Brass Cleaning

Originally Posted By: CatShooterOriginally Posted By: KlrDrvr

"It supposedly made quite a mess in the barrel when the vaporized SS deposited itself in the bore on firing."



Another "myth" in the making...

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Can't never ever be happening, like, as in "impossible"!

I don't necessarily disagree. I am simply reporting what someone claimed happened to them. My initial reaction was very much like yours and Jack's. However, it got me wondering, what in principle, would happen to a small piece of stainless steel mixed in with the powder charge at the time of deflagration? What are the instantaneous temps in the case and barrel throat? My recollection is they far exceed the melting point of most metals. So, what happens to that little piece of stainless? Does it melt? If so, might it stick to the sides of the barrel as it transits the bore? Does it vaporize? If it does, might it be deposited on the sides of the cooler barrel?

With all due respect, I'm not sure flippant responses are all that helpful.
 
No expert here at all, but I try to reason things like this out in simpler terms. If harder stainless steel in the powder column can do this, what keeps the softer copper jacket on the bullet sitting on the powder column from melting or the soft brass case where the powder is ignited from degrading? It doesn't seem likely to me based on these things not happening
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Originally Posted By: ARCOREYNo expert here at all, but I try to reason things like this out in simpler terms. If harder stainless steel in the powder column can do this, what keeps the softer copper jacket on the bullet sitting on the powder column from melting or the soft brass case where the powder is ignited from degrading? It doesn't seem likely to me based on these things not happening
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No claim to expert status here, either. The brass case has the benefit of the heat sink of the chamber walls, at least for the time it's expanded into them. Happily (for the brass and the shooter) I would assume the time the case is in contact with the chamber wall corresponds to the time of maximum heat in the case. The bullet also has a heatsink in the form of the rest of the bullet to absorb it. Even with this Krieger claims there is some degree of copper vaporization/deposition in copper barrel fouling. To be fair, they make reference to this being due to copper particles shed as the bullet transits the barrel throat and vaporizing in the powder/plasma exiting the case neck.

The pin is immersed in the powder column, it has very low mass with no heat sink to transfer the heat into. Does this mean a loose one will vaporize/melt and end up in the barrel? I don't know. It does seem plausible enough that I make sure there are no pins left in my cases. The possibilty (or lack thereof) certainly doesn't stop me from using them. In my experience with them I have never had a pin jam or stick. The cases come out clean enough to eat off of.
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