Weird discoloration in the brand new XD barrel - Rust?!?!?!

[Chaingun81]

I got a brand new Springfield XD-9 the other day and was very happy with the choice until i noticed wierd discoloration inside the barrel. Basically, it has yellowish/brownish stripes along the smaller diameter of the rifling. It looks like rust to me, but i have hard time believeing that a brand new gun from a very respectful and reliable store would have such problem. Could that be copper resedue from copper-jacketed test fire bullet? Any other ideas? I tried to attach a picture, but forum wont allow me - you can check them out here: Weird discoloration in the brand new XD barrel - Rust?!?!?! - Selecting a Handgun - Open Carry Brigade - OpenCarry.org - Discussion Forum

I tried to run a oil-soaked patch through the barrel couple of times and i didn't change anything, but it came out pretty dirty. There is some wear on the outside of the barrel right where the slide touches as it travels back and some wear on the bottom of recoil spring rod. Both are very mild and seem like something that may come up after couple of test fires. Other than that, gun looks absolutely immaculate. Serial number on the barrel matches the rest of the gun too. Any ideas??? I was thinking of bringing it back to the store, but maybe i am just paranoid - i'd really appreciate any input from you guys! Thank you!

[jeepinbanditrider]

Looks like copper fouling but it could the "grease" substance they put all over the internals before they ship it out. See if you can pick up a boresnake locally they work loads better than regular patches and brushes.

[GrandPaBob]

Use some Proshot Copper Cleaner IV on it. I soak a patch and run up and down the barrel a time or two, then let it set (with the patch still in the barrel) while I clean the slide and frame. Then run a couple of dry patches and finish up with some CLP Breakfree or other cleaner/lubricant. No more copper. It's a little sloppy while you're cleaning it like that, so be prepared to handle the dripping. Don't get that stuff on furniture! Enjoy your XD !

[Chaingun81]

Thanks for all your advices - you made me feel a lot less worried!

I didn't have a special copper cleaner, so here is what i did for now:

1) Ran several patches soaked in Hoppes#9 solvent through the barrel

2) Scrubbed it with a brass brush and then with a nylon brush dipped in the same solvent for couple of minutes

3) Ran several more patches with solvent

3) Ran a bore snake back and forth for a minute

4) And several more patches again

I repeated the above procedure 3 times and then oiled the bore with Hoppes oil.

The result was pretty good - 90% of this brownish stripes are gone and barrel looks steel gray. There is a tiny bit more of these stuff left right on the edge of each rifling groove, but so little that i wouldn't notice it if i wasnt looking super carefully with a bore light. Several patches in the beginning came out black, which turned into green after 5 minutes, which makes me thing it was copper resedue. There was some brownish rust looking dripping too, but only when i was using the brass brush which makes me thing it was the brush itself. Any ideas? Do you think it could have been rust or it sounds for sure like copper?

Also, what color the clean barrel should be - steel gray or black like finish outside?

And the last question - how could i get so much copper resedue on a brand new gun i never fired - could it be from the factory test firing?

Thank you!

[Chaingun81]

Any ideas guys?

[Broadside]

Go get you a can of Wipe Out. It's like a can a shaving cream, plug one end of the barrel and fill it. Let it sit for 10 - 20 minutes then run a patch w/ jag it will clean it out. The copper will come out blue it disolves it. You can run your bore snake through it but it will be dirty coming out and you will need to wash it.

[Broadside]

Here is a link to it on Midway.

MidwayUSA - Sharp Shoot R Wipe-Out Brushless Foaming Bore Cleaning Solvent 5 oz Aerosol

[Krackels]

Originally Posted by Chaingun81

Any ideas guys?

Not sure, it's possible that it's rust but considering it's only in the grooves of the rifling I think it's more likely that it's copper fouling.

They may have used copper plated bullets for the test firing, which i believe are a thinner metal and would come off easier, but I'm not entirely sure.

[thunderjohn]

Have heard of this more lately. According to a gunsmith, it seems to be from the test fire as Krackels stated. Not to worry.