AR Chrome chamber again?

Doubletaptap · July 23, 2006, 11:02 PM

I was told today by a fella in a "tactical" arms shop not to use the brass mil-spec chamber brush on my chrome chambered Bushy .223.

Now I have some replies that say it's ok and another says don't.

He says the brass bristles will mess up the chrome in the chamber?

He says they should only be cleaned with cotton swabs?
Somebody help? I wanna clean my rifle!!!

DWARREN123 · July 23, 2006, 11:54 PM

Call, write or E-mail whoever made it and ask, they should be able to give the correct answer.

Dave Haven · July 23, 2006, 11:59 PM

That chrome chamber is HARDER than any brush..

mete · July 24, 2006, 03:02 AM

Absolutely, chrome is harder than the steel barrel and farharder than the bronzebrush !!

**Unclenick** · July 24, 2006, 09:16 AM

I'm guessing that someone brushed some automobile chrome plating that was peeling due to rust underneath, and when the brush flaked the decorative chrome off its rust foundation, erroneously concluded that metal brushes remove chromium plating from steel. Not so. Double not so for hard chrome. Hard chrome plating is a coating for tools that see hard service. I have a Crescent wrench that is hard chromed, and if yanking on rusted, hadened steel bolts doesn't take it off, believe me, no woosey bronze hair is going to do squat to it.

Nick

Scorch · July 24, 2006, 12:23 PM

Ask yourself this question: If a brass brush is going to damage the hard chrome, what would a brass cartridge case and copper-jacket bullet do to it? The answer is nothing.

Hardchrome is about 70 Rc (Rockwell C scale)hardness, bronze is listed in the Brinnell hardness scale, along with lead, tin, zinc, copper and other metals which are much softer.

Doubletaptap · July 24, 2006, 11:01 PM

Thanks guys! I was just wanting to be careful because I'm new to Ar 15's. I know they also say if there's a little dirt in the chamber or on a casing it'll mess up the chrome too?
I want to learn all I can about this rifle before I start messing with it too much. I figure a few dumb questions will save me from ruining a perfectly good rifle.
Appreciate the feedback!!
George

**Unclenick** · July 25, 2006, 03:07 PM

Anything that would scratch a steel chamber (roughly 32 on the Rockwell C scale) will scratch the chrome less.

Nick

July 23, 2006, 11:02 PM	#1
Doubletaptap Senior Member Join Date: July 9, 2006 Location: Around north Houston Posts: 287	AR Chrome chamber again? I was told today by a fella in a "tactical" arms shop not to use the brass mil-spec chamber brush on my chrome chambered Bushy .223. Now I have some replies that say it's ok and another says don't. He says the brass bristles will mess up the chrome in the chamber? He says they should only be cleaned with cotton swabs? Somebody help? I wanna clean my rifle!!! __________________ Don't believe the hype!!!

July 23, 2006, 11:59 PM	#3
Dave Haven Senior Member Join Date: February 1, 2000 Location: near Flagstaff, AZ Posts: 790	That chrome chamber is HARDER than any brush.. __________________ NRA Endowment Member FCSA Life Member Subs are cool, but belt-feds RULE!

July 24, 2006, 09:16 AM	#5
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	I'm guessing that someone brushed some automobile chrome plating that was peeling due to rust underneath, and when the brush flaked the decorative chrome off its rust foundation, erroneously concluded that metal brushes remove chromium plating from steel. Not so. Double not so for hard chrome. Hard chrome plating is a coating for tools that see hard service. I have a Crescent wrench that is hard chromed, and if yanking on rusted, hadened steel bolts doesn't take it off, believe me, no woosey bronze hair is going to do squat to it. Nick __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

July 24, 2006, 12:23 PM	#6
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	Ask yourself this question: If a brass brush is going to damage the hard chrome, what would a brass cartridge case and copper-jacket bullet do to it? The answer is nothing. Hardchrome is about 70 Rc (Rockwell C scale)hardness, bronze is listed in the Brinnell hardness scale, along with lead, tin, zinc, copper and other metals which are much softer. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

July 24, 2006, 11:01 PM	#7
Doubletaptap Senior Member Join Date: July 9, 2006 Location: Around north Houston Posts: 287	Thanks guys! I was just wanting to be careful because I'm new to Ar 15's. I know they also say if there's a little dirt in the chamber or on a casing it'll mess up the chrome too? I want to learn all I can about this rifle before I start messing with it too much. I figure a few dumb questions will save me from ruining a perfectly good rifle. Appreciate the feedback!! George __________________ Don't believe the hype!!!

July 23, 2006, 11:54 PM	#2
DWARREN123 Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2006 Location: BETWEEN TN & KY Posts: 1,758	Call, write or E-mail whoever made it and ask, they should be able to give the correct answer.

July 24, 2006, 03:02 AM	#4
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	Absolutely, chrome is harder than the steel barrel and farharder than the bronzebrush !!

July 25, 2006, 03:07 PM	#8
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	Anything that would scratch a steel chamber (roughly 32 on the Rockwell C scale) will scratch the chrome less. Nick __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle