Cleaning/Crown Damage Q?

[Click Click Boom]

I know that when cleaning the bore it is greatly recomended to clean from the chamber end of the barrel. I was wondering if its ok to run a loose patch of oil down the bore from the muzzle end to coat it for short-mid term storage. I live in a very humid and salty climate and firearms take a lot of care here.

My question is will a rod damage the crown if used in this limited capacity?

What do you look for in the crown besides the obvious burrs or dings? (photos of examples?)

How likely is it that a cleaning rod will damge the crown from rod to muzzle contact in a non forceful way?

 

[dmazur]

Cleaning rods can damage the crown if used from the muzzle end. Coated cleaning rods are better, as the aluminum oxide surface of the rod is under a coating of nylon. One-piece rods are better as there are no joints to trap dirt and acts as abrasive spots, or show metal edges which are also abrasive.

I don't have personal photos, but I think an NRA publication had an article about damaged muzzles and accuracy last month. I'll look for it.

Obviously, the amount of force and the number of repetitions accelerate the wear.

My understanding is that you are better off to just not do it, unless forced to by design (Garand), and then make sure to use a muzzle guard.

I think the Swiss had problems with pull-through cords being dragged against the edge of the muzzle, damaging the crown and affecting accuracy. This is a cord doing this. (Of course, a dirty cord, but still a cord)

If you want to periodically oil a rifle, and you don't want to pull the bolt or field strip it, I understand a cord can be used to pull an oily patch through with no measurable wear, provided the cord is kept clean and it is kept centered in the muzzle while it is being pulled.

Otis makes a pull-thru kit with coated cables that some like.

Some also like Boresnakes for quick cleaning jobs, but I've heard they can break off in the bore, creating an interesting problem.

Without going into detail of how to clean (which you didn't ask and which will start a war...), this is the best I can do to answer your questions.

 

[Click Click Boom]

Thanks for the reply. If you come across that NRA article that would be very helpful to me. Thanks again.

 

[dmazur]

NRA Article -

"The Question: Will Damage To a Rifle's Crown Hamper Accuracy?"
by Jeff Johnston, Senior Editor

American Hunter, March 2008, page 70

.....Conclusion
Does damage to the barrel's crown hamper accuracy?
Answer: Yes!...Baby your barrel! Do not clean it from the muzzle end --clean it from the chamber end...

 

[W.E.G.]

You can't clean your rifle enough.

I recommend steel cleaning rods and vigorous action.

 

[JWarren]

I recommend steel cleaning rods and vigorous action.

I was under the impression that Brass Rods were better than Steel.


-- John

 

[dmazur]

W.E.G. -

That's outrageous!

 

[ants]

In the limited context of my own experience, brass rods are not better than coated rods. One-piece coated rods are cheap. I recently bought one a new one at the big-box store for $7.

As an experiment, clean your bore with copper cleaner using a coated rod, aluminum rod, or cord. Make sure all the copper is gone. Then run a brass rod down the bore two or three times. Then run the copper solvent back through the bore and see how blue it gets. Brass rods leave brass on the lands when you pull them through because the brass is so much softer than the steel of the barrel.

 

[JWarren]

Last Christmas, my father-in-law got me a nice cleaning kit from Cabelas (probably over-paid-- but he likes Cabelas) that has a multitude of attachments and 3 sets of brass rods. Unfortunately, they are the break-down ones.

I don't think I've ever seen a kit with solid brass rods.

Still, I really like this kit.


-- John