bore swab

[yellowlab]

Does anyone use a bore swab to clean their barrel? I've always used a jag and patch. Thinking about trying a swab. any pros/cons?

 

[Crewdawg445]

Nope, to... Modern.

In fact, I use tow and a worm allot of the time. Properly sized patches and a jag are the cats meow.

For the price one of those swab deals goes for I can have a yard of a good cotton that'll outlast that swab a 100x over. :thumbsup:

 

[ohio ramrod]

I* had one about twenty five years ago. It worked well but wasn't really needed.They do help you dry your barrel after cleaning. You can make one yourself with a scrap of sheepskin (wool on) and some thread, glue and a 10/32 set screw.The one thing I like about this game is if you take some time you can make almost everything you need. :idunno:

 

[bpd303]

I don't use them to clean, but do use them to apply oil to the bore after cleaning.

 

[coloradoclyde]

They can be handy cleaning large bore shotguns....other than that I find them troublesome....

 

[Cruzatte]

After reading the previous replies, come to think of it, I don't believe I've ever used a bore swab. I've mostly used a cotton patch and a jag, or else a worm and tow. I guess a worm and tow does about the same as a bore swab. :idunno:

 

[Stumpkiller]

I use them in my smoothbores at home (16 & 12 gauge). Dip them in soapy water, run through the bore a few times, squeeze out under the tap and repeat until they come out clear when squeezed.

 

[George]

I never use swabs in a rifle, but I always do in my smoothbores. They do a very good job of scrubbing the bore, and it's the only way I know to be able to sweep that corner where the bore wall and the breech plug meet. It does a good job of scrubbing the breech face, too.

I just wind a piece of scrap cloth around a worm until it is a verry tight fit in the bore, wet it and scrub away. When it comes clean enough I dry by doing the same, then coat with lube.











Spence

 

[ohio ramrod]

Simple and effective! :idunno: :idunno:

 

[Cruzatte]

Pretty slick.

 

[swathdiver]

Try it.

As for me and my house, we found that they get too dirty before we're finished so now they are relegated to scrubbing the barrels with water and soap. A good tight fit will pull water from the flash hole/cone all the way up to the muzzle easily.

When they wear out we'll make a more concerted effort to locate some of those neat looking TOW Worms and use an old wash cloth like in those photos or actual TOW.

 

[rodwha]

I'm at a loss here as what seems to be spoken of is what's known as the bore mop. If this is what's intended then I find it hard to speak against. It just does what it does extremely well, and maybe I just haven't had to use it enough as I began, as many do, using just a patch on a jag. Why when this does so much better and without having to go through several patches?

Maybe I'm just not hip (I'm sure this is true many times over) and terminology is lost on me.

 

[tenngun]

I had bought some 30 or more years and an adapter to fit it on a ram rod. Mostly a pia, I don't think I used it five times

 

[SgtErv]

Dunno if anyone has done this or not, but when I'm drying the bore I wrap a patch around the bore swab and usebit as a jag. It's a really tight fit that (I think) has more of the surface area of the patch in contact with the bore and rifling. A couple of strokes seems to get deep down in there

 

[SgtErv]

I think part of the reason I don't use it exclusively is that once it's really dirty I have to rinse it out. Then it gets rust on it and in most cases gets really, really stiff. That was my experience with a couple different kinds of them, at least, so now just use them for what's stated above. It works for me as a better jag of sorts with my smoothbore, too.

 

[hawkeye2]

I have been using swabs (bore mops) for years now and love them. My procedure is to remove the nipple, take the barrel out and stand it in a bucket of hot tap water with Dawn. I use the swab to pump the solution in the barrel and it really doesn't take long to clean the bore. The swab doesn't need to be cleaned but I usually put it in the bucket and squeeze it a few times then let it dry. The swab does a good job of getting into the groves. A swab usually lasts a couple of years or more this way and they are much handier than having to change patches every few strokes. I follow up with a good shot of WD-40 in the bore followed by a few liberally soaked WD-40 patches and wipe the outside of the barrel with the same. Carb cleaner on patches gets the WD-40 out and what I follow that with depends on when I'll be shooting again. I also follow the same procedure using swabs on my revolvers. I probably wouldn't use a swab (haven't yet anyway) in a barrel I couldn't remove but if I did I'd have several on hand to swap out as I cleaned and wash them in a lingerie bag with my work clothes. Cost and availability of patches aren't issues as my wife cuts ours from old T shirts and I literally have thousands on hand, it's just that the swabs are more convenient and I don't have to bend over to pick them up after. :grin:

Spence, I like your suggestion about wrapping cloth around a worm and may have to give it a try. It looks like it would work great in a smoothbore.

 

[Mean Gene]

Hawkeye2, would you recommend a larger bore mop say a 54cal for a 50 cal or do you think just the regular bore size mop works fine?

 

[hawkeye2]

I use the size called for but they do wear or get crushed down and could be used in a smaller bore later. Actually I should say I have used 20 gauge (.615") mops in our .58s when I ran out of .58 ones but don't remember that it made any difference in the cleaning.

 

[yellowlab]

I thank you all for the replies.I think the correct name for the item is bore mop vs bore swab but it seems you go the message. thanks again.

 

[Mean Gene]

I think none of always use proper terminology, just what it takes to get the point across.