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Cleaning out zinc fouling. Need help

This topic has 8 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 3 months, 3 weeks ago by kwan_aaron.

Viewing 9 posts - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)

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November 12, 2025 at 8:13 pm #540109
Nathan Dively
Participant
Howdy,

I’m running 9mm idaho nuke silvers out of my competition gun. Performance is great but the fouling is horrendous. I have tried Breakfree CLP, Mpro 7, Tapco, hoppes bore cleaner. Used stiff nylon brush, copper brush, copper tornado and steel tornado. Hoppes bore cleaner seems to have done the most work. Been at it for a couple days. Anyone else have lots of fouling and was able to get 100% out?

“Mine doesnt do that”- not helpful response.

“It shouldn’t be doing that” – also not helpful response.

“Your crimp is too tight”- Tell me your crimp measurement. I understand these are crimp sensitive. “Light crimp” is not a measurement. My taper crimp is .378 to .379. I do get single digit SD’s with velocity and they print real tight groups at 20 yards.

Current load:
4.0 gr TG
1.065- 1.07 OAL
.378 taper crimp. Lee factory crimp die.
Mixed brass

Thanks in advance!
November 24, 2025 at 7:48 am #540470
Dominic Domenici
Participant
I had petty heavy fouling with the 130 silvers.

I used JB bore cleaner with a patch around a brass brush. Took a while but got it out and seems to lessen or prevent future zinking.
December 1, 2025 at 11:50 am #541130
jdh1962
Participant
I had terrible fouling too, Hoppe’s #9 with copper Chore Boy wrapped around a slightly used bronze brush worked OK for me, but it took a while. Bore Tech Eliminator turned the fouling black, as if it oxidized it, but I can’t say it made it any easier to clean.
December 29, 2025 at 6:20 am #542166
John McMahon
Participant
What worked for me:

Step 1: Soak several cleaning patches in Montana X-Treme Copper Killer and stuff them down the bore until full. Put in a ziploc bag and allow to sit overnight. Fouling should scrub out easily after that. Any stubborn spots can be removed with JB Bore Cleaning Compound on a patch wrapped around a jag and applied vigorously.

Step 2: Go back to using RMR’s excellent copper-jacketed bullets.

I love RMR’s products in general, and I like the fact that they think outside the box, but the zinc-jacketed bullets simply don’t work for me.
I echo all of the OP’s caveats regarding advice from other users. I would add that I know how to load Hi-Tek coated bullets so that there is no swaging of the base or damage from over-crimping, and if that careful process isn’t good enough for a particular bullet, then that bullet is not for me.
December 29, 2025 at 6:28 am #542167
John McMahon
Participant
I should also add that (like the OP) I was using TiteGroup when testing these bullets. I am open to the idea that a slower/gentler powder might produce better results.
April 19, 2026 at 2:27 pm #546864
billbrugnoli
Participant
Just went thru the zink fouling, what I did was shoot about 100 roung of the copper bullets, then came home and checked the barrel before cleaning and it had completely cleaned out the zink. After cleaning it using some copper cleaner and then my regular hopps you can’t tell the gun has ever been fired. Good lucck Bill Chester Virginia!
June 15, 2026 at 7:20 am #548670
Daniel Popa
Participant
Save a ton of time and hassle. Get yourself a ball of Frontier metal cleaner off Amazon. Cut off some strands and wrap them tightly around an old bore brush. Use your favorite cleaner (Hoppes Black for me) and scrub like you normally would. Works wonders on the zinc fouling as well as any leading from cast bullets.
June 15, 2026 at 7:31 am #548671
John McMahon
Participant
Good to know! I’ve used Chore Boy copper cleaning pads in a similar way, but it sounds like this is better.
July 1, 2026 at 8:43 pm #549294
kwan_aaron
Participant
Vinegar & hydrogen peroxide 50/50 mix, soak for 30 mins then bore brush.
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