Using a bore scope, I’ve found the bore of my match .22 accumulates carbon in the throat just in front of the case mouth.  So, I’ve been using Bore Tech C4 carbon remover & a Q-Tip to clean it out after each match.  It does the job but requires some soaking & scrubbing.  I wondered if there was anything else that would do a faster job.  So, I ran an uncontrolled carbon removing experiment using a bunch of gun cleaning solutions & other chemicals I have on hand.

M-Pro 7 gun cleaner
Kroil
Rem. 40-X bore cleaner
IOSSO bore paste cleaner (contains a mild abrasive)
IOSSO Triple Action bore cleaner
Pro-Shot 1-Step bore cleaner
Turpentine
Acetone
Fritz Cleaner
JB Bore Paste (contains a mild abrasive)
Rem. Shotgun Cleaner
CRC Brakleen brake parts cleaner
GM Top Engine Cleaner (TEC) For removing carbon from combustion chambers and intake valves
Bore Tech C4 carbon remover
Bar Keepers Friend (contains oxalic acid & mild abrasive).  Typically used to clean stainless steel applicances.

Looking for a good source of something coated with carbon, I settled on one of our frying pans.  The back had a good bit of carbon baked on from many months of cooking.  Using long Q-Tips, I proceeded to scrub the carbon off using each of the cleaners listed above.  The three that successfully removed carbon was the GM Top Engine Cleaner (TEC), Bore Tech C4 & Bar Keepers Friend.  Although all three required soaking & scrubbing, the Bar Keepers Friend was significantly better & much faster at removing carbon than the TEC & Bore Tech C4.

There are other reportedly good carbon removers available, but unless I run across anything better, I’m switching to Bar Keepers Friend.

BTW, Bar Keepers Friend is a white powder.  I wet the patch prior to applying the powder.  It also works great at it's intended purpose, cleaning stainless appliances, sinks, cookware, ceramic, porcelain, copper, etc.

Wayne

Hoppes #9. Always have, always will. Smells like victory.

Add Ed’s red to your list

bnice wrote on Apr 30^th, 2026 at 7:30pm:


I don't have any Ed's Red but plan to mix some up & try it.  A shooting friend also swears by it.

Wayne

I also don't clean the bore, only remove the carbon ring in front of the chamber.  I'll order the Sharp Shoot R Carb-Out & try it compared to the Bar Keepers Friend.

Wayne

Wayne,
Did the carbon ring on your barrel look like this?  This is from one of mine after about 300 shots.  Working just the throat area with C4 using a 15 min soak, here's a pic after.   A single push of a patch down the barrel to remove the crumbs and it takes about 3 shots to be back in the game.

C4 works best, the go to in RFBR  world, however lose the q tip, either use a felt pellet or soaked patch with jag on a short rod, push it in and leave it tight, 20 min soak, done.

I competed in adult small bore, and bullseye .22 matches for many years, and never cleaned a bore on my guns until the season was over. Just never thought all the cleaning helped my groups, and often after cleaning it took some shots fired to get it back where it was before cleaning.