Cleaning Q: Jags, brushes, loops

[strat81]

What material should my rod-end accessories be made of? Bronze brushes, brass jags, and brass loops all contain copper. How much of a concern is that when using copper solvents? I've heard some brands of solvents, usually the stronger stuff, specifically say not to use bronze brushes.

I mostly use Hoppes #9 and CLP with a bronze brush, brass jag, and brass rod. I just bought a WWII Garand and would like to give the barrel a good cleaning with something stronger (Montana Extreme, maybe?). Should I invest in some quality nylon brushes, jags, and loops too?

 

[jfh]

I now use just Nylon bore brushes alone--Brownells has some heavy-duty ones in both shorter and longer versions that seem to work about as well as the metal ones.

Jim H.

 

[Walkalong]

Unless you are using strong copper solvents like the ammonia based ones or Bore-Techs non ammonia product "Eliminator", which I really like, it is fine to use bronze brushes and jags. If you use the stronger solvents it will lesson brush life and can even put copper IN the bore by dissolving some of the brush. I sometimes use Nylon brushes for this, although I much prefer the bronze bore brushes because I feel like they get the stubborn stuff better, and finish with jags and patches. I don't mind that they wear out faster.

I rinse my rods, brushes, and jags off with brake cleaner every time out of the barrel.

I get the powder fouling and much of the copper with brushes followed by patches, and the residual copper fouling with jags and patches.

 

[fletcher]

Bronze brushes, brass jags, and brass loops all contain copper. How much of a concern is that when using copper solvents?

I don't think it would be much of a problem because of the whole alloy thing. There may be some slight surface depletion of the copper with any copper phase being present, but past that, nothing should happen.

 

[Werewolf]

Bronze works fine for jags and loops, no matter how strong the solvent. Any dissolved copper will end up on the patch - you'll know because the patch will be tinted with blue. Both will last a very, very long time with little or no visible wear.

Bronze brushes on the other hand will wear out - but so what they're cheap enough and for a good scrubbing nothing beats a bronze brush. If a little copper is left behind it won't be enough to matter but if it is a concern just use a patch soaked in a bore scrubber rated to remove copper as a follow up after using the brush.

 

[Smokey Joe]

brush & jag material

Strat 81--I use brass jags and bronze brushes for every-day use. When I'm using a copper solvent I use a nylon loop and nylon brushes.

The brass/bronze ones can take more physical wear-and-tear, plus I like the looks of the brass jags. So that's what gets used with "ordinary" bore cleaning solvents.

Rinsing off the jags and brushes in brake cleaner sounds like a wise idea. Think I'll take that up as a regular procedure. Thx, Walkalong!

 

[Werewolf]

Rinsing off the jags and brushes in brake cleaner sounds like a wise idea. Think I'll take that up as a regular procedure. Thx, Walkalong!

Save yourself some money...

Hot soapy water works just as well. Put it in a cup,dip in the brush or jag, swirl around vigorously, shake dry and you're done. Benefit... you don't have to mess with brake cleaner which is very flammable and in most cases also very, very toxic.

 

[esmith]

If you are concerned about the brushes you can get the ones made out of some non copper metal. Hoppes makes them they are called the tornado brush or something. It looks like it might work even better.

 

[Bartkowski]

I use plastic loops, wool bore mops, and brass jags, and brake cleaner, laquer thinner, hoppes, oils, and other things to clean guns and nothing has affected the acessories.