ORIGINAL: Pawildman
About your blue patches after cleaning with one particular solvent.....That was not bluing being removed from the bore, that was copper residue, one of the greatest contributors to rifles losing their accuracy. I would advise you get a bottle of Sweet's 7.62 copper remover, and follow the directions. Regular solvents will not get the job done in this regard. As was said before, you NEVER use a steel brush in a gun bore.
As to using Hoppe's #9, it does a fair job of powder residue removal, but I kind of like Butch's Bore Shine, myself.
In regard to being unable to get totally clean patches, I'm not sure that has ever happened for me. I just keep running a soaked patch or two followed by a dry one and repeat the drill until further scrubbings indicate that only a faint trace of discoloration is present and has been consistent.
A good automotive paste wax is best for a wood stock. Using oil or solvent on it may eventually soften the finish and cause the wood to darken.
Almost everyone has their own rituals about gun maintenancebut once you find what works best for you and what products you like best, most of the battle is over.
what I mean about the barrel coming clean is that After letting it soak and i pass the jigs through it the patches progressively get clean, but then the last time I clean it i figured that I shot alot so that I might want to give her more attention. I then used more solvent and repeated the process and the patched came out filthy like I had not just clean it. I repeated this process for about an hour and a half (after the intial hour of letting it sit) until my brass jig snapped. I musta passed an entire pack ofpatches throughit.But each time the swabs would run through clean only to come out filthy when I added more solvent. I cant explain it considering that she has had less than 50 rounds through her since I got her and I always clean her after use so there cant be any real caked on residue or fouling. DO you think it could be that I should just let the solvent sit overnight or should I try something new?