Barrel cleaning debate...

[Steak]

So, me being a person who follows directions and always wants to do thingsthe right way and "by the book", I知 having some trouble with this. Ihave searched this site and read many threads about cleaning, what to cleanwith, how to do it, how not to do it etc. I have also searched the net andyoutube and watched and read many different things.

I don't think I have seen so many varying opinions, options, warnings andproducts as I've seen when it comes to gun cleaning and specifically, theinside of the barrel.

I知 a CLP guy and always have been since my time in the USMC. If the dirtyarea is real dirty then I will use solvent. I have had a large bottle ofButch's bore shine for a few years now. I had been using the nylon brushes butvery recently started using the copper because I am a clean fanatic....prettymuch obsessive compulsive. Now, I am always questioning myself if I知 doingsomething the right way and I never feel that I知 right.

I guess my biggest concern is the brass brush being pushed from the chamberout the end of the barrel and pulled back through. I haven't done this a lotbut last weekend while cleaning my shield I scrubbed the barrel like this about15 times in a row. Just brushed back and forth because I didn't feel like I wasremoving everything. While reading on here and on some other sites it is statedthat you can scratch the barrel and specifically the very edge of the muzzle whichis the last place the bullet touches while exiting. I hope I didn't do thiswith 2 or 3 cleanings... Would it take many more oris once or twice enough to damage it?

I also read that doing what I stated above is fine and that anyone that saysbronze or copper will scratch steel is full of B.S. I just don't know what tobelieve and it seems everyone has a different answer. I am getting ready to buysome supplies for cleaning and wanted to see what opinions I get here.

I came across these 2 sites which seem pretty good. The first one arecleaning methods explained by professional shooters with guns that are probablythousands of dollars. The varying opinions and methods are exactly what痴frustrating me, even from these guys!

The other site explains a product called WIPE-OUT and WIPE-OUT Accelerator.If this stuff is worth a damn then that would pretty much eliminate the debateof copper vs nylon brush, one way versus back and forth scrubbing. Has anyoneused this stuff or is it a gimmick?

If you have time read through the links I posted and let me know youropinions. I知 really struggling as to what to do. Maybe I知 over thinking thisbut I want to do things the right way especially since I知 starting to buy moreand more guns. I only have handguns now so that's what I知 referring to. Iassume a rifle is no different in the way you have to clean it.

If this product called wipe-out is any good, I'd buy the accelerator too tocut the time in half. I'd also use a jag because that seems a LOT better than apatch pushed through an eyelet don't you think?

Any help would be appreciated.

Link #1 is the different methods from these pro shooters. The variances are astonishingamong them!

Link#2 and #3 are this product I came across.


#1 Barrel Cleaning Procedures within AccurateShooter.com

#2 wipe-out

#3 NEW ACCELERATOR

[Steak]

Already contacted a MOD to delete this double posted thread. It happened by accident.

[Steak]

ummmm guys...............??

[Bushdoctor]

I know that I am probably just silly careful, but I unscrew the brass brush before I pull the rod back through the muzzle. I repeat this about ten times. I also swab the bore by wrapping patches around my brush.

[Steak]

Originally Posted by Bushdoctor

I know that I am probably just silly careful, but I unscrew the brass brush before I pull the rod back through the muzzle. I repeat this about ten times. I also swab the bore by wrapping patches around my brush.

You know, I have thought of doing that actually. I just kept telling myself that it was too compulsive and brass can't hurt steel. But then you read and people say it can.

Thats kind of why I started this thread.

[Russ7777]

Steak, I might be naive, but I normally read the firearm manual and follow their recommendations about pushing the brush through the breech, or the muzzle. I push and pull the brush. I don't think the copper will damage the steel of the barrel.

[Steak]

Originally Posted by Russ7777

Steak, I might be naive, but I normally read the firearm manual and follow their recommendations about pushing the brush through the breech, or the muzzle. I push and pull the brush. I don't think the copper will damage the steel of the barrel.

Yeah I hear you on that. Im wondering if anyone on this site has actually damaged a barrel because of brushing with a bronze brush back and forth.

How about that product I posted a link to? I went to midwayusa.com and pretty much all the user reviews rave about it.

[winningblue8]

Follow up question... Does anyone know how this Wipe-out stuff compares to other foaming bore cleaners?

-Travis

[MRH]

I think the whole thing with people not pushing and then pulling the brush back through has more to do with the brush than the barrel. If you push and pull with a metal brush you will eventually mess up the brisals. I think this is why the plastic brush that comes with the guns is atached to the rod without the ability to unscrew it because it doesnt effect the brisals when using a plastic brush.

[M1A4ME]

I have always cleaned from either end of the barrel. It depends on where the worst build up of lead is stuck at.

They say its not good to run a brush through in both directions because is bends/weakens the bristles. Brushes are cheap and easy to come by at this time so I don't pay much attention to that.

If I have a really stubborn chunk of lead stuck near the chamber I use a small dental pick to scrape it loose.

The metal of the barrel is way to tough for a brass/bronze/nylon brush or aluminum rod to damage it.

I dry brush. I put some powder/lead solvent on the brush and scrub. I run solvent wetted patches through it. I brush some more. I run dry patches through and inspect. If its dirty I'll brush/patch some more wet and dry.

Generally I like to push/pull the worst of it from the chamber to the muzzle and out of the barrel. No use pushing the crud you're cleaning out of the barrel back into the chamber.