Bronze Brushes Don't Hurt Barrels.

[JimPag]

I have a few fake wood plaques hanging around the shop, and, since 1987, haven't used a brush of any kind when cleaning my competition barrels. For some [larger] capacity:expansion ratio cartridges, I will use a brush to remove stubborn carbon. Since leaving brushes behind, I have confirmed my cleaning routine/barrel condition via bore-scope inspection . . . and a rifle/barrels ability to [consistently] win/place/show in registered bench-rest tournaments. All of the Bartlein barrels have proven capable that. RG

I'm with you RGR. In 9 years of competitive shooting I've never once used a bronze or nylon brush. I use HBN coated bullets and I get zero copper out of my barrels and it takes only 2 wet patches to clean all my barrels. I just use Patch Out and nothing more. I don't have any carbon rings either. I borescope every time I clean each barrel.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I'm with you RGR. In 9 years of competitive shooting I've never once used a bronze or nylon brush. I use HBN coated bullets and I get zero copper out of my barrels and it takes only 2 wet patches to clean all my barrels. I just use Patch Out and nothing more. I don't have any carbon rings either. I borescope every time I clean each barrel.

Sounds like a 30br

 

[JimPag]

Sounds like a 30br

30BR, 30 Gorilla, 30BRX, 30 Jaguar 2 and 30 Thrasher.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Sounds like a 30br

The 30's do seem to copper foul much less...and carbon. I can see why they carbon foul less but I can't really get my head around why less copper fouling with them.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

The 30's do seem to copper foul much less...and carbon. I can see why they carbon foul less but I can't really get my head around why less copper fouling with them.

I cant either, thats something about em i cant figure out.

 

[jelenko]

Well.
I'm going to try working with Free All on a worn brush with bronze wool wrapped around it.

It does require more waiting vs abrasives, but it means no abrasive and the brush/bronze wool doesn't have to exit the muzzle.

 

[Hankpac]

I would think that a poor choice of cleaning rods could do more damage than a bronze brush. I understand that a full length epoxy coated rod is best. Certainly running a stainless steel rod in and out the muzzle could cause some wear at the crown.

I usually clean 25cal and larger by wrapping a patch around the brush and then wetting it with bore cleaner. The bristles stick through the cloth and scrub as the patch wipes away the crud. Then usually follow up with a clean patch on a jag. It saves time and is effective.

 

[jackieschmidt]

The 30's do seem to copper foul much less...and carbon. I can see why they carbon foul less but I can't really get my head around why less copper fouling with them.

I Think Randy’s “tag line” is…….”that ain’t supposed to work”

 

[BobABQ]

I am still new here but if bronze brushes are preferred for cleaning the bore then how does someone differentiate between actually copper reacting with the solvent and the bronze bore brush?

 

[jelenko]

I am still new here but if bronze brushes are preferred for cleaning the bore then how does someone differentiate between actually copper reacting with the solvent and the bronze bore brush?

Brushes for carbon; jags for copper.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I am still new here but if bronze brushes are preferred for cleaning the bore then how does someone differentiate between actually copper reacting with the solvent and the bronze bore brush?

You just ignore the blue from the brush

 

[dannyjbiggs]

Bronze brushes? I just have not been able to break a 60-year old habit!! During my military years, I used .30 caliber bronze brushes to clean my M1 carbine, even an M1 rifle or BAR on occasion, then the M14 after it replaced the former three; of course the smaller ones when the M16 came on line. Later, shooting service rifle competition with the M14/M1A, Palma rifle, and finally F-TR...I continued with the old .30 caliber bronze brush habit! Just can't shake it. I even use the .30 cal brush on my 7mm FO rifles.

 

[Hohn]

I’m not the shooter many here are, but I’ll never use a metal rod again. Carbon is either straight or broken. Never bent.

I use nickel plated jags and don’t get false positives on copper.

I never clean a barrel to surgically clean because I want it to be consistent. That means a stable amount of copper/fouling etc. I tend to think that cleaning more frequently but less aggressively is the way to go. Some wet patches to soak, iosso blue nylon for scrubbing, patch it out. Since I did the Tubb Final Finish, my oem barrel no longer coppers up any noticeable amount. And my CBI never really did.

 

[cinch29433]

I've often thought about dropping JB's, uncoated rods, and brushes by the jail so the inmates can wear the bars away. Sometimes I use a brush to cut out targets, it saves plasma tips.

 

[butchlambert]

I would think that a poor choice of cleaning rods could do more damage than a bronze brush. I understand that a full length epoxy coated rod is best. Certainly running a stainless steel rod in and out the muzzle could cause some wear at the crown.

I usually clean 25cal and larger by wrapping a patch around the brush and then wetting it with bore cleaner. The bristles stick through the cloth and scrub as the patch wipes away the crud. Then usually follow up with a clean patch on a jag. It saves time and is effective.

You are right except the coated rods accumulate abrasives and a quality polished rod doesn't. I don't know who told you this.

 

[No manches"]

So"...the conclusion is?

Bronze brush. Or nylon?....what is the verdict!

 

[butchlambert]

So"...the conclusion is?

Bronze brush. Or nylon?....what is the verdict!

Who do you respect and believe?

 

[BoydAllen]

As cheap as borescopes have become, buy one and believe what you see.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Lots and lots of archive information on this subject. You just have to decide which side of the fence you want to stand on. I'm straddling it right now. Decisions Decisions....

 

[Lone Hunter]

I am still new here but if bronze brushes are preferred for cleaning the bore then how does someone differentiate between actually copper reacting with the solvent and the bronze bore brush?

This is what I use.

Copper Eliminator Series Jags | J Dewey Rods

deweyrods.com