Using foam bore cleaners - how do you plug the chamber?

[Tommie]

I want to try the foaming cleaners. I like the idea of magic happening while I drive home from a shooting session. What's the best method of plugging the breach? I guess ideally the foam would be allowed to work on the chamber...or at least the neck area. All input appreciated. Thanks!

 

[DngBat7]

I bought one once, and I forgot what it’s called specifically. For my old 308, I bought plug. Looked like a dummy round with a rubber o ring. You put in the chamber like a normal round and close the bolt. It was made for safe storage so the oils did not run into action and trigger.


Now I have to try to remember what it was called or where I got it.

 

[DngBat7]

Found it

https://www.possumhollowproducts.com/site/mobile?url=https://www.possumhollowproducts.com/CHAMBER_PLUGS.html#2967

Custom ones can be made

On the muzzle end you can use the rubber plugs they make for cerakote

https://www.ebay.com/itm/40-Piece-H...319386?hash=item35d0cc579a:g:~LYAAOxygPtStkit

 

[memilanuk]

Normally with a foaming bore cleaner you use a normal tight sealing bore guide, and shoot the foam in from the action end til it comes out the muzzle. Without the open end I think the trapped air would prevent the foam from getting where it needs to go.

The trick is getting the hose on the can to seal in the bore guide, without creating too much back pressure. On a 30 cal, no problem. 6.5 might have to start slow to get it going down the bore. 22 cal... haven't got that to work yet

 

[Fast14riot]

I've found that holding the hose in the chamber for 30 seconds after squirting it in there let's the pressure drop and doesnt let it squirt back into the chamber.

But, foam ear plugs work well for plugging the barrel.

 

[Bill K]

Get a good bore guide and then use some different size plastic tubing to make attachments to the can of foam, shoot it gently into the bore from the bore guide end and when some starts ozzing out the bore stop and follow directions on the can of foam. You don't plug the muzzle end.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Foam earplugs or the possum hollow chamber plug

 

[kthomas]

I use a pistol cleaning rod with a .45 cal bore brush wrapped in a couple of bore patches to seal my chamber during cleaning soaks.

 

[MikeT49]

I use Gunslick foam. Jam the applicator nozzle into your chamber until it seals. Foam that puppy til foam comes out the muzzle. Wait til the pressure dies off before you pull the nozzle out. Put a snap cap in the chamber, close bolt. A dummy round will work. Put gun in case with paper towels at the muzzle to catch the foam. if you can, keep the cased gun with the muzzle at a slight down angle while you travel home. I usually find the bullet end of the snap cap is damp when I pull it out at home. Mop out chamber/lug recesses. Install rod guide and patch that crap out. Continue with your usual cleaning method.

 

[golong]

I bought a couple bags of these - don't think I paid as much as Midway has them for so I may have purchased them elsewhere, but it was a while ago. They hold back fluid very well. I had a barrel full of Kroil hanging vertical in a vice for days. Did not lose a single drop. I use a pick to get the plug out of the chamber.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/100639156?pid=180040

 

[tommeboy]

I like to get some of the foam in the chamber. It helps get the throat clean by having the foam in contact with it longer. It will usually take a few cycles to get the barrel clean.

 

[newbieshooter]

I want to try the foaming cleaners. I like the idea of magic happening while I drive home from a shooting session. What's the best method of plugging the breach? I guess ideally the foam would be allowed to work on the chamber...or at least the neck area. All input appreciated. Thanks!

I use a chamber flag to lightly push a patch into the chamber.... plugs the chamber (enough) while driving home.

 

[ppaul]

i use wipe out and with the bore guide in place I simply squirt it in from the muzzle. You soon learn how much to use so as not have voluminous piles of foam coming out of your bore guide. Of course protect your stock.

 

[Rsadams]

+1 on the gunslick brand , that stuff works.... I shoot alot of pistols and it makes the clean up soooo easy and yes it removes copper... My wife's little.38 had copper build up and it removed it easy... I don't plug the barrel I just foam it and let it sit for awhile and go to work on it like normal... Don't forget to run an oily patch through the bore 2-3 times to provide rust protection as per instructions... Very important because it removes all oil in bore... As stated above protect your stocks and wipe off any extra that gets were you don't want it and re-oil....

 

[Texas10]

Normally with a foaming bore cleaner you use a normal tight sealing bore guide, and shoot the foam in from the action end til it comes out the muzzle. Without the open end I think the trapped air would prevent the foam from getting where it needs to go.

The trick is getting the hose on the can to seal in the bore guide, without creating too much back pressure. On a 30 cal, no problem. 6.5 might have to start slow to get it going down the bore. 22 cal... haven't got that to work yet

I use the Gunslick foaming bore cleaner and a Possum Hollow bore guide. I found that the vinyl hose on the Gunslick can will fit nicely into a 223 case with the head cut off. I drilled the bore guide so that the 223 case neck fits snuggly into the end. With those two in place in the action, put the hose into the 223 case and push the button.

I follow up with Ed's Red to get all the fouling out (you'd be amazed how much) and then a light oiling.

 

[dc.fireman]

a 3rd user of foam earplugs here. Also love the Gunslick brand - really cleans out the crud. My first patches after this always come out Navy blue from the copper fouling. I too, have begun to use a light coat of Kroil in my bore after cleaning to help cut down on re-fouling.

 

[Tim s]

Not for nothing but if you go with the Wipe Out liquid with accelerator, if you brush it , which you should to agitate/loosen stuff up , it foams up nicely.
Lots less screwing around, less messy.

 

[MikeT124]

I use Wipe Out foam from the muzzle, on bolt actions I use wine bottle plugs (stolen from my wife) to seal the bore just after the pressure relief holes. Stop the foaming when it starts coming out the pressure holes. I also use the accelerator prior to foaming, but I still end up waiting about an hour and a half before finishing up. On autos I use Wipe Out Patch Out instead of the foam, buggered up a BAR stock using the foam with no bore plug it ran into the action and then took the finish off the stock during storage. Big mistake.

Mike

 

[5spd]

Im my rigs I stuff a pistol cleaning rod with a cotton swab big enough to plug my chambers. I shoot some foam from the barrel end, watch it till it gets to the chamber then shove the rod into it thus plugging it from flowing into the chamber, the other end I stick a cotton dabber in and if to small I add a patch then plug that end.

 

[carlsbad]

tried them. Gave up on trying to control the flow. Back to traditional metnods.