Anti Brush Rhetoric.

[JeffG]

I am not looking to start up a debate or argument! Just looking for a simple answer to a question. I realize there are a lot of anti brush folks here, and can understand a lot of the feelings. But, what I can't seem to find, is a good reason to not use a nylon brush over the brass wire brushes. Wouldn't the nylon be less likely to get stuck in the bore and still do an effective job of brushing inside?

Thoughts, experiences all accepted but, would not like to have any arguments.

I don't know about nylon brushes, my opinion about brass brushes came from the effort of trying to reverse brass brushes in the bores or other firearms. That effort of doing that, convinced me I never want to be 40 inches deep in a bore, when it gets stuck, or breaks off. If you feel comfortable, you should do it. I in a calm manner, day to day, will not because I just don't think it's a good idea...for me.

 

[The Crisco Kid]

I started using patches cut from Terry Cloth which is old towels. They are pretty fluffy and require a jag one caliber smaller than the usual. They seem to do a great job of getting the crud out. Even better than a brush.

 

[Idaho Ron]

Crimped vs wire twisted.
I have always used a brush, and see no reason to not use a brush. After pushing the brush to the bottom twist to the right and pull it back out. It's not too tough.

 

[david w]

I tried a brush once. It got stuck at the bottom. I had to use pliers to turn the rod to the right. I got it out, but it messed up my rod from the marks from the pliers. I don't think a brush i needed if you use windex, or moose milk to clean the bore. One thing is, I do use a fouling scraper each use.

 

[user 48702]

Give the brush a twist as you reverse direction will decrease or eliminate the chance of the brush getting stuck

That's what I've always done. As the brush hits bottom just twist clockwise and reverse your pull and the bristles fold back and scrub on the way out. I even use this method on a large bronze brush for my rifled canon barrel which is made out of the front half of an old 37mm antitank rifle barrel and the rifling is quite deep. As you twist to the right it compresses the bristles and they will reverse as you pull the brush out.

 

[Okie Hog]

I have always used a brush, and see no reason to not use a brush.

i sometimes use a bronze brush on muzzleloader bores, and always after using Pyrodex. i will continue this practice. A brush removes the crud clinging to the grooves where they meet the lands.

 

[ORBushman]

I greatly appreciate all the replies, thoughts and opinions! My conclusion is there is no right or wrong in using a brush, just a personal preference. Thank you all and I will search out a good nylon bore brush for my .50cals.

 

[david w]

I greatly appreciate all the replies, thoughts and opinions! My conclusion is there is no right or wrong in using a brush, just a personal preference. Thank you all and I will search out a good nylon bore brush for my .50cals.

I would choose nylon if I were to use a brush. Try it while using windex.

 

[ORBushman]

I would choose nylon if I were to use a brush. Try it while using windex.

MidwayUSA had 3 CVA nylon .50cal brushes in stock. I bought all 3.

 

[toot]

I greatly appreciate all the replies, thoughts and opinions! My conclusion is there is no right or wrong in using a brush, just a personal preference. Thank you all and I will search out a good nylon bore brush for my .50cals.

seems that if you use a nylon brush you will never get it stuck, even without twisting it to the rite. they always seem to reverse with out any problem? jmho.

 

[N.Y. Yankee]

You want a good reason? It's a big waste of time and it's not needed to clean a muzzleloader bore. That's the reason. Actually two reasons. And guys get them stuck in the bore because they dont know how to use it. OK, three reasons.

Honestly, I tried one, one time and quit and never did that again and it has been just fine.

 

[1BadDart]

Years ago, I'd clean my .50 GPR and use a brass brush, never stuck one. The .40 I have now is a breeze to clean, I let my cleaning solution soak for a few minutes, then scrub with a snug patch. About three patches and it's clean, chances are this barrel will never see a brush. I did buy some when I was building it, but they were too small to be effective.

 

[Malamute]

I like brushes, they work quite well when of a smaller caliber, and used as a patch holder. On revolver chambers I wrap about half the patch on the brush with the other half (pointy end) sticking out forward, which is fed into the chamber, then you have a nice scrubbing patch on the very end of the rod to clean the end of the chamber. I rarely remove the cones on average cleaning, the patch on a brush cleans the chamber ends pretty well.

Its about impossible for a patch to come off a bronze bristle brush. Ive used them to retrieve lost patches a couple times, they grab them pretty well when twisted into the lost patch.

I use well worn brushes, a 30 in a 38, or 30 or 38 in a 44/45 works fine. See what fits well in yours with whatever patches you have.

 

[minish]

I use nylon brushes of various sizes both with and without a patch, to clean the different size patent breeches on some of my guns.

 

[andy52]

I don't use either.

Yup.

 

[dylan84]

If your barrel is made out of something better than cheese, you are not going to hurt it with a brush. If you are extremely clumsy than I guess stay away from the steel core type. Otherwise those are fine also. That being said I don't ever use a brush on my black powder guns! lol

 

[Billy Boy]

Ive come to use a brush most of the time. Some nylon and some brass. Never had a problem but I'll add a "yet" to that. Sometimes it's inconvenient in a camp or other situation and it doesn't bother me to skip the brush then.

The closer I am to home, the more often I use a brush..

 

[Greenjoytj]

I use a bore brush. I buy the type with the core wire that goes through the ferrule
I don‘t own a borescope so can’t see if I’ve got all the crud out.
Cleaning with the brush just ups my level of confidence that I removed potentially tough powder fouling particularly down at the bottom of the chamber.
I worry that tough fouling in the chamber might just get polished if cleaned just with a patch on jag.

 

[pacanis]

I use a smaller brush with a patch wrapped around it for various tasks, also. Very handy. Or to hold steel wool.

 

[Mad L]

I stopped using a brush after having to shoot a couple out for others, then I had a wood rod break off in my Kentucky Pistol with a brush that refused to reverse.

I got me a tow ('tow' not TOW) worm and make my 'brush' from tow (either linen flax or hemp) they way it had been done for generations before.....No more problems and a well scrubbed barrel!