OH NO! I ruined my barrel with a bronze brush!!!

OH NO! I ruined my barrel with a bronze brush!!!

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[wallyrossow]

I was a machinist in my younger years and there’s no way anybody can convince me that a brass or bronze bore brush will harm a gun barrel. The forces generated when a bullet is shot through a barrel are much greater than any human can generate while cleaning a barrel. I think your video proved that as well. Good job😎

[dlkline]

I'm 84 years old and I've done a lot of shooting with a lot of different firearms which naturally led to a lot of cleaning. In my time I've worn out dozens of bronze brushes but never, ever did any bore damage using them. This video is spot on.

[brownells]

We too did a video on the topic, our finding was the same as yours! Great video!

[lylehutchins]

When I turned 13, I received a .22rifle, A single-shot. I just turned 76 and that rifle still holds true to its aiming.
Colt built the barrel prolly in the '50s (???). I as a young kid didn't know they sold cleaning kits! So my mom drove me to Alamosa Welding supply store.
I bought a brass welding rod that would easily go down the barrel for cleaning. So for 63 years, I've cleaned that .22 with brass involvement. Even I knew way back then I knew it wouldn't scratch the bore!
You reiterated my thoughts.
BTW I have a 30-06 Springfield built in 1911 and cleaned the full bore with a drill and brass brush because it hasn't seen a damn thing in the bore for probably 75/or more years. The brass cleaned like Mr. Clean!!

[christiankent]

This had me dying 🤣 "oh no reverse" lmfao. Appreciate somebody putting this straight.

[johnknouse]

I’m not a metallurgist, but how in the hell would it even be possible to hurt steel with bronze? If you could, imagine what a jacketed bullet would do! You’d have a smooth bore after 1 box of ammo!

[PolenarTactical]

This is my experience also. There sure are ways you can damage a barrel but not with normal cleaning implements and techniques

[Stonehombre]

And NO ONE would ever use a power drill to clean their barrel !!! You've proved a GREAT POINT. Thanks !!

[stellarpod]

Thank you! Just, thank you! I am so tired of hearing lame stories on YouTube by individuals who clearly have no understanding of metallurgy or engineering spewing nonsense about damage from bronze brushes. It's refreshing to see someone refuting that nonsense in such a graphic way.

As always, thank you for sharing.

Steve

[TWilson-foje]

Great video have been cleaning rifles for 50 years with bronze brushes. Never had any issue, barrels never rust or show any imperfections. Thanks!

[peeblood]

Part of my cleaning process for "barn find" pre-war guns is to carding wheel the finish after boiling them out, then running a brush through the bore on a drill like that. It does actually improve the bore, even getting corrosion out of the pits from 100 year old black powder grime. I have an S&W Model 3 from the 1880's that went from 14" sized groups at 15 yards to 2" sized groups. Granted, late 19th century rifling lathes didn't produce anything close to what we'd call a precision bore today. But the metallurgy was poor and I'd think if a bronze brush would damage a bore it'd be from that era.

I've heard that extremely precise barrels should only be cleaned with nylon bore brushes and patches before using a crown protector, but never from someone that uses an extremely precise barrel. I think all this reduces down to internet autism, with a healthy influence of fudd lore.

[hardball]

Your so right. Long story short I bought a CMP M1 and the bore was so fouled after 3 weeks of scrubbing the copper looked like silly putty on the lands, it shot patterns not groups at 50 yards. I was about to replace the barrel so I figured for one last try I took a lightly worn 35 caliber brass bore brush, wrapped it with patches loaded with JB Bore Polish, locked it into an electric drill and went to town. 10 MINUTES later I cleaned the bore and it looked like yours, almost polished, no gouges, roughness or grooves and the brush was still snug. I took that rifle out and all I'll say it is the most accurate Garand of the 4 I own. That brush never hurt anything.

[adamchristenson]

Thank you for making this video! I’ve heard so many people on YouTube say all these things will ruin your barrel. I always thought steel was harder than bronze…

[annietaylorsmith]

In 1981, the Marine Corps issued me a M-16 A1 rifle with cleaning gear in the butt stock including a bore and chamber brush. You would think Eugene Stoner, the US Army and Marine Corps over the preceding 20 years would know if the brush would damage the barrel.

[fredwilliams]

spot on i am new to reloading and there are so many "opinions" and taboos that are in the reloading universe and what i have learned as I move forward I have learned to just use my head and what is reasonable and one of them is the bronze brush nonsense love your channel because u call BS on alot of these so-called opinions

[jacobbowling]

Yeah, as someone who works with metals all day (machinist) I knew this was always a bunch of BS superstition. A soft metal will not cut a harder metal, and most barrels are made of 4140 steel

[Don.E.]

I tried to tell people years ago bronze will NOT scratch steel unless you have a pot metal barrel haha! Thanks for proving my point!

[zaca]

I'm happy you demonstrated this, I have heard this so many times. I think a lot if this stems back to the statement of "more guns are ruined by overcleaning than shooting" which I think is just an excuse for laziness, I can tell you one thing for sure is more barrels are ruined by neglect than proper cleaning.

[hrecoveryteam]

Great video for sure. I worked for over 15 years at a gunsmith shop. What we found out in cleaning what messes up or destroys accuracy in a rifle is when you clean from the muzzle end only. Go through the chamber to clean. Why you may ask. Even though the brush is made of bronze and the tip that screws in the cleaning rod is most of the time a light or weak metal. It still contacts the crown numerous times and can cause dings in the crown. The crown on a barrel is the most important part of a firearm. Because it is the last thing a bullet touches as it leaves the barrel.
I have been at the range many times and hear guys cursing like crazy saying, Dang thing shot good last year. I ask if they clean from the muzzle? Yes they do. Recrown and it goes back to shooting correctly.

[stevespanos]

To see barreling in such detail. Very nice explanation and clarification. It all makes sense, good job.