Cylinder brushing

[RobertFBurnett]

Hello, Someone in a post somewhere here recommended using a slightly larger diameter brush for the cylinder holes than in the barrel to really clean it out. I have brushes and bore snakes for these calibers, but not the slightly larger ones.

For a .357 Magnum and a .44 Magnum does anyone have the upgraded sizes I should use? i.e. is a .40 cal the brush to use on the .357 cylinder, and a .45 used on a .44 cylinder?

Or I have thought about just being lazy and getting this thing: http://www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/store/productdetail.aspx?p=150

Thank you all,

RFB

P.S. Speaking of cleaning, what did people do before Bore Snakes? Patches have their place but did the Boresnake revolutionize gun cleaning for $14.95? I mean also that I am not all that old so for me Snakes have been around the entire time I have been shooting so I know not of buying patches in 1000 count bags. Just wondering.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Those sizes should work. Use something that fits snugly into the rear of the charge hole and has a degree of resistance all the way through the chamber.

I use a .45 cal. bore brush on my 9mm autoloader barrels, so it does a more thorough job of scrubbing the chamber.

 

[Virginian]

I use a 44 bronze brush on my 44 revolvers and some Hoppes and it comes clean. I do about 4 or 5 strokes on each charge hole and try to direct the pressure around the clock. After the brushing, a tight patch leaves the chambers spotless.

 

[dfariswheel]

The best are chamber brushes.

These are special extra-stiff, over-sized bronze brushes made specifically for cleaning chambers CLEAN.
Larger caliber bore brushes are made with bristles that are more flexible and don't work as well:


http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/st...287&title=BRONZE RIFLE/PISTOL CHAMBER BRUSHES

 

[Wheeler44]

so I know not of buying patches in 1000 count bags. Just wondering.

The thousand count bag of patches was also known as an old flannel shirt. The ten thousand count was an old flannel sheet.

 

[Jim K]

I don't know if bore snakes have "revolutionized" gun cleaning, but they sure have given rise to a lot of ideas about how to get a broken snake out of the bore. Most don't work.

Jim

 

[strat81]

Most don't work.

I respectfully disagree. I've used boresnakes in all kinds of guns... AKs, ARs, M1s, Glocks. I've never had a problem.

Of course, I follow some common sense guidelines when using them:
-I use the appropriate size snake for the bore
-I do not saturate the snake with liquid
-I do not force it through