12 gauge cleaning question
I wife just got me a new 12 gauge for Christmas. ( A little early) She also gave me a cleaning system called a BoreSnake. Included in this is a brass brush that is passed though the bore.
My question is this. Is it always necessary to brush out the bore? Can the brush damage inside of the bore? Is there a better system for cleaning? In the past I have generally just used a cleaning patch.
My question is this. Is it always necessary to brush out the bore? Can the brush damage inside of the bore? Is there a better system for cleaning? In the past I have generally just used a cleaning patch.
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Good question. There are a myriad of cleaning methods and gadgets. The Boresnake is a relatively new one, and it has it's place for a quick cleaning in the field, but you are correct that it does not give you the option of not using the brush. The old method of using a cleaning rod lets you leave the brush out of the process if you wish. Is using a brush in your shotgun's bore (1)necessary, or (2)harmful? Well, (1) this depends on how much you shoot it, and what you shoot in it. If you fire hundreds of shells on a fairly regular basis, like in trap or skeet shooting, you will experience lead and plastic residue deposits in the bore that can degrade patterns. They can be removed chemically, and electrochemically, but solvent and a phosphor bronze or nylon bore brush is the common method used by most shooters. Both types of brush are softer than barrel steel, and (2) therefore considered by most to be harmless. There are those who will argue that in this advanced era of smokeless powder and noncorrosive primers that cleaning is unnecessary. Don't buy into that, especially if you live in one of our more humid climates, because powder ash will draw moisture and you'll suddenly find that well-polished bore to be rusty. As for the Boresnake, if you use it, you are certainly ahead of using nothing; but don't forget to wash it after every couple of uses as it picks up the dirt from the bore, and the next time you use it you run the same dirt back through the bore. I'm still a rod, brush, patch, Hoppe's No.9, and gun oil man, myself; but I don't use the brush if I've only fired 3 or 4 shells. 0 -
There is another manufacture that makes something similar the Bore Snake that has a brush that you pull through in the same manner seprate from the cloth. I have one but I can't remember the name of it, if I remember when I get home I'll let you know if you would like. Personally I love cleaning gun using pull through style cleaner, less time cleaning, more time shooting. 0 -
I don't think anyone would say that a boresnake is all you need. However, everyone I know that has one likes it. I really don't use them much on my smoothbores, but I will run it through rifled bores that I will be shooting again in a few days.
When it is time for a 'real' cleaning, the boresnake is of no use to me.
Regarding damage to the bore. I am certainly no metalurgical guru, but the wire for the brush is wrapped and anchored in a flexible and relatively soft base. I don't think you have anything to worry about.
ENJOY ...
Hey, your WIFE bought you a gun ......you are a man that has much to be thankful for.
If we do not hang together,
We will most certainly hang separately.0
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