Should I or should I not use a brass barrel brush?

Geo9547 · Jun 13, 2012

I have only been shooting for 6 months so I am still learning. Is it wise to clean your gun barrel with a brass brush? I have read in several different places where you should not and several places where it says it is ok. Is it truly a matter of preference or can you do damage to your gun using a brass brush? I didn't think that brass could harm steel.

Thanks,
George

arjay · Jun 13, 2012

Bronze is fine. As long as you use something softer than steel,you should be good.Don't use diamonds

Smithaddict · Jun 13, 2012

If I had some 45 caliber diamonds, I probably wouldn't care!

505Gibbs · Jun 13, 2012

Brass is fine but NEVER use the sometimes seen stainless brushes!
Use a wet patch to moisten the bore and after a few minutes give the brush 6-10 strokes; then run a patch or two down the bore to remove the crud and perhaps repeat.
If its a cartridge that tends to foul such as a 40S&W you might need a copper remover. If so, use only patches with the stronger slovent since they'll attack the brass bristles.

Native TX · Jun 13, 2012

I've been told a bore gun cleaning rope works well. What's the opinion on that?

kennyb · Jun 13, 2012

Native TX said:
I've been told a bore gun cleaning rope works well. What's the opinion on that?

the bore snakes are ok for a quickie clean at the range..to thoroughly clean the bore/chambers use a one piece rod with bronze brush and solvent run some wet and then dry patches through and finally relube with a quality oil

Nakanokalronin · Jun 13, 2012

I take the Hoppes bronze brushes , dip it in Hoppes #9 and put it through the barrel a few times as soon as I come home from a range trip. i let it sit that way for a few minutes and clean with patches.

I basically look at the brushes as a way to loosen up any thick crud inside the barrel. It sure expedites the cleaning process and with no ill effects.

lebomm · Jun 13, 2012

Here's another opinion, at the risk of repetition; brass is OK, bronze is better, stainless is out, with only rare exceptions, Snakes are good for a quickie, but a real cleaning requires patches, a rod & brush, then patches.

Larry

Karl in NY · Jun 13, 2012

The spiral-wound looped stainless brushes like Hoppe's Tornado brushes are fine, they simply don't scratch. Stainless bristle brushes are a whole different matter, and are too aggressive unless there is a serious leading situation, and even then as a last resort.

Also, with bronze/brass brushes, don't use copper solvents like Sweets or others containing ammonia...the solvent will attack the brush before it attacks copper fouling in the bore. For those types of solvents, use either the Tornado brush, or better still, a nylon bristle brush.

Glenn H · Jun 13, 2012

Lewis Lead remover

I used to use a Lewis Lead Remover, this is a rubber plug with a brass screen that you would pull through the barrel to remove lead. I had a Model 19 and the department supplied very soft lead SWC .38 bullets for practice. One swipe with that thing and the bore was CLEAN.

I'd run it after running a brush with Hoppes #9, then a patch, then the LLR, then wet patch, then a dry patch.

The brass screen didn't scratch. Worked a charm

skeeter1911 · Jun 13, 2012

kennyb said:
the bore snakes are ok for a quickie clean at the range..to thoroughly clean the bore/chambers use a one piece rod with bronze brush and solvent run some wet and then dry patches through and finally relube with a quality oil

+1 This is correct. Also, bore snakes are great especially midway through long shooting sessions where a thorough cleaning isn't going to happen or on the rifle range (for precision shooters) where accuracy could be compromised from a very dirty barrel.

Geo9547 · Jun 13, 2012

Thanks everyone. I feel much better now. I am pretty much doing what most of you suggested, that is, I will put some Hoppes Elite solvent and let it sit while I brush the outside of the barrel. I then put some Hoppes on a brass brush and run it in and out about 4-6 times. Then run patches through until they come out clean and finally put a light coating of oil down.

whelenshooter · Jun 13, 2012

Bronze bore brushes are great! If I have a heavier build-up of lead, I will wrap a bronze bore brush with coarse bronze wool from Brownells. I then chuck a small piece of cleaning rod in an electric drill and spin the brush with bronze wool in the barrel and chambers in the cylinder. I usually put a dab of J-B compound on the bronze wool. If you spin a brush in the bore or chamber, NEVER let the spinning rod touch the edge of the chamber or bore! I usually use a cone shaped rod guide to prevent just such thing.

After using a bronze bore brush with a copper solvent, rinse out the brush with spray can of WD-40 or something like Gun Scubber or brake cleaner. This will remove the copper solvent and make the brush last longer. If you don't, the brush will likely fall apart the next time you try to use it.

Whelenshooter

Dpris · Jun 16, 2012

Using power tools to spin a bore brush or any metallic "wool" accelerates rifling wear greatly.
Your choice, but I wouldn't.

Denis

Should I or should I not use a brass barrel brush?

Geo9547

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arjay

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Smithaddict

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505Gibbs

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Native TX

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kennyb

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Nakanokalronin

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lebomm

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Karl in NY

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Glenn H

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skeeter1911

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Geo9547

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whelenshooter

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Dpris

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