New PCP barrel cleaning. Are they all this grimy?

[KS_Paperpuncher]

Got snowed in here in North West Kansas, and have been dealing with clearing and tractor issues. Back onto playing with my new Zelos.

I started my initial clean on the barrel using Ballistol. I was kinda shocked at the level of grime on the first patch I pulled. Holy cow. In 50 years of cleaning rifles, I've never seen a new barrel be this nasty.

Is this common for a brand new barrel? Top left was patch 1. Each patch one pull until patch 8, then doing 2-3 pulls. wish I could figure out how to pull a brush through this barrel. Heading back downstairs to pull some more patches.

Frank

 

[wimpanzee]

yeah, sometimes you get some protective grease. still better than rust!

 

[JaceSpace1369]

Yup, my p35x went through 12 front and back patches, I had to double up on the patches a few times to make sure to get whatever was in the grooves out.

 

[Contndr35BB]

Got snowed in here in North West Kansas, and have been dealing with clearing and tractor issues. Back onto playing with my new Zelos.

I started my initial clean on the barrel using Ballistol. I was kinda shocked at the level of grime on the first patch I pulled. Holy cow. In 50 years of cleaning rifles, I've never seen a new barrel be this nasty.

Is this common for a brand new barrel? Top left was patch 1. Each patch one pull until patch 8, then doing 2-3 pulls. wish I could figure out how to pull a brush through this barrel. Heading back downstairs to pull some more patches.

FrankView attachment 526602

Of the dozen (or so) PCP's I have or had, the only one that wasn't like yours was my BSA R10. IIRC, 3-4 patches took care of it. My worst was the first Hatsan Factor I got, it was about 35 patches to make it presentable ( it had issues & was replaced w/ something different ). My 2nd wasn't as bad, although it's no longer taking up valuable shelf space anymore.

 

[ToddGeddes63]

Protective and excessive all in one barrel! I swear some of these barrels come packed w/ grease like axal bearings! But as stated it's better than rust. You will get it.

 

[KS_Paperpuncher]

LoL. Ok.. I had one other barrel that was worse. A "new" old stock replacement 03A3 30-06 barrel that looked like it was used to distribute cosmoline.

 

[Gerry52]

Welcome to brand new airgun barrels!

 

[Firewalker]

Got snowed in here in North West Kansas, and have been dealing with clearing and tractor issues. Back onto playing with my new Zelos.

I started my initial clean on the barrel using Ballistol. I was kinda shocked at the level of grime on the first patch I pulled. Holy cow. In 50 years of cleaning rifles, I've never seen a new barrel be this nasty.

Is this common for a brand new barrel? Top left was patch 1. Each patch one pull until patch 8, then doing 2-3 pulls. wish I could figure out how to pull a brush through this barrel. Heading back downstairs to pull some more patches.

FrankView attachment 526602

Ayeuup! Some are MUCH worse!

 

[PEP3]

I always shoot about 20 rounds through it first. I feel like that takes about half of the junk out of the barrel before I clean it. I'm not sure if that's the right thing to do or not, but it make it a lot easier.

 

[Peashooter]

A surplus of stuff that should have been sprayed on the bottom of cars to prevent corrosion.

At least its not spray on bed liner.

 

[igolfat8]

The ChiCom barrels are much worse than CZ and LW barrels IME.

 

[Conotocaurius]

Thanks for posting, I didn't think you needed to clean a brand new barrel, but now I know.

 

[WoodWelder]

Looks normal to me!
The only rifle I purchased that was shiny clean was my Brocock and I'm thinking the dealer cleaned it before sending it to me.

 

[Florida_Man]

All my Snowpeaks arrived like that. Daystate, BRK, and FX i bought new were about three patches and clean, first with ballistol.

 

[elh0102]

The condition of a new barrel varies greatly. Unless it's from a custom maker, it's often going to have a lot of preservative in the bore. If the first patch shows a lot of grease, I'll usually pull the barrel and clean with a rod and nylon brush. Maybe it's just luck, but the last few air rifles I bought didn't have much gunk in the bore.

 

[Dr. Kralenstein]

Got snowed in here in North West Kansas, and have been dealing with clearing and tractor issues. Back onto playing with my new Zelos.

I started my initial clean on the barrel using Ballistol. I was kinda shocked at the level of grime on the first patch I pulled. Holy cow. In 50 years of cleaning rifles, I've never seen a new barrel be this nasty.

Is this common for a brand new barrel? Top left was patch 1. Each patch one pull until patch 8, then doing 2-3 pulls. wish I could figure out how to pull a brush through this barrel. Heading back downstairs to pull some more patches.

FrankView attachment 526602

Barrel is easy to get out of the receiver. Take the cheek rest off and the barrel set screws are on the left side. Pull the barrel and then you can brush it out in a vise or something. Just be careful not to damage or dislodge the internal O-ring.

 

[Peashooter]

All my Snowpeaks arrived like that. Daystate, BRK, and FX i bought new were about three patches and clean, first with ballistol.

That is also my experience, seeing friends snopwpeak / aretmis and then my own FX / AGT / Epic

 

[Jim B]

When I got my new PCP I shot maybe 150 pellets through it and then cleaned the barrel, it didn't look that bad. The first patch was dirtier than expected but since I am new to PCP's and having read some threads about cleaning new barrels, I figured it was par for the course. I am wondering do I need to polish the barrel to get better groups?

 

[igolfat8]

@Jim B , the problem with that analogy is the new barrel can have abrasive manufacturing debris in it and if you were to shoot pellets through it, without cleaning it first, you likely scratched the heck out of it.

 

[Jim B]

@Jim B , the problem with that analogy is the new barrel can have abrasive manufacturing debris in it and if you were to shoot pellets through it, without cleaning it first, you likely scratched the heck out of it.

I did have UA set it up and zero the scope, so I wonder if they clean the barrel before tuning it?