Cleaning with patches only

[RockyMtnMT]

I quit using brass brushes because they give a false copper indication on the patches. I couldn't seem to ever get the copper out of my barrel until I quit putting brass in it!

 

[CNY Yote Hunter]

I've always used brushes when cleaning and never had an issue. Theory is the brush is softer than the steel barrel so it will not damage the barrel. You would also need a lot more force than a cleaning rod and hand power to damage that barrel. Micro scratches…. I think I understand what you are referring to but if you've ever seen a button rifled barrel I think a micro scratch would come off your mind pretty quickly. Any imperfections in the machining or micro scratches will be covered after the first shot out of a clean barrel. The copper from the projectile leaves it's trace in the rifling/ hence the phrase fouling shot. When shooting competition you would most definitely see a bore snake or 2 in use but I've never seen someone shoot one shot then clean there rifle and repeat. What I'm getting at is look down that same barrel after 5 shots and see what it looks like, your micro scratches will be non existent and if the gun shot prior it will still shoot. I would not worry about a brush made of nylon or bronze hurting the rifle, as said above they are softer than steel.

 

[mrcustomsteel]

I'll use what seems like hundreds of patches and chemicals but never use a brush. No scientific reason. It just seems like nails on a chalkboard when I push a brush down a rifle barrel.

 

[Fatcatbuster]

I often clean other people's guns that thought they had shot out the barrell,bad rifle etc. because of bad accuracy. Ive always asked about their cleaning routine and asked if i could look at it first before they sold it,retired it or gave up on it. Almost always they thought that they had cleaned it properly and that wasnt the problem. the patches showed differently. Sometimes it wasnt their cleaning but that gun's accuracy always improved after i had cleaned it my way.. I use blue wonder,jags and bronze brushes for a deep cleaning when i suspect accuracy is changing. In between that just a couple wet patches of Hoppies #9 and WD-40 for rust prevention. Its the Levers and Auto's usally.

 

[FarmerMatt]

I switched to patch-only cleaning on my Sendero at the suggestion of a custom rifle building friend. He claims that helps burnish the barrel? The gun shot sub moa with me at the trigger so there could be something to it….

 

[BigRed22]

Recently as I don't know which brush is which anymore, I've been cleaning with just patches. Haven't seen anything detrimental at all.

Any comments are welcome.

Just didn't want to jam a brush in there, and leave micro scratches.

I encourage you to go watch this YouTube video.

 

[Allen Kitts]

I encourage you to go watch this YouTube video.

Good video!

 

[jerry moore]

Yea throw the bore scope away, hahaha, just kidding. I purchased one last year too and there's no telling what it has cost me, seriously.
Does your rifle shoot like it did before you bought the bore scope or did you buy the bore scope because something was going on? Is the barrel CM or SS, it makes a difference on what people may recommend to clean it with if it's not shooting good now.

thks for response i bought it to inspect barrel that is not shooting as I want. i will let patches decide on clean or not that has worked well for 40 yrs

 

[Varmint Hunter]

I sent a Weatherby Mark V rifle back to Weatherby for accuracy issues. Before I returned it, they asked me repeatedly if the bore was properly cleaned. I asked them why that was such an issue. They told me that 95% of the rifles that are returned for accuracy problems were found to have fouling issues even though the owners swore that they were clean.

Just something to think about.

 

[RidgeTop]

You need more physical contact to remove metal deposits. Clean first with a patch then finish with a bronze brush.
Pics. of some before and after.
22 47 is example of clean barrel.

 

[stringman]

I have two new builds. both with defiance actions and proof CF barrels, I brush lightly and then soak with wipe out or patch out (good stuff) then run several patches first wet Hoppe #9 then dry, if storing and not shooting for a wile I run a Kroil patch. I only clean when groups open up. the patches I use are cut to size per caliber out of white cotton flannel from the fabric store, way better than the flimsy stuff in a bag fron the wall mart.

 

[3chester]

It's like those 2 sided sponges, the scouring side only takes off the spaghetti sauce, it doesn't wear out the plates.

 

[xsn10s]

I look at it this way, if brushes were bad then bullets are horrible. The bronze brush helps loosen and remove carbon and copper. Patch out with regular solvents then apply copper solvents. Soak and repeat. Stubborn bores will get a foam type copper solvent. After that an abrasive on a tight patch/ jag if the copper is still being stubborn. Hasn't hurt my PSS 308 win since 1991. Tons of rounds down that barrel. YMMV.

 

[Hydra6]

I shoot PRS and shoot barrels until they are no longer accurate enough for PRS competition. I am using Boretech cleaning solutions and following their advice on bottle - run 4 patches through soaked with their cleaner, then use plastic brush soaked with cleaner, then some more soaked patches, and finally just dry patches.

I tried patches only for a while and was amazed at how much carbon came out when I ran a brush through multiple times soaked in Boretech.