Stuck Bore Brushes

[JFrank]

So, it’s safe to use a polishing compound like glitz in a bore? That kind of makes me nervous. Isn’t a polishing compound removing the tiniest amount of metal each time you use it? It must be abrasive to polish, right? Just curious

Can’t speak for Fitz but with IOSSO paste just follow the instructions to get the bore clean, you can’t really hurt the barrel by hand.
Some guys use it every cleaning others wait a couple hundred rounds or more.

 

[d2wing]

Do you think that a metal brush is not abrasive? Reversing ametal brush in a bore is a serious error. I would use a chemical like C-4 and JB paste on pellets or patches or a chamber brush.
I full length clean often as my rifles shoot best that way. Some folks don't believe in cleaning barrels. Bench rest shooters believe in clean barrels and so do I.

 

[lysanderxiii]

Just for the record, a military 5.56mm bore brush is .235" to .245" in diameter over the bristles. 7.62mm/Caliber .30 brushes are .320" to .335", and Caliber .38/9mm brushes are .370" to .380" in diameter.

They are all I have ever used, and i never had one get stuck.

 

[lightman]

So, it’s safe to use a polishing compound like glitz in a bore? That kind of makes me nervous. Isn’t a polishing compound removing the tiniest amount of metal each time you use it? It must be abrasive to polish, right? Just curious

If it removes any metal its such a small amount that I've never noticed anything. And I don't use it everytime.

 

[CapnMac]

Isn’t a polishing compound removing the tiniest amount of metal each time you use it? It must be abrasive to polish, right? Just curious

It is, true enough.
But, you are not really going to affect the bore until you remove perhaps a full thousandth (0.001"). You have to be very aggressive with lapping and abrasive compounds to even scare a ten-thousandth (0.0001")

Those compounds are typically measured on the Clover scale. Clover "Very Fine" abrasive compound (3A) is around "500 grit" which is a 17 micron grit size. "Polishing Compounds" are even finer, around "1000 grit"/5 microns.

Consider how long you'd have to sand with 1000 grit emory to even do more than take the machine tool makes out.

This is different than taking a hardened mill file to metal.

Firearms are not toasters made of flimsy parts.

 

[JerkyFreak]

I have seen pbotos af a rifle's leade where the owner used Ilosso on a drill mounted brush to clean the throat. The lands looked crinkle - cut.

Also seen what happens when using JB's bore paste on a brush using a non-rotating cleaning rod. It was not pretty.

I have never seen a photo of barrel damage caused by reversing a bronze brush in a barrel. I suspect that reversing the brush in bore doesn't harm the barrel, but destroys the brush.

And no, I am not advocating reversing bronze brushes in bore.

 

[Turkeytider]

Tell you what. I`m about to give up. if you`ve heard one theory/practice concerning cleaning of rifle barrels, you`ve heard exactly that. One. For every routine, you`ll have someone come along and say, " Do that, and you`ll ruin your barrel." Seems like it ranges from, " I never clean my barrels " to " I clean my barrels once a week, whether I shoot or not. " I guess that`s an exaggeration ( but not by much! ).

 

[JerkyFreak]

Can you post a link to the video where you saw the scrubbing of the throat with a brush?

I am quite interested to see why the person is doing it.

 

[JFrank]

No Drills please.

 

[hoardingthemanual]

Maybe it's the rod? When I use my long Tipton 44" rod on 10.3" AR barrels, I can never push the jag through it because the rod bends like holy hell. When I switch to a shorter rod I can easily push the jag through the barrel (yes, you pedantics, everything was the right size).

In the early days when I did use the long rod and had a "stuck" cleaning thing, I would have to pick up the upper with rod still inside and slam the rod handle on the floor to push it through the barrel.

 

[Walkalong]

Dang, how tight was the patch? Never mind. Too tight.

 

[Dr T]

Perhaps you should drop the brush down to a 17 caliber and wrap a patch around it. Try first with a nylon brush, and if that is not tight enough, try a brass one.

 

[MarshallDodge]

I've never had an issue with a brush being too tight but many times with a patch in 223. I switched jags and it has become less of a problem.

I only use plastic brushes in my bore and barrel manufacturers recommend that you only use cleaning fluid on them. Bore paste is reserved for patches only.

My method is start with a wet plastic brush and run full strokes through the bore about a dozen times. Let it soak for 15 minutes, then hit it with a dry patch. Repeat until the patch comes out fairly clean.