Cleaning question

[portejw]

Might be a stupid question, but here goes...

What is the difference between cleaning brushes for a .22lr pistol and a .22lr rifle? The brushes are the same brand, but the pattern is noticeably different. Are they interchangeable? I bought both just in case, but I'm organizing the tackle box I use for cleaning supplies and was wondering if I should continue to keep them separate.

Thanks.

 

[arjay]

Would you believe I've never noticed in 40 years of cleaning guns?

 

[AzRedleg]

Would you believe I've never noticed in 40 years of cleaning guns?

I believe. Been cleaning guns for 30 years and I never noticed either.

 

[portejw]

Maybe it's just the brand I'm using? The pistol brush is very fine bristles of bright brass/copper. The rifle brush spiral is darker and thicker - each twist almost twice the thickness of the pistol one.

 

[Majorlk]

There is no functional difference except pistol brushes tend to be shorter.

 

[portejw]

Perfect. Thanks!

 

[FLY FIS]

Typically pistol brushes are shorter than rifle brushes. The idea is when cleaning a revolver barrel, you want the brush to go through the barrel into the space where the cylinder would be. A rifle brush would not and be hard to pull back through the barrel with the bristles facing the opposite direction.

 

[portejw]

Ok, that makes sense. Lengthwise they are the same though, it's the spiral bristle pattern that's different. They both start and end on the same spots, but there are less spirals in the one designated for rifle cleaning due to the fact that they're thicker spirals.

Regardless, I just lumped them together in the box under ".22". They are different enough that I'll always be aware of what one I'm using.