How long should you use bronze bristle brushes?

[RM]

How long should you use bronze bristle brushes for bore cleaning before replacing them? Can you keep using them indefinitely, if they do not show wear? Thank you.

 

[1 old 0311]

I keep them for years. When they look like a old toothbrush then I pitch them.

Kevin

 

[ulflyer]

When they start sliding thru with little resistance its time to get a new one.

 

[dfariswheel]

Remember that bore solvents EAT bronze brushes just like they dissolve copper bore fouling.

Cleaning brushes don't last long, and should be discarded when they start to pass through the bore too easily.
You can extend their life by washing them off with paint thinner or hot soapy water when you're finished cleaning.

I buy bore brushes in bulk from Brownell's.

 

[HSMITH]

Spare the brush and save the bore. I will only use a brush on horribly fouled bores, and then only minimally. My bore brushes last years and years.

 

[ball3006]

I use the brushes until...

they become worn and do not make good contact with the bore. Then I use them on the next size smaller caliber. I buy my bore brushes sevral sizes larger than what I am going to clean so the longer bristles really get into the grooves. Longer bristles will only go through the bore one way. You can't stop half way and try to pull the brush out. Make sure you have a cleaning rod that is long enough to push the brush through the barrel......Using my brushes on milsurp guns with not so prestine bores wears them out pretty fast........chris3