Cleaning a smooth bore shotgun

[Hooligan]

Just picked up an 870 recently, my first shotgun. My question is what should I use to clean it? I have one of those long Tico Tool cotton oilers to swab the barrel out with. Is that enough, or should I also use a copper or bronze brush on the barrel? Just wasn't sure if the brush would be bad for a smooth barrel. I have picks and brushes and cleaners from my other guns that I can use to clean everywhere else, but I was just wondering about the barrel.

 

[oletymer]

Brushes won't harm the barrel. They should be used to get our lead and plastic residue. I use the tornado brush every time I clean the gun. Every 3rd cleaning I use a bristle brush on a short rod in an electric drill to clean the forcing cone and choke areas. I clean the guns every time after shooting.

 

[halfacop]

Get a Boresnake. Its just a cotton "rope" with some copper brushes imbeaded in the end. You simply pull it through the barrel. A couple pulls and your clean. I love mine!

 

[sm]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=17035&highlight=Cleaning

 

[kennyboy]

I just spray some Hoppe's foaming bore spray down the barrel, wait 5 minutes and then use a rod with cleaning patches to wipe away the grime. If needed, I might add a little oil to the patches and wipe until they come out white. I clean immediately after everytime I'm out shooting, even if I've only shot a single shell. It works great for me and keeps the shotgun happy.

 

[redneck2]

Sometimes the plastic residue can be a problem. I wrap a patch around a bronze brush and add a little Rem cleam. Works fast and gets it totally clean.

 

[ATAShooter]

If you shoot alot of clays, whether it be Trap, skeet, ect. Use a bronze Tornado brush, then follow up with a boresnake, then when storage time comes Tico swab it w/ very light coat of good gun oil. Yup, makes that bore stay slicker than a minnow's tool.