How do you polish a barrel? I've deep cleaned but never polished before.

[SpitNDrumN]

How do you polish your barrel. I deep cleaned my 20ga yesterday but I keep hearing about polishing as well. How do I do that properly? Thanks for any help.

[Palmetto Turk]

Riddle me this. A guy who's chokes are very popular/successful and mentioned on this site regularly and my local gunsmith both scoff at deep cleaning a barrel. One says it's useless. Another says he knows an individual who ruined his barrell doing it.  Can anyone comment on it? I'm assuming guys that have posted on this site experienced better patterns after polishing. I'm game to see if it would work on 20 ga I've set up for this season, but would appreciate some feedback

[Dtrkyman]

I have done it, as far as better patterns I did not test it before and after, but I will tell you it is easier to keep the barrel clean after polishing. You would really have to sit in one spot in the barrel to ruin it i would think!

I use Chrome polish in my Beretta and Benelli Chrome barrels on a mop in my cordless and you want to talk about a barrel looking like a mirror you should see them, and they stay that way after a quick clean for a while and seem to have less junk built up in them. I use those guns for waterfowl and they can get a bunch of rounds fired through them.

[Gutbucket]

I didn't shoot mine before I polished it, but after I polished it, it would not shoot #7's. I would bet Im the guy Palmetto is talking about. The Man "whos chokes are very popular/successful" on this site, worked on mine all day long one Sat. and it never would shoot FED HW #7'S.

I would shoot yours first. If it shoots good, don't try to fix what aint broke!

On a side note: My Pa had some FED HW#6's, so I tried them just to say I did.  HOLY SMOKE!!!!  PROBLEM SOLVED!!!!!

I didn't count the holes cause I didn't need to!   Best pattern I'v ever shot!!!!

[surehuntsalot]

never have and never will

[Palmetto Turk]

 Interesting. Anybody with before and after polishing experience? Reading this forum it seems to be the holy grail and everyone is doing it?? Tks.

[gophert]

I have noticed about a 10% increase in pellet count on all 3 guns I have polished.  I also do not know of anyone who followed the way listed on this site and damaged their barrel.  If you use the supplies listed you will be fine.  It's when people start substituting the supplies with steel wool and such is when things get a little squirrelly.  Just stick with the post and you will be fine.  I usually re-polish every 2 years. 

[Palmetto Turk]

Great thanks.

[Captaintopwater]

I have done it, as far as better patterns I did not test it before and after, but I will tell you it is easier to keep the barrel clean after polishing. You would really have to sit in one spot in the barrel to ruin it i would think!

I use Chrome polish in my Beretta and Benelli Chrome barrels on a mop in my cordless and you want to talk about a barrel looking like a mirror you should see them, and they stay that way after a quick clean for a while and seem to have less junk built up in them. I use those guns for waterfowl and they can get a bunch of rounds fired through them.

Why didn't I think if that!

[cohuttariverrat]

I done a before and after just to see if It worked like it did with a buddys 20ga. I agree with about a 10 to 15% increase. Is it for everyone or every gun probably not