Metallic Flakes

While cleaning my Lugers (all DWMs), I've noticed what appears to be very, very small metallic particles on the dirty patches. These are so small that you can barely see them, and the light has to be just right. It just appears that a 9mm sized patch has 8-10 minute particles that catch the light. Don't notice this all the time, and I haven't noticed whether it was a result of cleaning the bore or the action, but it concerns me. Is this typical?

[Frank]

Don, what is your cleaning procedure? Do you use a brass brush? What solvent? What cleaning rod? Maybe the metallic flakes are caused by the procedure!! Maybe not !!

[Thor]

Might be old residue from someone shooting Cast Lead bullets in the gun, DOUGHNOOOO!!

[Marvin]

Frank,


The questions you ask do need an anwer to make a correct determination. The solvents could be breaking loose old copper fouling, lead, etc. Brownells sells some pretty powerful solvents for cleaning a "problem" bore. It should not be used on a regular basis, but when required, it works well.


Don, let us know the answers to Frank's question on the cleaning procedures and we all may learn somthing new.


Marvin

I use either a steel rod, that screws together or a plastic-coated rod designed for rifles. The reason I use the long rod is that I have a couple of artillerys and I like to use a rod w/o joints when I can. On one or 2 occasions I have used an amonia-based solvent, but I don't have it here & can't remember name. This has not been recently, however. My normal cleaning product is Break Free CLP.


Last night I used the steel rod on an artillery. I had fired 200-400 rounds w/o cleaning it. Disassembled the gun and ran a patch soaked with CLP through the chamber end. Came out fairly dirty. Then ran a brass brush through a couple of times. Ran a CLP soaked patch, and it came out black as pitch. After running several oily patches through, they of course came out cleaner and cleaner, until I had one that was oily and only a little dirty. I used it to wipe down the inside of the receiver, and possibley the outside of the toggle assembly, firing pin chamber, etc. I'm not reallly sure where all that particular patch had been when I discovered the flecks.


The only other interesting thing about that cleaning session was that apparently the primers left a red deposit on the face of the breechblock. In addition, the firing pin had mud-like deposit on it that was dark red in color. (I was shooting mainly factory Winchester ammo, 115 gr. FMJ. I have never used lead bullets in the gun.)


Thanks, guys.

[Frank]

Don, from your description, I don't believe the flakes are the base Luger, but a combination of bullets (copper) and cleaning implements. The solvent, in combination with the brush will dislodge and pick up the debris. I don't think it's anything to worry about. You might consider running a solvent patch through the bore on an as shoot condition.

[Robert Wiggins]

Don;


The point I am about to make may very well be a mute one since you have not indicated that you use these itmes, and nobody else has brought it up, but I have found that they generate metallic flakes as you indicated. If I use brushes or rods of aluminum and do not use a muzzle guide, I frequently get these symptoms. I have since ceased using aluminum in favor of brass. I don't particularly like using steel on steel or coated rods because the plastic coating tends to break down over time.


Anyway, I offer my two cents for what ever it is worth to you.


Best Regards;

[Marvin]

Don,


I think you have hit the right answer. To me Break-Free is a great bore cleaner. The "CLP" is an additive to the orignal "Break-Free" which gives it better residue removal. I think what you have is that the metal fouling in the bore is being removed by the "Break-Free CLP", and since you clean after shooting, the fouling has not had enough time to "bond" to the bore. I think you have a good thing here and are removing what you don't want in the bore.


The red deposit is definetly from the ammo primers. Usually it comes off easily with some solvent and a brush.


Marvin

[Jesse]

This is my $.02, on almost all blowback type gun you will find small shards of metal. b/c there are allot of harsh forces forcing hard metal against soft metal. Some of the softer metal is bound to get sheared off. Thus the irritating little metallic shards that get stuck in you fingers when cleaning.

Don, More than likely what you see on your cleaning patch are unburned flakes of nitro powder.