Author Topic: Cleaning up shotgun chambers (Read 838 times)

Buster · « **on:** March 23, 2003, 04:10:27 AM »

I have a couple of double guns, Browning BSS's, that my brother and I have had since we were kids. (Thanks DAD!)

Both of them have chambers that are a little rusty. I'd love to get them cleaned up a little. Is anyone familiar with this problem and what can be done about it?

I was thinking of trying some steel wool and oil on a wooden dowel chucked in a cordless drill.

If there was a more professional way to do this I would definitely be willing to ship the guns out for a thorough job.

ANY help or recommendations of a good 'smith would be greatly appreciated. My BSS is the first gun I ever had, and I don't want it to get too bad off.

gunnut69 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 23, 2003, 07:46:09 AM »

I use a drill with a section of cleaning rod chucked up. A worn brass bristle brush is screwed into the cleaning rod section and wrapped with steel fur(0000 steel wool). The drill is set to turn the brush so as to tighten not loosen the threads and to keep the steel wool from unwrapping from the brush. A little WD40 will help the process and clean with a cloth wrapped mop. It is good to lightly oil the chamber and bore before storage but not too much. Oil in the chamber and bores must be removed before firing. Good luck from the gunnut69

RugerNo3 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 27, 2003, 03:31:14 AM »

Turpentine is an excellent rust remover. Get it at better paint stores. It will dissolve rust with minimal effort.

RON KONTOWSKY · « **Reply #3 on:** March 27, 2003, 07:27:12 AM »

Buster,
The techn. you have described sounds safe and fine, if pitting has set in there is really nothing that can be done, so go slow and check often it should clean up nicely, if you run in to any problems please let me know.
I can stone hone your chambers and lengthen your forcing cones in order to clean it up if the above method does not work.
Good luck!

RON KONTOWSKY

Buster · « **Reply #4 on:** March 30, 2003, 11:58:36 AM »

Well, my brother's cleaned up pretty well. Mine on the other hand is showing some very fine pitting. It almost blends in with the grain of the steel but it appears rough where it should be smooth.

Question to Ron...can the honing restore the chamber? Tough call without looking at it I'm sure. Would you need the whole shotgun or just the barrels to work your magic?

I'd like to get it back near 100% if possible. I might have a grandkid someday, who knows, who might like to have ol Gramp's shotgun.

Ron, my e-mail is ggriffin4@nc.rr.com E-mail me with the info on how to send you this shotgun for honing work, and we'll give it a shot. Any luck at all and it would be set for another 25 years.