Cleaning twist barrels
 

I just bought my first hammer gun. Its a 10ga with twist barrels.
I was wondering if there's anything I can personally do to at least help bring out some of the twist pattern in the barrels?
Refinishing the barrels is not practical on this gun.
I do have some Frontier pads that I just bought to try on the inside of the barrels just to clean them up.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you.

frontier pads

solvent

elbow grease

elbow grease

elbow grease

Any particular solvent? I see people mention Ballistol, Hoppes #9, G96.

i use hoppes

but any should work,

i have a stubborn set that are taking a lot of scrubbing - i may try ballistol to if it makes any difference

Any hints on doing the inside of the barrels as well? I assume just wrap a bit of a Frontier pad over a brush, add some solvent and use a cordless drill etc.?

you have the clean up down pat....charlie

that's the way

i have an old aluminum cleaning rod i chuck in the drill, filing a couple flats on the end helps the chuck grip it

I have used scotchbrite red pad and karosene and the drill on newer bbl's with great results

I personnally have used Turtle Wax Chrome polish and a terry towel with satisfactory results for cleaninging up the exterior of Damascus barrels.

All those guys wearing feldgrau in WWI and WWII couldn't all be wrong. Ballistol ist wunderbar!

So do you usually end up using a bore brush that's one size smaller than the actual bore to allow for the Frontier pad?

Not if I can find a real 10 bore brush

Most are 12/10. So I use a new one to get as tight a cut as I can

Refreshing/Refinishing Damascus Steel
 

I never had advised refreshing or retouching Damascus steel, Just wipe out cleaning and lubrication is all, reason: pattern is a result of rub off oxidation that is held different by hard layers steel then soft ones. Restoring finish done by confident smith is the way to go, again if done properly as restoration it will not devalue the firearm. My simple philosophy is: "people made it, people can make it again"

I agree with Jeff--BALLISTOL!! about 20 years ago a local gunsmith introduced me to Ballistol and I have never used anything else. No G-96, WD40 or Hoppes(although I still love its smell and its memories). Its also great for black powder cleanup. If you can look up its uses and you will be impressed and convinced. BUT please and I repeat "please" do not follow the recommendation to use it on open wounds(unless your severely wounded in a southeast jungle or some desert under enemy fire) because it makes Iodine feel like water. For all and anything else its unbeatable. George

000 steel wool and Kroil works great.