Bore mops questions

[weatherby]

I've picked up these for years not knowing too much about them besides they came with tool kits. I've taken care of friends who needed them mainly 22 ones they seem more common.

The biggest question would be I think the 32 caliber ones would be hard to find is that correct ? And what value would they have ?

I have a bunch I know are 22
Some I know are 38/357 but others I believe to be 32.
Are the mid sized ones in the pictures actually 32 ?
The other ones I know for sure are 22 and 38/357

 

[LittleCooner]

Brownells sells bore mops for $ 5 each. those "32" are no more rare that the others.

 

[DWalt]

I have always wondered what the intended purpose of the bore mop was. Seems like a cloth patch on a normal slotted cleaning rod threaded tip does the same thing.

 

[weatherby]

Brownells sells bore mops for $ 5 each. those "32" are no more rare that the others.

These aren't from Brownell or recent manufacture and far less may have been available In 32 from the factory so I am trying to see if "these 32" are more rare

 

[glowe]

Don't collect them, use 'em up. I have used them for years and find that they clear out rifling edges much better than a cloth patch. Don't get hung up on what caliber these mops are marketed for, but rather find the tightest one that will pass through your bore and it will give your barrel that final polish and remove everything in the lands and grooves.

Everyone has their preferred method of cleaning gun barrels, but I simply start out with a brass brush and Hoppes No. 9. I then run a few cloth patches and finish up with a mop. After clean, I run a patch with oil on it for storage. What I find is that the mop gets pretty dirty after a few uses, so it must be finding fouling somewhere the patches do not go.

Forgot to mention that 32 mops are for sale at Track of the Wolf for $3.19.

 

[deyomatic]

I always thought the bore mop was to make sure that the solvent or whichever cleaner you use could really soak into the lands and grooves.

 

[D Brown]

.32 Bore Mops

I can't see why a .32 Bore Mop would be rare. S&W made bunches of the Model 31's and I suspect that many of them shipped with a Bore Mop.

By the way, I'm one of those who think Bore Mops do an excellent job of saturating the bore with your favorite cleaner.

 

[handejector]

Are the mid sized ones in the pictures actually 32 ?
The other ones I know for sure are 22 and 38/357

Yes, they had a mop for the 32 cal guns that is bigger than the 22 mop and smaller than the 38 mop.

These aren't from Brownell or recent manufacture and far less may have been available In 32 from the factory so I am trying to see if "these 32" are more rare

Well, maybe they are rarer than the other cals......
There were several 32 cal models available when mops were included:
32 HE - 30
32 RP - 32
K-32 Masterpiece - 16
K-32 Magnum - 16-4


S&W did not make mops. They bought them, so older ones will have brass threads like yours, and newer ones will have aluminum threads.


I SERIOUSLY doubt that they are actually "32" cal. A 30 cal rifle has a groove diameter of about .308". A 32 S&W cal handgun has a groove diameter of about .311-.312". The largest 8mm and 32 cal cartridges only go up to about .323".
So, .308 to .323 is a difference of only .015". A typical business card is .010" thick just to give you an idea of how little .015" is in a mop......
They bought 30 cal mops.
I haven't miked any mops, though, to be completely honest.

 

[merl67]

I pretty much use the same method Gary describes. If you really want to have fun try cleaning an old Mauser or maybe a Mosin-Nagant... clean until your arm falls off...