Project Scotch-Brite

[RANGER94]

I was recently given a Pedersoli Kentucky Rifle (1979) from the original owner (a very close family friend).  He purchased it for his wife way back when who only shot it a few times (he is a lefty and this gun is a righty).  The gun was well taken care of, essentially a wallhanger.  I had a devil of time loading it after 2 shots (sledge hammer) and the accuracy went to pot starting with the 3rd shot.  Based on some recommendations from this forum, I went through the entire gambit:  55 grains of 3 F to 85 grains; 5 grain intervals; different patches pillow ticking, ox-yoke, denim etc.. Different lubes, different size balls.  Nothing worked. After shot 2 it would go haywire and require a hammer to load.  I was just ready to give up on the gun (wallhanger) when I stumbled upon Mike’s Youtube video:

Polishing a rough muzzleloader bore

I did exactly as Mike did but 150 times.  I took it to the range, and this solved all of the problems.  Easy to load and accurate.  85 grains of 3F; .490 ball, 1 inch .020 denim patch, mink oil – SWEET!! 

[rich pierce]

Nice work. Did you unbreech it completely and what did you see?

I re-cut or freshed the rifling on my .50 cal 1977 Sharon trade rifle this past week. It was my first muzzleloading rifle and it had become hard to load and wasn’t shooting like it previously could. I wanted smoother loading and a bit of choke. A buddy unbreeched it- it needed a long persuader. The bore was not awful but there were certainly speck sized pits particularly at the breech and the bore did not feel uniform. So I cast the lead and fitted land and groove cutters. Now it’s about 0.003-4” bigger than before with grooves 0.012” deep and uniform end to end and seats a ball very smoothly. I’m sure lapping would have helped it load easier but I wanted all pits or imperfections gone. This gun became my “loan out to others” gun and sometimes it didn’t come back clean, and one friend told me he’d used Pyrodex all deer season because after all, it is black-colored powder. All good now. Can’t wait to get the the range with it this weekend.

[RANGER94]

Hi Rich - well I can see you went way above the call of duty.  NOPE.  I just used a 40 cal jag, cut 3M Scot-Brite green pads into little squares, ran them back and forth about 10 times, then put on a new pad, and repeat.  Then gave it a good cleaning.  What you did is way way above my skill level.

[smylee grouch]

Was that a 100 yr target?

[RANGER94]

50 yard target.

[Daryl]

Not bad for 50 yards, Ranger, even with that low shot out of the group.
We've done a few barrels with scotch brite and it does help.  We
"saved" a barrel for a lady at rendezvous in 2019- her favourite
rifle with a damaged bore from using boiling hot water for cleaning.
It was at the point she had to wipe the bore every few shots. After
the Maroon Scotch Brite treatment - about 50 passes each with 2 patches
of the material, then a thorough cleaning, she was able to shoot the
whole course of fire without any difficulty loading, no wiping. She was in
tears back at camp, hugging Len and I, thanking us for 'saving' her rifle.
It works if there isn't too much damage. As the jab with Scotch Brite follows
the rifling, you can make a lot of passes and it gets nothing but smoother.
Slightly rounding the corners of the lands, in .010" to .012" rifling will not
change anything in the barrel's shooting prowess.
I suspect with that 7 ounce denim, a .495" ball would be even better.

[Don Steele]

A friend of mine received the "Scotch-Brite polishing" advice at Friendship a couple of years back and told me it really solved his issues as well.
Until I had a discussion about Scotch-Brite products with our friend Moleeyes, I had no idea there is an entire spectrum of grits available. I'm posting this table 'cause there might be someone else as ignorant as myself on this topic who might find it useful or informative. From another source then, here is a grit table that originated with 3-M:

SCOTCHBRITE GRIT CHART

3M Scotch Brite Nylon Pads:
7445 - White pad, called Light Duty Cleansing - (1000) 1200-1500 grit
7448 - Light Grey, called Ultra Fine Hand - (600-800) 800 grit.
6448 - Green (?), called Light Duty Hand Pad - (600) 600 grit
7447 - Maroon pad, called General Purpose Hand - (320-400) 320 grit
6444 - Brown pad, called Extra Duty Hand - (280-320) 240 grit
7446 - Dark Grey pad, called Blending Pad (180-220) 150 grit
7440 - Tan pad, called Heavy Duty Hand Pad - (120-150) 60(?)
Blue Scotch-Brite is considered to be about 1000 grit.
(The value inside the parentheses is directly from 3M.)

3M Chart
Less Aggressive --------> More Aggressive
7445 7448 6448 7447 6444 7446 7440
Finer Finish --------> Coarser Finish

[duca]

Thanks for that Don

Anthony

[RANGER94]

Daryl - thanks for the tip. I originally started patching with Joanne’ Fabric 10oz Natural Bull Denim = .026 lubed with Mink Oil, but that was substantially to tight, and I could not get it to load even from the start without whacking with a hammer.   I will give the .495 balls a try.

Don - I used the green 3M Scotch-Brite pads, labeled:  Final Stripping Pad - I picked them up at Lowes.

[recurve]

YUP it makes a huge differanc



before Mr Dixon gave me advise to brillo(fine w oil)  my green mtn barrel and after

[RANGER94]

#@!! $#@* Recurve - that is impressive!

[hanshi]

For years I've used Scotch-Brite pads fairly frequently in cleaning rifle bores.  But until recently I had no idea there were other colors/grits than just the standard green found at grocery stores.  Apparently, from what's been posted, hardware stores must carry the other grades of pads.  It's much less messy than using J&B bore paste and does a great job.  Are there any colors that are too abrasive for rifle bores? 

[RANGER94]

Hi Hanshi - I am no expert, but from what I researched, you really only want to use the fine / very fine pads.  but I could be mistaken......

[Daryl]

A friend of mine received the "Scotch-Brite polishing" advice at Friendship a couple of years back and told me it really solved his issues as well.
Until I had a discussion about Scotch-Brite products with our friend Moleeyes, I had no idea there is an entire spectrum of grits available. I'm posting this table 'cause there might be someone else as ignorant as myself on this topic who might find it useful or informative. From another source then, here is a grit table that originated with 3-M:

SCOTCHBRITE GRIT CHART

3M Scotch Brite Nylon Pads:
7445 - White pad, called Light Duty Cleansing - (1000) 1200-1500 grit
7448 - Light Grey, called Ultra Fine Hand - (600-800) 800 grit.
6448 - Green (?), called Light Duty Hand Pad - (600) 600 grit
7447 - Maroon pad, called General Purpose Hand - (320-400) 320 grit
6444 - Brown pad, called Extra Duty Hand - (280-320) 240 grit
7446 - Dark Grey pad, called Blending Pad (180-220) 150 grit
7440 - Tan pad, called Heavy Duty Hand Pad - (120-150) 60(?)
Blue Scotch-Brite is considered to be about 1000 grit.
(The value inside the parentheses is directly from 3M.)

3M Chart
Less Aggressive --------> More Aggressive
7445 7448 6448 7447 6444 7446 7440
Finer Finish --------> Coarser Finish

To answer your question, Hanshi, I would say yes - some are too abrasive.
I found the maroon colour to be plenty abrasive at 320 to 400.  I do not think I would use anything more abrasive, unless the bore was really bad from pitting & I was attempting to restore some
resemblance of accuracy and "clean" shooting.

[smylee grouch]

On one rifle I used the green pad along with the JB bore cleaner. I dont know if the added JB did any extra good but it sure came out clean and the owner could hit with it again.

[flinchrocket]

I use JB's bore paste. If your making a mess your using way to much. I put a little dab on a patch and work it around then shove it down the barrel.

[hanshi]

Thanks for the replies.  I guess it's okay to stick with the green pads.  Out of J&B at the moment.

[FALout]

I’ve gotten the white ones from Lowe’s , can’t remember where i got the blue ones.

[flinchrocket]

Auto-Zone has a pretty good selection.

[Top Jaw]

Might be common sense or implied if it wasn’t stated above, but you will have to drop down to the next size jag to use the SB pads.   For 54 use a 50, 50 use a 45, etc.  Might even have to tease your patch sized square of SB apart to make it a little thinner.   And of course, more common sense, always use a range rod with a bore protector when doing any polishing or lapping process when numerous passes through the bore will be required.   

As stated, SB pads are not a cure all for every barrel issue, but will typically make an older or neglected barrel load (and often shoot) a little better.  And many times it will do the same for a new barrel. 

[Bigmon]

I been looking for Scotchbrite pads in our area.  A cpl years back at Lowes they had a fair assortment and of the color codes you show.  Now nothing.  Only Scotchbrite pads I can find are in the area for pot cleaning, brillo pads and such.
Where are you guys finding these now?  I have searched other hardware stores, Walmart etc.  No more got!
Thanks

[Stillwater Dan]

I went to my local Ace Hardware store . They didn't carry them , but ordered them in for me .

[FDR]

Try your local paint store. My local Benjamin Moore store  carries a good selection.

Fred

[Plainsman53]

Local auto parts store carries maroon and grey--the two finest grits.

[P.W.Berkuta]

Scotch-Brite pads contain abrasives to work with the pads -- have a look ---
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotch-Brite>