How to clean these spots off the bolt?

[rogerg12]

I try to be good about cleaning my Begara B-14 6.5CM after each day of shooting. I clean with Hopps mostly.

I've noticed that the bolt is getting these two spots and my normal cleaning routine isn't removing them. It did only have one spot for a bunch of months and now I'm seeing two...meaning whatever is happening is still happening and I'm not removing them.

What is it and how can I remove it?

 

[sinister]

Looks like staining. Bergara bolt alloy may have a high nickel content. Contact with Hoppe's will stain it.

 

[Aftermath]

Fine steel wool, lots of Ballistol and lots of elbow grease

 

[rogerg12]

If it's "just" a stain, do I really care at this point now that the damage is done, or is it more than a stain...and something that will eventually impact the smoothness of the bolt?

 

[KnowNothing256]

If it's "just" a stain, do I really care at this point now that the damage is done, or is it more than a stain...and something that will eventually impact the smoothness of the bolt?

You do not care.

Keep it lightly oiled/lubed and live your life free from worries. I like Hornady One Shot for this (the black can, not the red one).

 

[ForgeValley]

Drop the entire thing in hoppes, give it a nice patina and no more stain worries.

 

[FUNCTIONAL]

Gun is ruined. Throw the whole thing away.

 

[acudaowner]

could try brasso

it might work no idea if it will or won't but it's a cheap thing to try .

 

[Yoteski]

I had a grease stain on my TL3 bolt one time I couldn't get off. This cleaned it up better than anything else I tried.

 

[Shoots 700's]

Leave it alone, it wont hurt anything

 

[Captrjc]

Maybe it’s from your scope rear base screws. It might be an indication of the screws working loose. I have never owned a begara but it looks to be in that same area and the spacing looks similar too.

 

[rogerg12]

Thanks, everyone, for all the (serious) replies.

 

[sinister]

Maybe it’s from your scope rear base screws. It might be an indication of the screws working loose. I have never owned a begara but it looks to be in that same area and the spacing looks similar too.

I think this is your answer. Rusty scope base screws in contact with in-the-white bolt steel would stain it like that.

The recommendations above are all spot-on ( 0000 steel wool, Brasso, maybe mag wheel polish from an auto parts store).

 

[Mike Casselton]

Since you're from the Palm Harbor area, I'm gonna assume you're subject to the woes of salt air.

The pattern surely matches up with your rear base holes.
When you clean the rifle, do you wipe the inside of the action?
One of the best ways to clean the inside of the action is a shotgun mop.
Spray the mop with non-chlorinated brake cleaner and run it in and out a few times. Once you're done, spray it again and wipe the mop with a dry rag and it'll be ready for use again.


The marks you have are just staining and won't affect the metal properties. They can be polished off with something like Flitz metal polish or even jeweler's rouge.
The marks will most likely have some permanent staining, but like others have pointed out above, it's easy to just create the stain on the entire surface and, voilá you don't see it.

 

[lariat]

Since you're from the Palm Harbor area, I'm gonna assume you're subject to the woes of salt air.

The pattern surely matches up with your rear base holes.
When you clean the rifle, do you wipe the inside of the action?
One of the best ways to clean the inside of the action is a shotgun mop.
Spray the mop with non-chlorinated brake cleaner and run it in and out a few times. Once you're done, spray it again and wipe the mop with a dry rag and it'll be ready for use again.


The marks you have are just staining and won't affect the metal properties. They can be polished off with something like Flitz metal polish or even jeweler's rouge.
The marks will most likely have some permanent staining, but like others have pointed out above, it's easy to just create the stain on the entire surface and, voilá you don't see it.

Yeah Flitz was where I was going. If you use a dremel cotton pad with Flitz it’ll come out. I wouldn’t worry about it though.