Originally Posted by
foxx
Rough bore like yours (maybe all factory Savage barrels) are often considered "copper mines". Meaning, they accumulate copper, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. If the copper is filling in your pits, let it be. Don't be in a rush to remove it. Savage barrels, in particular, have a reputation for shooting better after 100+ rounds have been fired through them when new or after removing all the copper. Unless your barrel has been lapped to smooth out tooling marks and chatter, etc, don't worry about copper fouling. It's a poor man's alternative to lapping. What you're really looking for is a consistent finish to your bore; something that makes for consistent, accurate shooting. I say, leave it alone. Only clean as often as accuracy starts to fall off, and don't clean it aggressively (removing copper).