Brass or nylon muzzle protectors?

[Jarikeen]

Which do you feel gives better protection to your muzzle - brass or nylon muzzle protectors or are they much of a muchness? My brass muzzle protector seems to sit on the crown.

 

[shmrck1]

Jarikeen,
My range rod has a nylon protector and
I have never experienced a problem. But that is
just me, I'm sure you will get other and better
opinions.
snake-eyes :hatsoff:

 

[Wehrmacht]

My personal choice is nylon,though I do use a rod with my .32cal that has a brass one. I'm very cautious with it, maybe more out of fear of doing damage than actually doing damage.

My thoughts are that it's best to keep any metal including "soft brass" out of the muzzle. Those short starters that you see with the little brass band around the tip are dangerous IMO, but my opinion is based on "gut feelings" and not research. I think it's kinda like smoking Camel cigarettes: one or two won't hurt you,but keep it up and before long damage is being done that you never realize :shocked2:.

 

[shmrck1]

I think it's kinda like smoking Camel cigarettes: one or two won't hurt you,but keep it up and before long damage is being done that you never realize :shocked2:.

der Forster,
Trust me, after 45 years, you for
sure realize it..hack,cough,hack,coughYou get the picture.
snake-eyes :redface:

 

[roundball]

I have both types..I guess I'd feel more comfortable if all of them were nylon as there's no way nylon can damage any steel...but on the other hand, I have a couple of Oregon ball/bullet starters which have stainless steel shafts and captive brass muzzle guides on the shafts.

They've easily started around 10,000 projectiles, most of those in three rifles I use on the weekends...the tapered brass cones have 2-3 indentations worn around them at different places from different calibers and I see no change in accuracy with any of the rifles.

I carry the nylon ones alread slid onto a jag in my hunting pouches as they weigh nothing, and more importantly are 100% quiet...no clinking of metal against metal

 

[MikeChapin]

I have been using brass for the last twenty years or so with no problems. I would imagine that the nylon would work just as well. The only thing the muzzle protector is there for is to have the range or cleaning rod something to rub against instead of the muzzle.

 

[CrackStock]

I like the brass bore protectors. The weight seems to assure that they seat and keep the rod from the rifling. I have seen guys with the nylon protectors that were scraping the rod on the side of the barrel because the guide had not seated into the bore.

CS

 

[TANSTAAFL]

I have both types..I guess I'd feel more comfortable if all of them were nylon as there's no way nylon can damage any steel...

LOL, I have seen people who can destroy ball bearings with a feather. :grin:

 

[paulvallandigham]

I think either brass or nylon will work fine, PROVIDED that you keep the surface of the protector clean. If grit gets into the surface of either a brass protector, or nylon, it can cut the barrel, like fine sandpaper. So clean that rod and protector periodically, and either should serve you well.

 

[Smokey in Oz]

Brass is softer than the steel on your muzzle crown so I cant see it as a problem. I have small dents in the brass guide on my short starter where I've been a little too forceful at the muzzle but no obvious damage to the crown.
Smokey.

 

[Zonie]

I've used my brass guide for so long that it has worn a annular groove into it's cone but it still works fine.

IMO, these things don't have to fit with any real great precision. As long as they keep the loading rod from contacting the bore of the gun, they have done their job.

I also have nylon guides which also work just fine.
I suppose if your into the PC stuff, the brass would be "correct" as nylon is a new material. Then again, I doubt that the old timers used anything to guide their "wiping sticks".

zonie

 

[CrackStock]

If grit gets into the surface of either a brass protector, or nylon, it can cut the barrel, like fine sandpaper.

Grit on the patch, projectile, or misaligned rod might present a problem, but the bore guide wearing the bore? :hmm:

As long as it sets still and keeps the rod centered, it should not be a problem. I know, maybe if you spin it, it can cone the muzzle for ya! :grin:

CS

 

[paulvallandigham]

ACtually, its because like you, we all ignor the muzzle protector, and rarely clean it, that it becomes a problem. The result of grit striking the edge of the bore at the muzzle begins as microscopic nicks, but in time grows. You don't have to spin the protector for it to wear the muzzle of the bore. If you ever have a chance to take a good look at the edges of that bore with a good magnifying glass, or microscope. you will see the beginnings of the problem. Good maintenance, and cleaning keep the problem at bay for many years of shooting. And why not clean that rod, and muzzle protector after each use? Those protectors pick up powder, and other debris from the muzzle every time they are used. Clean it. It really doesn't hurt at all.

 

[arcticap]

My favorites are made out of delrin, which is a material similiar to nylon.

 

[paulvallandigham]

Mine too. While a soft material, it is also " slick" and seems less willing to let grit get into the surface than brass seems to do. It cleans off with a swipe of a cleaning patch with some solvent on it, so it represents the best of all worlds in my book. I bet those long hunters of old would love to have had a product like delrin available in their days.

 

[faw3]

Well I've used brass for I dont know how many yrs 25 a bit more, but its cause I always forget nylon when I get a new one,think Id go that way some time soon. Fred :hatsoff: