Bristles Coming Off of My Bronze Bore Brushes

[DMW1116]

I decided to do a good scrub on my Blackhawk yesterday. I bought a new 45 caliber bore brush to run though the cylinder chambers, as the 9mm brush barely touches the chamber walls. I usually scrub 2 or 3 passes in each chamber unless there is obvious crud that didn't come out. The brush started shedding bristles like my dog in spring. Am I doing something wrong, or did I just get a bad brush?

 

[1KPerDay]

Bad brush, or you used some aggressive copper solvent with them…

 

[Obturation]

I decided to do a good scrub on my Blackhawk yesterday. I bought a new 45 caliber bore brush to run though the cylinder chambers, as the 9mm brush barely touches the chamber walls. I usually scrub 2 or 3 passes in each chamber unless there is obvious crud that didn't come out. The brush started shedding bristles like my dog in spring. Am I doing something wrong, or did I just get a bad brush?

Brushes quality is questionable but do like I did a long time ago. Stop buying brushes . if you have some laying around they can be useful but only for wrapping a piece of copper scrubber to them- I use chore boy but test with magnet to ensure its not coated steel wool, you want pure copper.
If you need a bigger brush just wrap more chore boy around whatever you're pushing through. This completely eliminates the need for brushes. Throw away the piece when you're done or wash it out and use it some more. This is the best I've found. Follow it up with a few cotton patches - I cut mine from old t-shirts , socks, jeans or whatever you got.

I find the items intended for gun cleaning are overpriced and too specific , household items work better and cost less.

Just my 2 cents, worth what ya paid for it.
Good luck

 

[DMW1116]

I primarily shoot cast bullets from my Blackhawk, so no copper solvent involved. I typically use mineral spirits to clean it. I've been shooting the last of my HBWC loads with Titegroup and they are quite dirty, so I have to clean it more often than with my W231 HBWC loads.

Now that you mention the Chore Boy, I need to look down the barrel and check for lead. There typically isn't any, but I didn't actually look while cleaning it yesterday.

 

[edwardware]

Brownells house brand premium brushes are the ticket, and will outlast everything else I've tried by more than their price premium.

 

[Jim Watson]

I think .45 in a .38 cylinder is too big, I have used .40 and .410 Tornado brushes and .38 chamber brushes.
I take a short rod to the range and dry brush my revolver between IDPA stages.

 

[DMW1116]

Ah a 410 brush should be perfect. I’ll check around.

 

[Jim Watson]

Have to spin/sand the shotgun to pistol rod adapter to enter the chamber.

 

[.38 Special]

Brownells house brand premium brushes are the ticket, and will outlast everything else I've tried by more than their price premium.

I am amazed at what terrible quality you get with typical stuff - especially when it comes as part of a "cleaning kit" from Wally World, etc. - and I figure that's what the OP likely got. I agree with you about the Brownell's brushes.

 

[drband]

Brownells brushes are great. Tough. Last a long time.

This one: https://www.brownells.com/tools-cleaning/gun-cleaning/gun-cleaning-brushes/double-tuff-bore-brush/

 

[243winxb]

45 caliber bore brush

Confused. if using 45 in 9mm the shedding bristles will happen.

For a 9mm/357 convertable, buy a cylinder "chamber" brush for 38.

Clean brush after use with Rubbing Alcohol, Isopropyl Alcohol.

 

[Riomouse911]

Brushes quality is questionable but do like I did a long time ago. Stop buying brushes . if you have some laying around they can be useful but only for wrapping a piece of copper scrubber to them- I use chore boy but test with magnet to ensure its not coated steel wool, you want pure copper.
If you need a bigger brush just wrap more chore boy around whatever you're pushing through. This completely eliminates the need for brushes. Throw away the piece when you're done or wash it out and use it some more. This is the best I've found. Follow it up with a few cotton patches - I cut mine from old t-shirts , socks, jeans or whatever you got.

I find the items intended for gun cleaning are overpriced and too specific , household items work better and cost less.

Just my 2 cents, worth what ya paid for it.
Good luck

I just wrap the strands of copper Chore Boy around the old brushes. As the strands fall off, I add more.



Stay safe.

 

[DMW1116]

My primary concern wasn’t lack of scrubbing power. It was the sudden plethora of small bronze needles on my floor and bench.

 

[.45Coltguy]

Probably a bad brush. Chore Boy, as others have mentioned is your answer. Works.

 

[Walkalong]

Buy better brushes. The Sinclair brushes used to be excellent, they would be Brownells now. Not all bronze brushes, of which I am still a fan, are created equal.

 

[JFrank]

I decided to do a good scrub on my Blackhawk yesterday. I bought a new 45 caliber bore brush to run though the cylinder chambers, as the 9mm brush barely touches the chamber walls. I usually scrub 2 or 3 passes in each chamber unless there is obvious crud that didn't come out. The brush started shedding bristles like my dog in spring. Am I doing something wrong, or did I just get a bad brush?

Buy the correct size for the bore.
Put a dab of Hoppes oil on the brush and don’t run it dry. Buy several at a time.

 

[JFrank]

Confused. if using 45 in 9mm the shedding bristles will happen.

For a 9mm/357 convertable, buy a cylinder "chamber" brush for 38.

Clean brush after use with Rubbing Alcohol, Isopropyl Alcohol.

This

 

[doubleh]

The 45 caliber brush is simply too big and flex is causing the bristles to break off. Brushes clean best with the tips of the bristles, not so well with the sides. Pick a brush size that is only slightly larger than the diameter of the hole you are cleaning for best results and longer life. The quality of the metal will also play a part of durability and where they are manufactured can have a lot to do with the quality of it.