[bclark1]

Wasn't sure where to put this, I figured "maintenance" could go along with this subforum.

Anyway, idiot moment. Pardon me, I came from a non-shooting family, so I had to learn it all on the fly. Felt like I was doing okay until I got here to Marine Corps OCS (graduating tomorrow, libo for family day). My rifle always passed inspection with flying colors, but one thing they were huge on here was punching the bore in the direction of bullet travel _only_. With my weapons at home, I've brushed the bore in both directions. It was so heavily stressed here, I've got to wonder - have I potentially done any serious damage to barrels doing this? I don't think it could be too dramatic, because my sub-$300 Charles Daly Mauser can shoot clover leaves at 100 yards after having cleaned it like that, but I can't help but wonder. Would a modern barrel really get seriously jacked up from running a brass brush down it the wrong way?

Thanks for any input.

[BigG]

I can't think how. If you run the rod from the muzzle you risk a nick on the crown from the steel sectional rod they give with the M16 but that is pretty difficult to do.

[KD5NRH]

Look at it this way; a lot of guns make it impossible (i.e. revolvers) or impractical (i.e. Remington 7400) to run a rigid rod from breech-to-muzzle, and are thus cleaned muzzle-to-breech most of the time. It might not be as efficient, but it does work.

[Clipper]

There's the right way, the wrong way, and the US Govt. way...You're perfectly OK to run a brush whichever way floats your boat, but you can damage the brush, and possibly the barrel, in the case of a steel brush, if you reverse direction while the brush is still in the bore. I often pass a brush from the muzzle end, but I put a rag or other pad over the boltface, and only reverse direction after the brush completely clears the bore.

[Geno]

They simply wanted for you to avoid the Naming of Parts poem in real life. If you haven't read that old poem...do so. :evil:

Doc2005

[eden892]

I don't see any way it could damage the barrel, I believe the reason for pushing the rod away from the chamber is to keep anything from falling into the action.

[U.S.SFC_RET]

The reason for running the brush from the chamber end is this. The bullet goes the other way towards the muzzle. If you pick up all of that dirt and deposit it into the chamber what do you think is going to happen when the next round is shot? It sends the dirt right back up and scratches the barrel in the process! Trust me on this one. Now think about this, How often do you really clean out the chamber and if you clean out the chamber you are most likely doing it before you are brushing out the bore.
If you are a company commander and you have 250 rifles that you need kept accurate I would tell every private the very same thing. Clean from the chamber end. Those rifles see a lot of rounds per year.
The Chamber is the most neglected part of the rifle to be cleaned. I challenge you to open up your safes and pull out your model 70s and weatherbys and stick your pinkys in the chamber.
If you do keep your chamber squeaky clean then you can IMHO clean your rifle any direction you want.
If you do not keep your chamber clean you run the risk of depositing little monsters waiting to tear into your barrel each and everytime you shoot that first round down the pipe after your cleaning.;)

[walking arsenal]

There's the right way, the wrong way, and the US Govt.

Which is a lot like the wrong way except faster.

[Big Az Al]

The rod may not ruin the crown this week or this month, BUT

The number ONE cause of loose of accuracy is going to be that metal rod on the muzzle end of the rifling!

It may be more apparent when the rifle in question is being asked to, and is delivering minute of angle accuracy.

But that is why there are rod allignment tools, for sale where ever fine cleaning kits are sold!

Turning the Fram camercial a little: Protect it now! or pay me later!

When you look at a MIL surplus rifle, and in a lot of them there will be almost no rifling in the last half inch or more of the barrel. And then think this:

When the Sarge, comes looking to put someone to work, whom is he going to pick, the guy cleaning his gun (oops excuse me Gunny, his RIFLE!) or shining his shoes, or the guy writing a letter or nothing at all?

You will find Mil Surplus barrels where that busy work, "to keep sarge away," scrubbed an inch or more of the rifling, completely smooth!

And you say, Marine CORPs, where every man is a RIFLEMAN, Stay away from the muzzle with that rod. OR to the music of a Johnny Cash song Insert, "I hear K P a calling , Calling loud and Clear................................

[Sunray]

"...from running a brass brush..." Brass will never do anything to steel. It's much too soft. Any bits of gunk will be removed by the solvent soaked patches you run through after the brush.
"...and the US Govt. way..." It's actually the military way. The government way would be to create a committee to study the issue and report back in a year or two after spending a few million dollars.

[mrmeval]

Doc2005
Have you seen "Blaming of parts" by Brigadier General Alan F. Farrell ?
http://www.winningwriters.com/contests/wergle/2005/we05_farrell.php?PHPSESSID=73f515547c94e114560c8de7f24cc1c5