Bore Cleaning Technique - Harmful?

Jim567 · March 19, 2014, 07:19 PM

I shot 2 Glocks and 2 Sigs at the range today.
From my army days- I get a huge dose of guilt if I don't clean them before the day is out.
I enjoy cleaning the nooks and crannies.
I dispise bore brushing. Don't ask me why.
It's boring lol.
So - I took a plastic rod with a nylon brush - stuck it in a cordless drill.
Used Hoppes and made 4 pass throughs on each barrel.
Fun, very efficient and fast.
Is it harmful long term?

Jay24bal · March 19, 2014, 09:02 PM

With a nylon brush and plastic rod, you should be fine. Both materials are too soft to cause any harm to the steel of the barrel.

SIGSHR · March 19, 2014, 09:15 PM

I like to use chemistry instead of elbow grease. Let the solvent-Hoppe's No. 9 in my case-soak for a half hour or so. But if your method works....

Venom1956 · March 19, 2014, 09:15 PM

on a drill? LOL bit excessive. just get a boresnake or something.

Model12Win · March 19, 2014, 09:15 PM

I highly doubt it would do any harm to a Tennifer finished Glock barrel. I would not do it with a bronze brush or aluminum/steel cleaning rods.

I think you have absolutely nothing to fear.

buckhorn_cortez · March 20, 2014, 07:27 AM

Nylon / plastics can be fairly abrasive. Think of ScotchBrite or BearTex pads - those are made from nylon and are the equal of steel wool. Personally, I would not use a drill with the brush.

Just swab the bore with your favorite cleaner and let is sit for 10-20 minutes. Brush the bore 10 or so strokes swab out the bore with more cleaner. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes, brush one more time and then swab out with cleaner, swab the bore dry, and then lightly oil and you should be done.

I use both Shooter's Choice + Kroil, and Gunzilla for cleaning and either will easily take out fouling. The Shooter's Choice with 20% Kroil (by volume) added to it will aid in taking out leading if you let it stay in the bore about 30-40 minutes.

Bob Wright · March 20, 2014, 09:49 AM

You say you are shooting glocks and sigs, so more than likely your ammunition is jacketed. Jacketed bullets leave a trace of copper, which in itself is not harmful. Nor is it hard to remove, most solvents do that with little or no effort. Let the solvent do the work.

Bob Wright

Jim567 · March 20, 2014, 02:30 PM

Fouling is never a problem with Hoppes.
It's the copper and me not having the time or being impatient to wait.
Guess I will have to find some patience

Hal · March 20, 2014, 02:41 PM

The nylon and plastic won't hurt anything.

The abrasive crud that can stick on them will sure raise hell w/the bore and/or crown if you use a power tool.

serf 'rett · March 20, 2014, 03:22 PM

Hal makes a good point.

Kreyzhorse · March 20, 2014, 05:14 PM

Quote:

The abrasive crud that can stick on them will sure raise hell w/the bore and/or crown if you use a power tool

Great point.

I sure as hell would not take a drill to my guns, solvent and 30 minutes is all you need for a clean gun.

Chris_B · March 20, 2014, 05:24 PM

Since when is it time consuming the clean a removable pistol barrel anyway? I can't think of when it's taken me more than five minutes

4 Paws · March 20, 2014, 07:20 PM

Just out of curiosity, what would possess you to use a power tool to clean a handgun?

Jim567 · March 20, 2014, 07:59 PM

Read my original post. Cleaning multiple pistols.
It was extremely fast and efficient. Easy on older sore hands.
The only question I had is if I did it repeatedly would it damage the bore.

buckhorn_cortez · March 20, 2014, 08:16 PM

If copper fouling is your problem and working with the cleaning tools is uncomfortable (I can relate to that) - then spend a little money and make it pain and worry free.

Buy an ultrasonic cleaner that is large enough for multiple barrels and fill it with KG-12 Big Bore Cleaner. It absolutely will not hurt the barrels.

Swab out the barrels with a standard barrel cleaner to get most of the fouling out the barrel. If you have copper fouling, put the barrels into the ultrasonic cleaner, turn it on, walk away and finish cleaning, lubricating, and polishing the guns.

By the time you're done with the rest of the gun cleaning, the KG-12 should have taken out most all of the copper. Bore brush the barrels with more cleaner, swab them out, lubricate lightly and reassemble into the guns.

Mike38 · March 20, 2014, 08:47 PM

This reminds me of a guy I know and his .357 revolver. He shot a whole bunch of .38 Special in it. Then to switch over to .357 he decided to clean the chambers with an electric drill and a bore brush. Of course the drill chuck touched the frame and ate the finish as well as some metal away from what was once a nice handgun. Not advisable.

Jim567 · March 20, 2014, 09:05 PM

Shame he couldn't be more careful.

Jim567 · March 21, 2014, 05:12 AM

I woke up this morning with this thought-

50 - 9mm copper coated lead pellets being propelled through a rifled tube faster than the speed of sound accompanied by hot gasses and other debris. Include a brass case being slammed in and out of the chamber to the mix.

Verses 4 passes by a nylon bore brush well lubricated with Hoppes bore cleaner on a low speed cordless drill. Plastic cleaning rod. As for debris on the brush. The bores were first passed through manually with a Hopped soaked patch.

4 passes with a low speed drill and a nylon brush / plastic rod -
Verses multiple passes manually with a bronze brush and steel rod.

OK maybe the rounds don't go sonic till after they leave the barrel.

DavidAGO · March 21, 2014, 07:25 AM

I don't see the point; a rotating brush will get the top of the lands, but the rotating brush will just pass over the corners of the groove and not get in there to clean out any debris. If using power tools is the plan, maybe if you attached the brush to a reciprocating saw....

David

Hal · March 21, 2014, 07:26 AM

Quote:

As for debris on the brush. The bores were first passed through manually with a Hopped soaked patch.

The use of plastic cleaning rods & the way they attract and hold abrasive debris has been pretty well documented for a few decades.
I always use aluminum or brass since they don't pick up debris like plastic.

Mobuck · March 21, 2014, 07:32 AM

A "spinning brush" won't properly clean the rifling.

Jim567 · March 21, 2014, 07:57 AM

It's only the top of the lands that are the problem with copper fowling.
Spinning and pushing brush leaves everything else spotless.
It absolutely works.
It's not speculation.
I use a nylon brush in a rapidly rotating electric tooth brush everyday,twice a day---
The drill was spinning low speed as it was pushed back and forth.

Jim567 · March 21, 2014, 08:36 AM

Just tried a very unscientific test that proves nothing but -
I rotated the nylon brush between my fingers and a metal brush.
The metal brush was much harder, uncomfortable on my fingers.
I then wiped the nylon brush on a clean white rag, then a used metal brush.
The metal brush left discoloration on the rag.
The nylon virtually none.
Again just an observation not scientific.

Jim567 · March 21, 2014, 08:57 AM

The feedback I am getting seems to be-
Bits of copper fowling and stuff can imbed itself in the soft nylon bristles making it more abrasive than a metal brush?

I respect everyone's passion for the subject.

checcles · March 21, 2014, 09:43 AM

Never use a drill on a chamber or barrel.

March 19, 2014, 07:19 PM	#1
Jim567 Senior Member Join Date: January 4, 2014 Location: NE FL Posts: 656	Bore Cleaning Technique - Harmful? I shot 2 Glocks and 2 Sigs at the range today. From my army days- I get a huge dose of guilt if I don't clean them before the day is out. I enjoy cleaning the nooks and crannies. I dispise bore brushing. Don't ask me why. It's boring lol. So - I took a plastic rod with a nylon brush - stuck it in a cordless drill. Used Hoppes and made 4 pass throughs on each barrel. Fun, very efficient and fast. Is it harmful long term?

March 19, 2014, 09:02 PM	#2
Jay24bal Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2011 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 735	With a nylon brush and plastic rod, you should be fine. Both materials are too soft to cause any harm to the steel of the barrel. __________________ I like guns. Once Fired Brass, Top quality, Fast shipping, Best prices. http://300AacBrass.com/ -10% Coupon use code " Jay24bal "

March 19, 2014, 09:15 PM	#4
Venom1956 Senior Member Join Date: October 4, 2008 Location: WI Posts: 3,656	on a drill? LOL bit excessive. just get a boresnake or something. __________________ E-Shock rounds are engineered to expend maximum energy into soft targets, turning the density mass into an expanding rotational cone of NyTrilium matrix particles, causing neurological collapse to the central nervous system.- Yeah I can do that. I guarantee you will know it if a bicyclist hits your house going 1000 mph. -Smaug

March 20, 2014, 03:22 PM	#10
serf 'rett Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2009 Location: Stuttgart, AR Posts: 1,569	Hal makes a good point. __________________ A lack of planning on your part does not necessarily constitute an emergency on my part.

March 21, 2014, 05:12 AM	#18
Jim567 Senior Member Join Date: January 4, 2014 Location: NE FL Posts: 656	I woke up this morning with this thought- 50 - 9mm copper coated lead pellets being propelled through a rifled tube faster than the speed of sound accompanied by hot gasses and other debris. Include a brass case being slammed in and out of the chamber to the mix. Verses 4 passes by a nylon bore brush well lubricated with Hoppes bore cleaner on a low speed cordless drill. Plastic cleaning rod. As for debris on the brush. The bores were first passed through manually with a Hopped soaked patch. 4 passes with a low speed drill and a nylon brush / plastic rod - Verses multiple passes manually with a bronze brush and steel rod. OK maybe the rounds don't go sonic till after they leave the barrel. Last edited by Jim567; March 21, 2014 at 05:45 AM.

March 19, 2014, 09:15 PM	#3
SIGSHR Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2005 Posts: 4,700	I like to use chemistry instead of elbow grease. Let the solvent-Hoppe's No. 9 in my case-soak for a half hour or so. But if your method works....

March 19, 2014, 09:15 PM	#5
Model12Win Junior member Join Date: October 20, 2012 Posts: 5,854	I highly doubt it would do any harm to a Tennifer finished Glock barrel. I would not do it with a bronze brush or aluminum/steel cleaning rods. I think you have absolutely nothing to fear.

March 20, 2014, 07:27 AM	#6
buckhorn_cortez Senior Member Join Date: July 30, 2010 Posts: 857	Nylon / plastics can be fairly abrasive. Think of ScotchBrite or BearTex pads - those are made from nylon and are the equal of steel wool. Personally, I would not use a drill with the brush. Just swab the bore with your favorite cleaner and let is sit for 10-20 minutes. Brush the bore 10 or so strokes swab out the bore with more cleaner. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes, brush one more time and then swab out with cleaner, swab the bore dry, and then lightly oil and you should be done. I use both Shooter's Choice + Kroil, and Gunzilla for cleaning and either will easily take out fouling. The Shooter's Choice with 20% Kroil (by volume) added to it will aid in taking out leading if you let it stay in the bore about 30-40 minutes.

March 20, 2014, 09:49 AM	#7
Bob Wright Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2012 Location: Memphis, Tennessee Posts: 2,987	You say you are shooting glocks and sigs, so more than likely your ammunition is jacketed. Jacketed bullets leave a trace of copper, which in itself is not harmful. Nor is it hard to remove, most solvents do that with little or no effort. Let the solvent do the work. Bob Wright

March 20, 2014, 02:30 PM	#8
Jim567 Senior Member Join Date: January 4, 2014 Location: NE FL Posts: 656	Fouling is never a problem with Hoppes. It's the copper and me not having the time or being impatient to wait. Guess I will have to find some patience

March 20, 2014, 02:41 PM	#9
Hal Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 1998 Location: Ohio USA Posts: 8,563	The nylon and plastic won't hurt anything. The abrasive crud that can stick on them will sure raise hell w/the bore and/or crown if you use a power tool.

March 20, 2014, 05:24 PM	#12
Chris_B Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2007 Posts: 3,101	Since when is it time consuming the clean a removable pistol barrel anyway? I can't think of when it's taken me more than five minutes

March 20, 2014, 07:20 PM	#13
4 Paws Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 2012 Posts: 159	Just out of curiosity, what would possess you to use a power tool to clean a handgun?

March 20, 2014, 07:59 PM	#14
Jim567 Senior Member Join Date: January 4, 2014 Location: NE FL Posts: 656	Read my original post. Cleaning multiple pistols. It was extremely fast and efficient. Easy on older sore hands. The only question I had is if I did it repeatedly would it damage the bore.

March 20, 2014, 08:16 PM	#15
buckhorn_cortez Senior Member Join Date: July 30, 2010 Posts: 857	If copper fouling is your problem and working with the cleaning tools is uncomfortable (I can relate to that) - then spend a little money and make it pain and worry free. Buy an ultrasonic cleaner that is large enough for multiple barrels and fill it with KG-12 Big Bore Cleaner. It absolutely will not hurt the barrels. Swab out the barrels with a standard barrel cleaner to get most of the fouling out the barrel. If you have copper fouling, put the barrels into the ultrasonic cleaner, turn it on, walk away and finish cleaning, lubricating, and polishing the guns. By the time you're done with the rest of the gun cleaning, the KG-12 should have taken out most all of the copper. Bore brush the barrels with more cleaner, swab them out, lubricate lightly and reassemble into the guns.

March 20, 2014, 08:47 PM	#16
Mike38 Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2009 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 2,710	This reminds me of a guy I know and his .357 revolver. He shot a whole bunch of .38 Special in it. Then to switch over to .357 he decided to clean the chambers with an electric drill and a bore brush. Of course the drill chuck touched the frame and ate the finish as well as some metal away from what was once a nice handgun. Not advisable.

March 20, 2014, 09:05 PM	#17
Jim567 Senior Member Join Date: January 4, 2014 Location: NE FL Posts: 656	Shame he couldn't be more careful.

March 21, 2014, 07:25 AM	#19
DavidAGO Senior Member Join Date: October 7, 2008 Location: Magnolia, AR Posts: 340	I don't see the point; a rotating brush will get the top of the lands, but the rotating brush will just pass over the corners of the groove and not get in there to clean out any debris. If using power tools is the plan, maybe if you attached the brush to a reciprocating saw.... David

March 21, 2014, 07:32 AM	#21
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	A "spinning brush" won't properly clean the rifling.

March 21, 2014, 07:57 AM	#22
Jim567 Senior Member Join Date: January 4, 2014 Location: NE FL Posts: 656	It's only the top of the lands that are the problem with copper fowling. Spinning and pushing brush leaves everything else spotless. It absolutely works. It's not speculation. I use a nylon brush in a rapidly rotating electric tooth brush everyday,twice a day--- The drill was spinning low speed as it was pushed back and forth. Last edited by Jim567; March 21, 2014 at 08:59 AM.

March 21, 2014, 08:36 AM	#23
Jim567 Senior Member Join Date: January 4, 2014 Location: NE FL Posts: 656	Just tried a very unscientific test that proves nothing but - I rotated the nylon brush between my fingers and a metal brush. The metal brush was much harder, uncomfortable on my fingers. I then wiped the nylon brush on a clean white rag, then a used metal brush. The metal brush left discoloration on the rag. The nylon virtually none. Again just an observation not scientific. Last edited by Jim567; March 21, 2014 at 08:50 AM.

March 21, 2014, 08:57 AM	#24
Jim567 Senior Member Join Date: January 4, 2014 Location: NE FL Posts: 656	The feedback I am getting seems to be- Bits of copper fowling and stuff can imbed itself in the soft nylon bristles making it more abrasive than a metal brush? I respect everyone's passion for the subject. Last edited by Jim567; March 21, 2014 at 09:41 AM.

March 21, 2014, 09:43 AM	#25
checcles Junior Member Join Date: March 20, 2014 Posts: 3	Never use a drill on a chamber or barrel.

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