brass cleaning rod?

chrisintexas · December 5, 2014, 05:06 PM

what are the disadvantages of using handgun cleaning rod made up of Brass?
Thanks

wogpotter · December 5, 2014, 05:47 PM

If you use a solvent cleaner it might give you false positives for jacket fouling.

chrisintexas · December 5, 2014, 09:00 PM

how? Can you be clear about this? thanks

hoghunting · December 6, 2014, 12:00 AM

While I don't use brass rods, in a pistol while using a muzzle guard, the rod won't touch the barrel. Just use a muzzle guard and it won't matter if the rod is brass.

cryogenic419 · December 6, 2014, 08:42 AM

Some solvents react to the brass. I wouldn't get too worried out it as chances are you are going to be using a phosphor bronze brush which will react with the solvents. I use the carbon fiber rods but guess what the brush and jags screw into...a brass base on the end of the fiber rod. Depending on what cleaning solution you use, it may be a non issue from the get go

Some folks say stuff can get embedded on rods, with brass being softer supposedly its more prone to this happening. I've never seen/experienced it, but I am also meticulous on keeping that stuff clean.

The biggest thing is you want to make sure the rod isn't going to be scraping along the barrel, especially the crown. This is where guards/guides come in handy.

wogpotter · December 6, 2014, 10:10 AM

Kind of already answered but sure.
Jacket metal contains metals that can be dissolved by some cleaning solvents. The usual test is to look for a clean patch because there will be no jacket material left.
One of the metals used in the alloy is brass so the rod's brass will react with the solvent to say there is brass present. There is, but its the rod, not the bore that is producing the metal, so it is "false" for bore plating.

chrisintexas · December 6, 2014, 03:29 PM

So using Hoppe's number 9 and say CLP is alright (won't react to brass in brass rod)?

wogpotter · December 6, 2014, 03:51 PM

Should be fine as long as you use nylon brushes (another cause of false positives).

Outlaw75 · December 7, 2014, 04:15 PM

Hoppes and CLP have copper fouling cleaning properties. Both will react to brass or bronze. Doesn't harm your barrel in anyway, just means that your patches will come out dingy grey instead of white once you get all of the fouling out.

If clean white patches are that important to you, use an aluminum jag and nylon brushes like Wogpotter says above. Neither will react with the solvent.

December 5, 2014, 05:06 PM	#1
chrisintexas Senior Member Join Date: September 11, 2012 Posts: 388	brass cleaning rod? what are the disadvantages of using handgun cleaning rod made up of Brass? Thanks

December 5, 2014, 05:47 PM	#2
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	If you use a solvent cleaner it might give you false positives for jacket fouling. __________________ Allan Quatermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.”

December 6, 2014, 10:10 AM	#6
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	Kind of already answered but sure. Jacket metal contains metals that can be dissolved by some cleaning solvents. The usual test is to look for a clean patch because there will be no jacket material left. One of the metals used in the alloy is brass so the rod's brass will react with the solvent to say there is brass present. There is, but its the rod, not the bore that is producing the metal, so it is "false" for bore plating. __________________ Allan Quatermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.”

December 6, 2014, 03:51 PM	#8
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	Should be fine as long as you use nylon brushes (another cause of false positives). __________________ Allan Quatermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.”

December 7, 2014, 04:15 PM	#9
Outlaw75 Member Join Date: May 7, 2014 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 55	Hoppes and CLP have copper fouling cleaning properties. Both will react to brass or bronze. Doesn't harm your barrel in anyway, just means that your patches will come out dingy grey instead of white once you get all of the fouling out. If clean white patches are that important to you, use an aluminum jag and nylon brushes like Wogpotter says above. Neither will react with the solvent. Last edited by Outlaw75; December 7, 2014 at 04:23 PM.

December 5, 2014, 09:00 PM	#3
chrisintexas Senior Member Join Date: September 11, 2012 Posts: 388	how? Can you be clear about this? thanks

December 6, 2014, 12:00 AM	#4
hoghunting Senior Member Join Date: March 27, 2006 Posts: 1,559	While I don't use brass rods, in a pistol while using a muzzle guard, the rod won't touch the barrel. Just use a muzzle guard and it won't matter if the rod is brass.

December 6, 2014, 08:42 AM	#5
cryogenic419 Senior Member Join Date: March 29, 2009 Location: NW Ohio Posts: 569	Some solvents react to the brass. I wouldn't get too worried out it as chances are you are going to be using a phosphor bronze brush which will react with the solvents. I use the carbon fiber rods but guess what the brush and jags screw into...a brass base on the end of the fiber rod. Depending on what cleaning solution you use, it may be a non issue from the get go Some folks say stuff can get embedded on rods, with brass being softer supposedly its more prone to this happening. I've never seen/experienced it, but I am also meticulous on keeping that stuff clean. The biggest thing is you want to make sure the rod isn't going to be scraping along the barrel, especially the crown. This is where guards/guides come in handy.

December 6, 2014, 03:29 PM	#7
chrisintexas Senior Member Join Date: September 11, 2012 Posts: 388	So using Hoppe's number 9 and say CLP is alright (won't react to brass in brass rod)?