Last night, I pulled out my 03 and ran a brush through the bore.
I followed it up with a dry patch, and it looked like dry, black powder
fouling on the patch. It looked like lampblack, it was so black.

The last time I had cleaned it about a month ago, the patches
were coming out gray. So I oiled the bore and put it away.
I used 3 in 1 oil as the final protection, but would the oil
continue to soften old fouling?

Hoppe's #9 and other solvents I use, do not bring out this fouling
when I am cleaning, only when I let it sit with the oil, then I get the
dry, black powdery residue.

I am amazed every time I run a patch down this bore. I keep
wondering about the past history of this filthy bore. I keep
hoping the bore might get brighter someday!