Muzzle Guard

[miamivicedade]

Is a muzzle guard as effective as a bore guide? If I go through the muzzle side of a rifle with a muzzle guard, is there any potential for damage?

 

[mljdeckard]

What gun and guard?

 

[miamivicedade]

a .30-06 rifle. Guard would fit the crown.

 

[GunsAmerica Fan]

The point of a muzzle guard is that it is brass and softer than steel, so won't damage the crown. It assumes you are cleaning from the muzzle. The bore guide is to clean from the rear of the action for a bolt action rifle that has a straight shot from the back of the rifle. I haven't figured out what the benefits of it are besides not getting solvent into the guts of the gun. I think it depends on how you are going to clean the rifle.

 

[mljdeckard]

I don't suppose it could hurt anything. I depend on a rod guide and the object I am pushing through the bore to keep from grinding into the rifling. When I get to the crown, I'm not exerting force anymore. I'm not worried about TOUCHING the crown, I'm just worried about grinding against it, using it as a leverage point, things like that. But then again, I'm not a bench rest shooter either.

 

[Sunray]

Even a steel cleaning rod is softer than barrel steel. You won't bother the crown with a cleaning rod.

 

[bhk]

"Even a steel cleaning rod is softer than barrel steel. You won't bother the crown with a cleaning rod."

Then why all the bore guides on the market? Then why do folks measure muzzle wear before buying surplus rifles? Then why does the CMP use muzzle wear as one of the criteria separating rack grade guns from service grade guns? Any cleaning rod rubbing on the edge of he crown long enough can cause wear. The softer the rod, the more likely it is to pick up abrasive grit and accelerate damage. When practical, always use a guide. When practical, clean from the breech. Most precision shooters also use a guide when cleaning from the breech to properly center the rod in the bore.

 

[THE DARK KNIGHT]

Then why all the bore guides on the market?

If hollowpoints are so good, why are all those DRT and super-duper-frangible-incendiary bullets on the market?

Why is there a pistol bayonet on the market?

See where this goes?

 

[bhk]

'If hollowpoints are so good, why are all those DRT and super-duper-frangible-incendiary bullets on the market?

Why is there a pistol bayonet on the market?

See where this goes?'

Your comparison is silly.

I don't see any comparison at all. I have been shooting for 50 years, and muzzle wear from improper cleaning has been a topic for much of that period. That was especially true when lever actions were more popular than they are now. One of the more common recommendations about buying used lever actions was to check for muzzle wear from cleaning rods. Gee, I guess the century old recommendation to always clean from the breech when possible is total nonsense and 'made up' by gun enthusiasts and writers.

I just looked up cleaning methods in my original copy of Crossman's 'Small-Bore Rifle Shooting' copywrited in 1927. This is a highly respected and rather technical work on the competitive target shooting of the period. In the chapter on rifle cleaning and under the section titled 'And Some Don'ts for the Beginneer,' Crossman states 'Don't clean from the muzzle if you can clean from the breech. If your rifle is the muzzle-loader sort, either get a British muzzle protector (GUIDE!), or use geat care not to rub the muzzle end with a cramped or bent rod.'

Worry about damaging the muzzle from cleaning and devices to prevent such damage are nothing new.

 

[harmonic]

You won't bother the crown with a cleaning rod.

I've seen guns ruined from years of cleaning rods grinding against the crown. Over time, even the hardest of steel can be ruined by improper cleaning techniques.

 

[miamivicedade]

so is a muzzle guard and a cleaning rod recommended?

 

[harmonic]

so is a muzzle guard and a cleaning rod recommended?

And a cleaning rod? What else would you use?

But I've never had any luck w/a muzzle guard. When I have to clean from the muzzle, I clean under a strong light and am careful to not abrade the crown.

 

[miamivicedade]

are they the same things, but for use when cleaning from opposite ends of the gun?

 

[mljdeckard]

I don't see where it could possibly hurt. You will have a lot of guys asking you at the range what it is.

I honestly think you would have to be comparing it to very precise rifles and very long-term wear to see the difference.

 

[dmazur]

Muzzle guard -

• M1 Garand
• BAR's
• Remington semi-auto and pump hunting rifles
• Winchester 1895's and BLR's w/o takedown feature

Bore guide -

• Everything else (bolt actions, single shots)

I believe the bore guides are better because they help keep dirt & solvents out of the action. If you have no choice (see above lists), then use a muzzle guard and clean from the muzzle.

 

[miamivicedade]

Thanks!