks I got a very good condition SKS COVERED in cosmoline...my brother in law and I spent the evening cleaning the fool thing off...what a chore. The barrel looked like potatos were growing in it and I've run about 20 patches of solvent through it, each coming out as black as the one before it.

So my questions...

1.) is there a better way to clear out fouling?

2.) will pitting inside the barrel effect accuracy or the functionality of the rifle at all? I can't tell if it's still just filthy (it is) or if there is minor pitting in the barrel.

I was told that the shop does not rate the condition of the barrel, only the exterior of the weapon.

 

[Kurush]

If you're feeling ambitious, some people with extremely fouled bores have had luck with this: http://www.surplusrifle.com/reviews/copperout/index.asp

 

[Cortland]

All things being equal a pristine bore is obviously better, but a bad bore isn't necessarily bad.

I have an 1898 U.S. Krag rifle with a true "sewer pipe" bore. It's horrendous -- black as pitch, pitted to hell, with barely any visible rifling (the rest of the rifle looks great). With the right handloads it will shoot 1/2" groups at 50 yards all day long!

 

[orangeninja]

Actually I will try that. Does pitting effect accuracy though?

Edited: Oh...thanks cortland. This will actually be my Bro in laws rifle...we are going boar hunting and I'd like him to be able to keep things within a few inches at 50 yards....

 

[jefnvk]

Dark bore matters less than sharp grooves and a good muzzle. Should still be fine.

For any remaining cosmo, try either heating the metal up, or using Carb or Brake (can't remember which) cleaner

 

[Kurush]

For any remaining cosmo, try either heating the metal up, or using Carb or Brake (can't remember which) cleaner

Try hot water first, cosmo melts at IIRC 110 degrees or so. What I do is first put on latex gloves, then put a hose on a hot water spigot (so you can get it outdoors ), then press your thumb into the end of the hose to increase the speed of the water coming out. The latex glove will make a "zipping" sound and your thumb won't get hot at all. Blast the disassembled parts of the gun with the jet of water and the cosmo will run right off. It's messy but it won't give you a chemical burn or cancer. The wood gets clean too, but don't overdo it or you'll dry it out.

 

[MaMa PyCb]

For your bore.....

Before trying anything else........ try ....

http://www.surplusrifle.com/reviews/edred/index.asp

This stuff works and it can be used to clean any gun to a shine, no matter how dirty, or gunky....... I got a 1888 commission rifle that had 100year old cosmoliene on it, sand and other such junk, and it cleaned that bore to a shine in no time

It works well on any metal and wont hurt the wood if you spill a little on it.

 

[Sleeping Dog]

Does pitting effect accuracy though?

Not that I can tell. I have an 03 Springfield with a pitted bore. It shoots great. It never seems to get clean, the pits hold a lot of dirt (soot, copper, whatever).

Regards.

 

[Kharn]

+1 on hot water first and then brake/carb cleaner (they're the same thing chemically, except carb cleaner can leave a little bit of residue behind, you absolutely must rub oil on the entire firearm after using that stuff or it will rust).

Kharn

 

[cracked butt]

If the bore looks a little rough, try scubbing it out with a little JB bore paste on a patch. Sometimes what looks like damage to the barrel is nothing more than stubborn fouling.

For the cosmoline, I use denatured ethanol- it will dissolve most of it and smells nice. The bolt might be a particular problem though. I took mine to work and soaked it in numerous solvents such as heptane, methylene chloride, MTBE, Acetone, and nothing seemd to get it all out. I ended up heating the bolt with a heat gun and wiping up the melted crap as it oozed out.

 

[RavenVT100]

Far more important than any pitting in the barrel is the condition of the barrel crown. If that's damaged, expect accuracy to suffer considerably.

 

[GunGoBoom]

for the cosmo removal, do a search, and you will find several great, detailed threads on procedures for ya.

 

[spartacus2002]

I used Ballistol on a K31 and M39 that were covered in cosmoline; cut thru it like nobody's business.

 

[Father Knows Best]

Far more important than any pitting in the barrel is the condition of the barrel crown. If that's damaged, expect accuracy to suffer considerably.

+1. This is very important. Thankfully, it's also very easy to correct a bunged up muzzle. Any 'smith can recrown the barrel for you, and it's cheap to do.

 

[Commissar Gribb]

I've had good experience throwing the metal parts in the oven after a quick wipe down. Does the trick for me.

 

[orangeninja]

I'll double check the crown...but I'll bet dollars to doughnuts that it's fine. It's one of the Yugo SKS with a grenade launcher attached. You'd REALLY have to go out of your way to foul that crown up.

 

[Lonestar.45]

I cleaned off the exterior metal with brake cleaner and a rag, then I boiled all my loose parts in water on the side burner of my BBQ grill. If you've got a Yugo 59/66 with the grenade sights that have white yardage numbers on it, keep the brake cleaner away from that, it'll take all the painted numbers off.
My barrel wasn't bad, just a lot of patches and solvent. Coated all the metal parts in breakfree CLP.

The wood got a good initial rubdown with mineral spirits, then into the oven with the door slightly open at 150 degrees, taking out and wiping down every 20 minutes until it won't seep out much at all anymore (put it into a tinfoil "boat" so it won't drip into your oven). After cooling, I did several rubdown coats of a mixture of 1/3 beeswax/1/3 turpentine 1/3 BLO. Turned out great.

It'll shoot 5 shots into a quarter at 25 yds, and into a silver dollar group at 75 yds, with open sights. 100 yds, it'll open up to about twice that, tops. I can't say enough about my Yugo, I love it and is hands down the most fun gun to shoot I've ever owned.

 

[orangeninja]

Okay guys..took it to the range and was able to shoot consistant groupings roughly baseball size at 30 yards or so. I'm sure the rifle is more accurate then I am able to use the sights. All in all, I am very pleased.

 

[armedcitizen]

Acetone is good for cosmoline.

 

[Firehand]

For a rifle that's really coated with the stuff, what I do anymore is use kerosene. I've got a 4' pipe 4" diameter, one end permanently sealed and set in a rack to keep it standing. Put the action/barrel in and pour in a gallon or so of kerosene. Swish it up & down a few times, then set a cap on and leave it a while. Check and swish again occasionally. It does a wonderful job of dissolving old grease/crap and won't harm the metal or finish.

 

[Borachon]

Gasoline works.

In fact, gasoline cuts thru cosmo like a hot knife through butter. I dropped the firing pin and other internal parts into a pan of gasoline and it cleaned up nicely.

My only complaint was that I think it bleeched the wood stock slightly when I wiped it down.


Also....don't shoot it too soon after cleaning.

 

[orangeninja]

Thanks guys...I used brake cleaner and some hot water and dish soap. Worked like a champ.