Damage from brass cleaning jag?

[RyanT]

In the past, I have used only CLP and a boresnake to clean my .308 rifle. Recently I purchased a tipton cleaning rod and .30 brass cleaning jag. The first patch that I put through the barrell required a lot of effort. So much effort that it caused the cleaning rod to bend a little and caused a high pitched noise. I put about 10 patches through the barrell before I noticed scratches down the side of the cleaning jag. I am afraid the I have damaged the barrell rifling. Can a brass cleaning jag damage a steel barrell?

 

[endwrench]

Physics say no. Brass is much softer than steel and should not scratch or damage the rifling. It can "wear" on steel over time but just 10 passes down the barrel isn't going to cause this. The scratches are signs of damage to your jag, not the barrel. Don't panic unless the rifle starts shooting badly or fouls the bore at a higher rate. Unlikely.

I found when I moved to higher quality rods and brass jags I had to be careful wich patches I bought as some were just too thick to get down the barrel.

Todd