Jeff Thomas
New member
I swear, the more I learn, the dumber I get.
And, the more I clean firearms, the more I wonder if I'm really doing the best I can. I've got a number of questions, please:
1. Wool swabs - I don't understand the purpose of these. Seems like you'd use it once, for either cleaning, oil or whatever, and that would be it, no? When would you use a wool swab, instead of a patch (that is cheap, and you can toss)?
2. Copper solvent - like most folks, I'm usually shooting jacketed ammo, so I like to use some copper solvent when cleaning. However, it doesn't seem to remove other fouling as well as Hoppes, so I use both. I start with Hoppes, then run some dry patches through. Then the copper solvent, let it sit a few minutes, then more dry patches. I go over the barrel with Hoppes again to clean out all the copper solvent and finish with dry patches, and then a final, oily patch. This seems inefficient, but like I said, the Hoppes seems to do a better job of removing the fouling. Is there a better way?
3. Bronze brushes - maybe I'm too careful, but I tend to think I shouldn't use a bronze brush everytime I clean. Seems like it would be hard on the barrel. So, I run Hoppes through with a patch, then run a nylon brush through about 10 times and so on (see 2. above). Should I use a bronze brush more often?
4. Clean patches - everyone seems to say that the patch should stay clean when you're done. On handguns I can get to this point. But, on rifles it seems like the patch will never come out clean. Am I doing something wrong that leads to continuously dirty patches, or is the 'clean patch' advice sort of a relative term?
5. Clean after every use - is it really necessary, or even a good idea to clean everytime you use your firearm? Once saw advice that some LEO's run a few rounds through after they have cleaned, to make sure the firearm functions properly. Others seem to be religious about cleaning immediately after each use, and warning about corrosion if you don't clean immediately. I have had the experience of finding my 870 not functioning property after cleaning because the magazine follower became jammed. Glad I discovered that at my leisure, instead of in a defensive situation.
Lots of silly questions, I suppose, but I want to get better at this, and you folks are my only source for honest, one-on-one advice. And, of course, these are expensive tools - don't want to damage them, ever. I realize there will be different points of view, but I'll appreciate the advice.
Thanks a lot. Regards from AZ
And, the more I clean firearms, the more I wonder if I'm really doing the best I can. I've got a number of questions, please:
1. Wool swabs - I don't understand the purpose of these. Seems like you'd use it once, for either cleaning, oil or whatever, and that would be it, no? When would you use a wool swab, instead of a patch (that is cheap, and you can toss)?
2. Copper solvent - like most folks, I'm usually shooting jacketed ammo, so I like to use some copper solvent when cleaning. However, it doesn't seem to remove other fouling as well as Hoppes, so I use both. I start with Hoppes, then run some dry patches through. Then the copper solvent, let it sit a few minutes, then more dry patches. I go over the barrel with Hoppes again to clean out all the copper solvent and finish with dry patches, and then a final, oily patch. This seems inefficient, but like I said, the Hoppes seems to do a better job of removing the fouling. Is there a better way?
3. Bronze brushes - maybe I'm too careful, but I tend to think I shouldn't use a bronze brush everytime I clean. Seems like it would be hard on the barrel. So, I run Hoppes through with a patch, then run a nylon brush through about 10 times and so on (see 2. above). Should I use a bronze brush more often?
4. Clean patches - everyone seems to say that the patch should stay clean when you're done. On handguns I can get to this point. But, on rifles it seems like the patch will never come out clean. Am I doing something wrong that leads to continuously dirty patches, or is the 'clean patch' advice sort of a relative term?
5. Clean after every use - is it really necessary, or even a good idea to clean everytime you use your firearm? Once saw advice that some LEO's run a few rounds through after they have cleaned, to make sure the firearm functions properly. Others seem to be religious about cleaning immediately after each use, and warning about corrosion if you don't clean immediately. I have had the experience of finding my 870 not functioning property after cleaning because the magazine follower became jammed. Glad I discovered that at my leisure, instead of in a defensive situation.
Lots of silly questions, I suppose, but I want to get better at this, and you folks are my only source for honest, one-on-one advice. And, of course, these are expensive tools - don't want to damage them, ever. I realize there will be different points of view, but I'll appreciate the advice.
Thanks a lot. Regards from AZ