Barrel cleaning-which end is up?

W

wwblevins

Inactive
What is the new-found revelation I'm hearing in the magazines about not cleaning a barrel from the muzzle end? Some are saying that this will damage the rifling and decrease barrel life. After 150 years this is no longer reccommended? I tried to get my Dewey cleaning rod in through the breech end of my GP100, but it kept jamming! What about a Lewis lead remover tool? No good either?
Am I missing something? What the Sam Hill are these people talking about?
 
Not exactly news. Most manufacturers have been recommending using a bore guide (when applicable) and cleaning from the breech. Brownell's sells a jig for drilling a hole in the rear of the 10-22 action, so that it can be easily cleaned from the breech.

It's really easy to damage the crown when cleaning from the muzzle.

[This message has been edited by WalterGAII (edited August 28, 2000).]
 
How does cleaning from the breech end keep the cleaning rod from banging on the muzzle crown? Especially once the patch or brush pokes all the way out?

I'd think that cleaning from the muzzle end with one of those plastic muzzle protector thingamajiggies to protect the muzzle end would be better. Well, at least that's what I do.

If I'm wrong, let me know.
 
It's your gun, but, according to all of the guys know who shoot a lot, and according to those guys at benchrest.com and varminthunters.com, you're wrong.
 
I clean from the breech when I can, and I use a muzzle guide when I clean from the muzzle. All my rifles still shoot pretty well, so I can't be screwing up too bad. :)
 
wwblevins - I don't think cleaning muzzle to breech will damage your bore.

That being said, my habit is to always clean breech to muzzle. When you clean in that direction, all of the gunk and fouling will exit at the muzzle end rather than being dumped back into your receiver.

Works for me.

Cliff
 
Cliff - good point about dropping crap into the breech!

WalterGAII - I don't doubt that everyone cleans from the breech, but I'm just wondering what they do to keep the cleaning rod from dinging up the muzzle crown once the brush/jag pokes thru. Maybe they just cough up the bucks for periodic recrownings. I'll check out varminthunters.com to see if they answer the "why."

Maybe I just need to find a one-piece synthetic cleaning rod.
 
I use a coated rod so that when the jag and patch poke through contact between the bore and rod is as soft as possible. I dont think that the problem comes from the rod dinging against the crown after the jag has poked out. If you think about it, the weight of the rod/jag is not that much and the chances of doing serious damage is almost nill. The problem comes when youre trying to get the patch and jag going. If you dont align it properly you can end up placing a lot of force onto the edges of the crown where you might damage it. This is why guides are always recommended. People have shot M14 and M1A's in competition and have had to clean them muzzle to breech without having degraded their accuracy. It is a matter of being carefull rather than style. I prefer breech to muzzle for different reasons:
1-keeps junk from working its way into the action.

2-keeps solvent from getting into the action and onto the stock, where it could mess with the bedding over time.

3-easier to start patches as the chamber and throat help compress the stuff slowly. This also keeps from having to apply too much force to the rod minimizing the chance of bending the thing and messing with the barrel.

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"Liberty is never unalienable; it must be redeemed regularly with the blood of patriots or it always vanishes."
-R.A. Heinlein
 
Pardon my ignorance, but how does one use these bore guides (when cleaning from the muzzle end)?

My Dewey rod comes with some sort of a plastic guide, but I do not know how to use it. Also, I'd like to know whether different sized guides are necessary for different calibers (I suspect not, but...).

Thanks.

Skorzeny

PS. So far, I've been using "Boresnake" aka "The World Fastest Bore Cleaner" when unable to use rods from the breech end.

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For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the supreme excellence. Sun Tzu
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Skorzeny:
Pardon my ignorance, but how does one use these bore guides (when cleaning from the muzzle end)? [/quote]

*Very carefully! {CHORTLE!}

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>
PS. So far, I've been using "Boresnake" aka "The World Fastest Bore Cleaner" when unable to use rods from the breech end.
[/quote]

Actually... {GRIN!} *That* is probably the best thing to `roll down the pike' since `sliced bread'! (There's another brand out there that uses a coated flexible stranded wire, too. I *think* it's from Otis but I can't remember prezactly I think.) Not only does it do a very passable job on all but the worst fouled barrel but it's something one can pretty much stuff into one's pocket and have it with them for those times when we all `wish' we had a cleaning kit and didn't. *And* even on the most recalcitrant to clean from the breech end firearm one *can* clean from the breech end, *no* excuses! I have them for all the assorted calibres I own and try and keep at least 3 of each so that not only do I have one with me and one on my bench but also in whatever carrying case the firearm may `reside' in, too. (I also happen to have my `share' of `solid' cleaning rods, too. You've got to have them for those *really* `nasty' cleaning jobs that have a way of rearing their heads. {BSE GRIN!})




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Doleo ergo sum,
-HALFPINT-
 
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