[emilianoksa]

I'd be grateful if you could help a confused and inexperienced Limey out here.

Since the rod must go through from the muzzle end of the barrel, are bore guides appropriate for this job? Are there special bore guides for handguns?

For rifles and handguns in general, I have noticed that some people say a bore brush or patch holder can be moved back and forth inside a barrel, others that it should move in one direction only, and then be removed upon exiting.

Your comments would be appreciated.

[jlpskydive]

Just make sure you don't use a steel rod. Brass rods are fine and wooden are fine as well. A steel rod can mess up the crown. As far as direction I always go down and back.

[ewayte]

I've started using a bore snake on my revolvers for both the barrel and the charge holes. It gets most of the job done in less time. If I need, I then use the rod & brush.

[The Lone Haranguer]

Since the rod must go through from the muzzle end of the barrel, are bore guides appropriate for this job? Are there special bore guides for handguns?

Yes, and sort of. A bore guide is just that - it does not really matter if you are using it on a handgun or rifle. Another alternative is a plastic-coated rod.

For rifles and handguns in general, I have noticed that some people say a bore brush or patch holder can be moved back and forth inside a barrel, others that it should move in one direction only, and then be removed upon exiting.

You can pull a brush back through the barrel in the reverse direction, but you have to let it exit the barrel first. If you try to reverse direction while the brush is still in the barrel it will get stuck. I can see no reason to remove a brush before pulling the rod back out. For patches it depends on what kind of holder you are using. If it is the slotted kind that you put the patch through, you can pull back through the barrel with no problem. If it is the kind with a pointy end that the patch just sits on, it will drop out when the rod comes out the far end.

[mljdeckard]

Right, don't try to change direction while it's in the middle of the barrel. We always say, "Only push everything out the end of the muzzle, not back into the breech", but I don't apply this to handguns as much, because the breech areas are usually much more accessible to clean than on a rifle.

I don't use a guide, but at the same time, I try to be careful not to ding up the crown, and I make every effort to make every stroke straight in or out.

[DMK]

Does anyone even make a bore guide for revolvers?

I'd imagine it would be hard to use, trying to hold the gun, hold the boreguide on the muzzle and trying to push the rod through the bore with a tight fitting patch, all at the same time.

Then again, you could remove the grips and clamp the revolver in a vice with blocks of wood protecting the finish. Then you can use both hands to carefully guide the rod and keep it from touching the rifling or crown.

I've started using a bore snake on my revolvers for both the barrel and the charge holes. It gets most of the job done in less time. If I need, I then use the rod & brush.I do the same thing. The bore snake doesn't replace the rod, jag and brush, but it does reduce the use of the rod in the bore.

[MrBorland]

I now use the Otis system. Like a boresnake, but you can screw a brush on the end and pull it from the breech, then remove the brush and pull a patch through.

[DawgFvr]

Yup...I too use the Otis system...and finish off with a boresnake. No cleaning rod touches my muzzle crown!

[rcmodel]

Kleen-Bore rods have come with a universal muzzle guide for years.
http://secure.armorholdings.com/kleen-bore/product390.html

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j219/rcmodel/KTOG/Rod1.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j219/rcmodel/KTOG/Rod2.jpg

PS: If all else fails, you can make one out of an empty .223 case by drilling out the primer pocket to fit your cleaning rod.
(Use a .308 case for larger calibers.)

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j219/rcmodel/KTOG/1224.gif
rcmodel

[emilianoksa]

Many thanks for your advice.:)

[Jomax]

I use brass rods, patch holders and jags with my all of my handguns including my revolvers but no bore guide as it gets in the way and is too difficult to work with while holding the gun in my hand. I push through from the muzzle and pull back as needed to clean the barrel and/or the cylinder chambers. I have one of those bore lights and I regularly inspect the cleaned metal for any remaining deposits, scratches, etc. In the years I've been cleaning them, no issues or problems with using brass. Plastic is okay in a pinch but it's too flexible IMO. The BoreSnake is a terrific concept but it is limited to what residue it will effectively remove and where it actually cleans. I do have one for each of my gun calibers and I find that they are great for quick cleanings of the barrel in-between range sessions.

Whenever I clean my guns, I'm reminded of spit-shining shoes. Everyone who spit-shines shoes approaches it with a zeal and a discipline, everyone has their lineup of preferred products and materials and everyone has a tried and true method or procedure for doing it. That's what makes it so great. :)

[22-rimfire]

I agree with what has been said. Just be careful with the rods, don't let them hit the rifling and let them rotate naturally as you push down the barrel, push or pull in a single direction with brushes, and it doesn't matter with patches. Rods are generally made of a softer metal than the steel inside a handgun barrel.

[Hikingman]

http://www.notpurfect.com/main/dsmuz.JPG
The crown or portion at the beginning of the barrel (under the front sight) can be damaged while using a wire brush, metal rod or other unnecessary bore cleaning-by accident. This may permanently affect the accuracy of the barrel, ouch! Clean at the muzzle or barrel-end ONLY to remove junk-use a patch, a Rig's rag or cotton shirt that being recycled into a gun rag-when and where you can...There's a BIG difference between cleaning the grooves-lands-INSIDE a barrel-throughly vs. damaging the end/crown...As they say, take care of it, and it may well take care of an intruder!

[Dave Markowitz]

Yes, use a bore guide. No different than cleaning a rifle from the muzzle.

Even coated rods or brass rods will cause muzzle wear, especially if they pick up grit.

[glocksrfugly]

I must reinforce what MrBorland and DawgFvr said about the Otis System. I have been using it for about a year now and I will never go back to cleaning my guins with anything else.
Not only does it clean from chamber to muzzle; but the design is such that you can get up to six cleaning passes through the bore with one patch.

[glocksrfugly]

I must reinforce what MrBorland and DawgFvr said about the Otis System. I have been using it for about a year now and I will never go back to cleaning my guns with anything else.
Not only does it clean from chamber to muzzle; but the design is such that you can get up to six cleaning passes through the bore with one patch.