Why dip bore brush in oil or solvent?

[elano]

Every source says to oil the bore bush before running it through the barrel and chambers. Why? I've found that this coats my hands, the grips, and the rest of the gun in a greasy dirty mess. Along with my clean shirt and the floor.

Do bronze bore brushes need the oil for lubrication? Or does it just help with the cleaning?

 

[918v]

I don't dip the bore brush in the solvent because the fouling on the brush contaminates the solvent. I run a wet patch through the bore prior to brushing.

 

[moxie]

Just get a small jar or cup that only holds about 2 oz. Pour solvent in it. Dip your brushes, patches, and rags in that. Throw away when done. The big jar stays pristine. I don't know when you would need to put oil on a brush, but if you do need to , or oil anything else, you just put a few drops on it.

 

[Tony_the_tiger]

Because if you don't lubricate it, you'll be inhaling the lead dust.

Also, a chemical solvent will greatly reduce the physical manipulation needed to clean the firearm.

I don't oil the barrel or chambers.. but I do use hoppes or break free on them. I oil the internals on occasion and I wax the exterior after cleaning with solvent.

 

[dfariswheel]

Better still, buy a plastic pipette. This is a plastic bulb with a long tube that you use to transfer solvents.
Just squeeze the bulb and stick the tube in the solvent. You can apply just the right amount in just the right place without contaminating your solvent.

You can buy pipettes at lab supply houses, hobby shops, or one made by Accu-Bore from Brownell's.

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=9953/Product/ACCUBORE___ACCUBORE_PIPETTES

And I've never heard of oiling the brush. This would serve no purpose. You use a bore solvent with the brush.

 

[oneounceload]

I use Shooter's Choice in a small squeeze bottle ad refill the bottle from the large one. A few drops on the brush, rod chucked in a cordless drill and a barrel is clean in no time

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I just dip the brush in the solvent and don't worry too much about getting it dirty. Any metals will sink to the bottom. Since I use Ed's Red and it cost's only a few cents an ounce, I just throw it out when it gets dirty.

 

[Slamfire]

Because if you don't lubricate it, you'll be inhaling the lead dust.

In all my decades of cleaning guns, I never heard this, and now that I heard this, I think you are right.

I have been using GI bore cleaner since the 80's, it does not dissolve copper brushes as it is a bore solvent only. I have no problem dunking a bristle brush in the bottle, solvent does not have to be medically clean, it just has to dissolve gunpowder.

I wipe out the GI bore cleaner before swabbing with Sweets, Butches, or Shooter Choice.

 

[ThomasT]

I use Shooter's Choice in a small squeeze bottle ad refill the bottle from the large one. A few drops on the brush, rod chucked in a cordless drill and a barrel is clean in no time

Oneounceload I hope you are not spinning a cleaning rod in your bore. If you are you will round off the rifling in your barrel.

I worked all my young life in my dads machine shop and he would go nuts if you caught you cleaning a file with a wire wheel on a grinder. The wire wheel will knock off the sharp edges a file has and a file is a thousand percentage points harder than a gun barrel.

I don't dip the brush but I have in the past and couldn't see where it did any harm. Now I wet everything with a patch and let it soak. Then rewet and and brush out the bore and cylinder. With the pre soak it doesn't take much brushing.

 

[murf]

clean your brushes with wd-40 and a paper towel before you run them down the bore. you'll be amazed at the amount of crud that comes out of that brush onto the paper towel.

murf

 

[JohnBT]

I think Oneounceload has shotguns on the brain.

 

[oneounceload]

JohnBT is correct - for rifles and handguns I use a regular rod - but for shotguns, it is quick and easy

 

[reppans]

I also a small dish to avoid contamination of the main bottle. For solvent application, I used to use a wet patch, but have now moved to a Q-tip since I find I can leave a thicker coat and with better placement.

 

[Walkalong]

I use something similar to this to put bore cleaner etc on my brush and on my patches.

I use a bore guide and a cover for the stock when cleaning.