Fouling problems..204 Ruger...help

H

hoginator204

New member
Had my Ruger #1-V 204 to my buddy's range last Thursday. My 100 yard groups ran 1/12 inches, the 200 yard groups were 21/2"and the 300 yard groups were 5" plus. I cleaned the barrel before heading to the range which had 35 rounds thru it from my previous range trip. I did feel copper fouling 3 inches forward of the throat which I removed with CR-10 and Montana Gold solvent and a Dewey brush. I least I hoped I did. This rifle is normally a .4 or .5 rifle.

I was mad as HHHH. I talked to Hornady Friday and Doug Derner told me he felt I still had fouling in the barrel.

Any body else with fouling issues with the 204???
 
yup. ittsy teensy bullets being launched at warp speeds foul barrels. proven fact. look at the 17 cal. just establish a good cleaning schedule and stick with it.

yes, you'll have to clean more often, but it beats having groups the size of the state of texas.
 
That was probably carbon fouling, which builds up from powder residue in the location you mention.

Copper solvents don't tend to do a whole lot with carbon fouling. Wrong tool for the job... I have found that the plain old Outers Nitro Powder Solvent does well for getting the powder fouling out--but your barrel may need a bit more of a drastic measure to get that carbon pack out.

Take a jag, and put a tight patch on it with some solvent. Push the cleaning rod through the bore, and work it back and forth over the area where you felt the fouling before. If you feel a tight spot, then there is still fouling there.

It may be that you'll need to use a bit of JB bore paste to clean that area. What you should feel with the tight patched jag is a very smooth and even resistance, all along the bore.

Hard packed carbon can really be a Hillary Clinton to get out of the bore once it begins to layer.

And yes, that will really mess up your accuracy, as it damages the concentricity of the bullet and the jacket.

Clean her up well and she'll shoot tight for you once again.

Dan
 
"Hard packed carbon can really be a Hillary Clinton to get out of the bore once it begins to layer."


/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif That is quite possibly the funniest line i have ever heard!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

hog, how many rounds did it take for this to occur? It makes me worry about my 204 NEF. I am just using a standard solvent, should i be using more?
 
How many rounds do you have through your #1? My CZ 527 had to be cleaned about every 10 rounds for the first 30, then about every 20 till around 60. I now have around 250 rounds through it and it needs cleaned about every 30-40 depending on how fast the groundhogs are hoping up. I have not had a big problem with copper fouling though. Mostly carbon and if you stay on top of it, it cleans up pretty easy.
 
I normally get 30-40 through both of my 204's before I notice any change. I try to clean mine every night after shooting them. No matter if its 1 or if its 30 rounds. When I don't clean em after 30 or so I have trouble from 300yds and out!
 
Dear Mudturtle,

I have between 700-750 rounds thru this gun. This was the first time had felt fouling in the first 3 inches of the barrel. My load is 26.8 of H4895 with a 40 gr. v-max.

I for got to mention that I cronographed this load for a last shot and the velocity was 2655 fps. This is 150 fps slower than I should be getting.

After 2 cleanings with my DEWEY brushes they will slide down the barrel on just the weight of the cleaning rod pushing the brush thru. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
They don't last long.
 
Quote:
After 2 cleanings with my DEWEY brushes they will slide down the barrel on just the weight of the cleaning rod pushing the brush thru. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
They don't last long.



That seems a little strange as I can regularly get 6-8 cleanings from a single Dewey 20 caliber brush. Interesting.

I agree with Dan - it sounds like carbon and not copper fouling is your problem. It can be just as tough to get out as copper if you aren't using something designed for the carbon.

Good luck.

-BCB
 

Quote:
I for got to mention that I cronographed this load for a last shot and the velocity was 2655 fps. This is 150 fps slower than I should be getting.



Did you mean 3655 FPS..

I have a savage 12fv and I am good to around 45 rounds then accuracy drops off and it's time to clean.. I also use just the "standard" cleaner and wonder if I need more also.
 
Quote:
Hard packed carbon can really be a Hillary Clinton to get out of the bore once it begins to layer.


Whew!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif I sure am glad he didn't say "Dirty Harriet"!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

That's Good!! Really, Really Good!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
I am agreeing with Dan here, sounds like hard carbon fouling. Try some montana extreme 50bmg or shooters choice or better yet, some GM TEC (top engine cleaner). That stuff eats carbon from your valves and pistons,..imagine how fast it eats the fouling in your bore.. KEEP IT OFF OF EVERYTHING BUT UNPAINTED METAL!!!!!!!!!!

Use the rod with nylon brushes, but when removing carbon (read as sand paper) you should run the brush out the muzzle, and remove it from the rod before pulling the rod back through each time. Spray some cleaner on the brush each time before reinstalling it on the rod. This will keep the carbon from taking off the polish in the bore and not allowing the debris to be drug back across the crown.

a patch dragging in front of the throat is either carbon fouling or fire-cracking IMO. I had one of my BR rifles go to HELL one day,..took me 3 days with 50BMG to get that damn thing smooth again. The 300RUM with a 216gr clinch river and 89gr's of retumbo can make a highway of carbon in the throat.
 
Slip 2000 Carbon Cleaner and Boretech Eliminator will get rid of the carbon and copper problem easily. They layer on top of each other. You won't even begin to wear out one brush doing it either.
 
Quote:
"Hard packed carbon can really be a Hillary Clinton to get out of the bore once it begins to layer."



OK, I'll bite, what is the significance of Hillary and my bore. I get shivers all over just thinking of the possibilities.

Talk about promoting cellabacy.
 
Quote:
Quote:
"Hard packed carbon can really be a Hillary Clinton to get out of the bore once it begins to layer."



OK, I'll bite, what is the significance of Hillary and my bore. I get shivers all over just thinking of the possibilities.

Talk about promoting cellabacy.



Just think of an adjective describing Hillary that begins with a B, and ends with an H, and has ITC in the middle. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif

Worst butchering of "celibacy" I've ever seen BTW, you should be proud /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-006.gif

On topic: I too, am pretty perturbed by the fouling issues present in the .204

I'm seeing wildly different group sizes within the same 50 round box of ammo. This is after going to the trouble of a pretty elaborate break in process as well.

It's a neat round, but I've got to say, you might just see me on my next dog hunt falling back to the good old combo of .223/.22-250.
 
Just a few things I have learned over 30 years of playing with small calibers:

1. When you buy a factory rifle chambered in a high velocity, small caliber you're rolling the dice that:

a. You're going to get an accurate barrel.

b. You're going to get a barrel that won't foul badly because of high velocity just by the nature of the cartridge chambered.

Keep in mind the gun builder has maybe $10 in that barrel, if that much.

2. When you pay $300 or more for a small caliber barrel from a custom barrel maker, you're going to likely get a barrel that will be very accurate and won't foul much, if any at all. And if it does not do both, the vendor will most likely stand behind his work and make it right.

3. The 204 Ruger has opened up a new caliber to a world of shooters who 3 years ago didn't even know a 20 caliber rifle existed. And they're quickly learning that the smaller the hole in the barrel, the more impact fouling is going to have on that barrel and bore size. Especially with a $10 barrel.

4. And one other point. No elaborate break-in procedure is going to turn a $10 factory barrel into a $300 custom barrel in terms of how they shoot or how easily they clean up. Only God can perform miracles.

Maybe some folks have sold their 204's in large numbers and have gone back to something bigger...I don't have any solid facts one way or the other. But, there still seems to be a lot of folks who are acting like giddy teen agers with their new rifles that shoot very flat, and they are sold on the "new" caliber.

And this is coming from someone who isn't that impressed with the 204 Ruger cartridge in comparison to some other 20 caliber choices.

JMO - BCB
 
It isn't a problem for me, I hunt with my T.20, I should be able to clean the powder out at 30-40 rounds. After appling Moly-fusion I don't get any copper fouling, just powder.T.20
 
I'm not positive what you mean about concerns. I know that there is no copper, the Moly-fusion company owner told me I would not get any copper fouling. When I use Shooters Choice there is no usuall green stain on the cloth swab that I run through after I brush it. The Moly-fusion is supposed to go into the steel and protect it from heat and not allow any copper to stick.
Since I shot the hotter loads I have dropped a 100ft ps to lessen the pressure. I haven't had a primer blow for three years now. I was just wondering about the ring on the bolt face, if it is a problem or not.T.20
 
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