brush or jag

rebs · August 31, 2017, 05:01 PM

Do you guys use a brush, jag or both when cleaning your muzzie

noelf2 · August 31, 2017, 05:13 PM

None of the above. Mops

Hawg · August 31, 2017, 05:48 PM

Nothing but mops.

Model12Win · August 31, 2017, 06:32 PM

Bore mops.

Pahoo · August 31, 2017, 06:44 PM

In the shop, I use a brush and patched jag with 50/50 ballistol. At the range, I use a I prefer a spit unlubricated patch. After my last round, I give all residue surfaces, a mice coat of the 50/50. There are times when I use mineral spirits. ...

Be Safe !!!

Old Stony · August 31, 2017, 07:51 PM

I use jags for most everything. Run a patch through the bore, throw it away and start all over..

Dufus · August 31, 2017, 08:53 PM

I use a mop & hot soapy water, then dry and lube the bore.

**4V50 Gary** · August 31, 2017, 11:03 PM

Jag with a can of water.

I don't throw away the patches now. I even teach my students to keep old patches for char cloth. Cheapness spreads.

FrontierGander · August 31, 2017, 11:31 PM

Both.

The patch to wash away most of the fouling, then a plastic bore brush to attack the rifling and remove any unknowns.

roashooter · September 1, 2017, 01:54 AM

Jags most of the time....on occasion brushes/mops....

rebs · September 1, 2017, 08:13 AM

If I run a brush down the bore it gets stuck and I have to twist it to get it out. I have also had a jag with clean patch get stuck and I had to pour a little bore cleaner down the barrel to get it out. What am I doing wrong ?
What is your process for using only mops ?

maillemaker · September 1, 2017, 08:31 AM

I use both.

Steve

Pahoo · September 1, 2017, 11:08 AM

rebs,
I may step on a few toes here but don't mind when it gets into the area of safety. "Some" BuckSkinners and Mustache Petes have a bad habit of blowing down a barrel between shots. It's a way to check if the vent is clear. It also puts moisture from you breath, that helps to keep the fouling moist and loose. There is a better and safer way. The mop has a lot of give to it and when moistened it will clean the bore and capture most of the residue/fouling. They are easier to work with but get dirtier each time you use it. That is why I use a spit cleaning patch between ever "few" shots. The bore will let you know what it needs. ..

A good technique is to never let "anything" get stuck. I seldom use a brush or mop, in the field. I do my deep cleaning, in the shop. Last weekend we had a class and the SideLock that was used, was shot 50+ times. Took two days for me to get around to cleaning and the coating of 50/50 Ballitol killed the effects of the powder residue. That is when I first use a bronze brush and patches. .......

Keep after this problem and it will turn around and come your way. .....

Be Safe !!!

Hawg · September 1, 2017, 12:43 PM

You can wash a mop lol. I take the barrel off and stick the breech in a bucket of water. Water will be pulled up through the bore on each upstroke and expelled through the nipple with a little force. Once no more fouling is coming out I switch to a dry mop and make a few passes with it. Then take a third mop with lube on it and run it down and a mop will get into a patent breech. I've been doing it this way for years and never had any rust and a mop won't get stuck like a brush or a jag. I got a jag stuck once and had to put the end of the rod in a vice and pull the rifle off of it. Thankfully the tip was pinned not just glued or I'd have been shooting it out.

Sure Shot Mc Gee · September 1, 2017, 09:42 PM

both

**4V50 Gary** · September 2, 2017, 07:42 AM

What type of brush are you guys using?

For blackpowder, I would only use a nylon brush. Bronze brushes should not be pushed/pulled as it destroys the flexibility of the brush. One way in, other way out. You can't do that with muzzle loaders. That's why I would use nylon if I were to use a brush.

44 Dave · September 2, 2017, 04:53 PM

I finish off my '73 and single actions with a Bore snake, sorry you breach plugged people.

noelf2 · September 2, 2017, 06:01 PM

Quote:

sorry you breach plugged people

That whole breech loading thing is a passing fad anyway.

Model12Win · September 3, 2017, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noelf2

That whole breech loading thing is a passing fad anyway.

+1

August 31, 2017, 05:01 PM	#1
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	brush or jag Do you guys use a brush, jag or both when cleaning your muzzie

August 31, 2017, 05:13 PM	#2
noelf2 Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2008 Location: Stuart, VA Posts: 2,473	None of the above. Mops __________________ Liberty and freedom often offends those who understand neither.

August 31, 2017, 06:44 PM	#5
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 8,783	Both In the shop, I use a brush and patched jag with 50/50 ballistol. At the range, I use a I prefer a spit unlubricated patch. After my last round, I give all residue surfaces, a mice coat of the 50/50. There are times when I use mineral spirits. ... Be Safe !!! __________________ 'Fundamental truths' are easy to recognize because they are verified daily through simple observation and thus, require no testing. Last edited by Pahoo; August 31, 2017 at 06:50 PM.

August 31, 2017, 11:03 PM	#8
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,838	Jag with a can of water. I don't throw away the patches now. I even teach my students to keep old patches for char cloth. Cheapness spreads. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

August 31, 2017, 11:31 PM	#9
FrontierGander Senior Member Join Date: January 30, 2009 Location: Boncarbo,Colorado Posts: 651	Both. The patch to wash away most of the fouling, then a plastic bore brush to attack the rifling and remove any unknowns. __________________ https://buckskinsbp.blogspot.com/

August 31, 2017, 05:48 PM	#3
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,189	Nothing but mops.

August 31, 2017, 06:32 PM	#4
Model12Win Junior member Join Date: October 20, 2012 Posts: 5,854	Bore mops.

August 31, 2017, 07:51 PM	#6
Old Stony Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2013 Location: East Texas Posts: 1,705	I use jags for most everything. Run a patch through the bore, throw it away and start all over..

August 31, 2017, 08:53 PM	#7
Dufus Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2014 Posts: 1,965	I use a mop & hot soapy water, then dry and lube the bore.

September 1, 2017, 01:54 AM	#10
roashooter Junior member Join Date: December 24, 2010 Posts: 508	Jags most of the time....on occasion brushes/mops....

September 1, 2017, 08:13 AM	#11
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	If I run a brush down the bore it gets stuck and I have to twist it to get it out. I have also had a jag with clean patch get stuck and I had to pour a little bore cleaner down the barrel to get it out. What am I doing wrong ? What is your process for using only mops ?

September 1, 2017, 08:31 AM	#12
maillemaker Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2010 Posts: 1,635	I use both. Steve

September 1, 2017, 11:08 AM	#13
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 8,783	What is your process for using only mops ? rebs, I may step on a few toes here but don't mind when it gets into the area of safety. "Some" BuckSkinners and Mustache Petes have a bad habit of blowing down a barrel between shots. It's a way to check if the vent is clear. It also puts moisture from you breath, that helps to keep the fouling moist and loose. There is a better and safer way. The mop has a lot of give to it and when moistened it will clean the bore and capture most of the residue/fouling. They are easier to work with but get dirtier each time you use it. That is why I use a spit cleaning patch between ever "few" shots. The bore will let you know what it needs. .. A good technique is to never let "anything" get stuck. I seldom use a brush or mop, in the field. I do my deep cleaning, in the shop. Last weekend we had a class and the SideLock that was used, was shot 50+ times. Took two days for me to get around to cleaning and the coating of 50/50 Ballitol killed the effects of the powder residue. That is when I first use a bronze brush and patches. ....... Keep after this problem and it will turn around and come your way. ..... Be Safe !!! __________________ 'Fundamental truths' are easy to recognize because they are verified daily through simple observation and thus, require no testing.

September 1, 2017, 12:43 PM	#14
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,189	You can wash a mop lol. I take the barrel off and stick the breech in a bucket of water. Water will be pulled up through the bore on each upstroke and expelled through the nipple with a little force. Once no more fouling is coming out I switch to a dry mop and make a few passes with it. Then take a third mop with lube on it and run it down and a mop will get into a patent breech. I've been doing it this way for years and never had any rust and a mop won't get stuck like a brush or a jag. I got a jag stuck once and had to put the end of the rod in a vice and pull the rifle off of it. Thankfully the tip was pinned not just glued or I'd have been shooting it out.

September 1, 2017, 09:42 PM	#15
Sure Shot Mc Gee Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,876	both

September 2, 2017, 07:42 AM	#16
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,838	What type of brush are you guys using? For blackpowder, I would only use a nylon brush. Bronze brushes should not be pushed/pulled as it destroys the flexibility of the brush. One way in, other way out. You can't do that with muzzle loaders. That's why I would use nylon if I were to use a brush. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

September 2, 2017, 04:53 PM	#17
44 Dave Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2013 Posts: 584	I finish off my '73 and single actions with a Bore snake, sorry you breach plugged people.