Cleaning Question (especially regarding AR-15's)

[ZombiesAhead]

First of all, is it safe to reverse the direction of a bronze bore brush in a rifle barrel? It can be very difficult to do, but I had to do it recently to get a stuck brush out of a rifle (messed up the rod it was attached to). I was told it was OK even though it took a lot of force.

Secondly, I have one of those military-style AR-15 chamber brushes - As I understand it, the small part goes into the barrel from the chamber and the large mop of bristles cleans the star-shaped part of the chamber. Doesn't this require reversing the direction of the bronze-brush part that extends into the bore (heading towards the crown)?

 

[Lost1]

alexd,

I know that reversing the direction of bore brushes is not the preferred procedure, but doing so from time to time should not cause problems. The bronze is softer than the gun metal.

Even toilet tissue rubbed across gun metal will eventually have an abrasive effect, but again, once in a while should be no big deal.

You are correct about the chamber brush. The larger diameter portion of the brush is intended to clean behind the lugs and to do so, rotation is required. In the Army, we use all sorts of methods that are unhealthy to the chamber to clean it. It is possibly the most difficult part of the weapon to clean effectively. However, I have seen after-market cleaning tools, made of softer materials, designed for cleaning the chamber which should not cause abrasion. Try searching for "AR15 Chamber Maid." You might have to use the chamber brush to loosen up caked on carbon.

I hope this helps.

 

[chucksmooth]

thanks Lost. i had the same concern about the chamber brush

 

[Lovesbeer99]

I'm not sure what you mean by "reverse the direction of the brush". When I use a brush, I push it through from the chamber, then pull it back. My Bushmaster handbook says I should push the rod through the chamber and out the muzzle, then attach the brush, then pull it back.

What do you do?

 

[ZombiesAhead]

lovesbeer - I'm referring to when you have the chamber brush partway down the barrel and have to pull it back for one reason or another while still in the barrel (generally not very good reasons, in my case I did something stupid with a cleaning rod)

 

[blackhawk2000]

Bore snake.

 

[Avenger29]

It is best NOT to reverse direction while in the barrel.

Since the AR-15 can be cleaned from the rear easily, it is best to do so. It is not good to clean from the muzzle end.

I was always taught to clean from the rear, and once pushing the brush out the muzzle, unscrew it and pull the rod back through, then reattaching the brush and repeating.

 

[Ford]

Like Blackhawk said.
Get a Bore Snake and never look back.
Best $12 you will ever spend.

 

[LongRangeInternational]

I just spray out the chamber with non-chlorinated brake cleaner.

 

[Soybomb]

Bore snakes are fine but they still don't clean the chamber well or the locking area. Put some solvent on the brush and clean that area out.

 

[benEzra]

I don't think reversing the brush once or twice is going to hurt the rifle, but it can really screw up your brush.

FWIW, that barrel is designed to withstand 1000 degree gas at 50,000 psi, and copper sliding along the steel at Mach 3, so a piece of soft low-temp bronze at 1 bar isn't going to do much.

The big issue with cleaning rods is that some rods themselves are abrasive (aluminum oxide surface coating), so you want to avoid cleaning from the muzzle if possible.

 

[IronSightRot671]

Avenger29, +1 I do it the same way that you do it. as well as all the other people I know.

 

[22_Shooter]

With a chamber brush for an AR (the one on the right in the pic in the 1st post), you have to reverse directions while in the barrel. There's no way around it.

 

[Steve in PA]

The AR chamber brush doesn't go into the barrel.......it goes as far as the chamber.

I use a cleaning rod with a ball bearing handle so once I push the bore brush through the barrel from the rear, reversing and pulling it through is not a problem.

There is no way the soft brass bristles are going to damage a steel barrel.

 

[Whatsit]

The concern with brush reversal midbore is not damage but the increased likelihood that the brush will become stuck and very hard to remove.

The brass portion of the chamber brush is not fully inserted in the bore (rather, the firing chamber - looser) and is designed to be reversed.

 

[Mike 56]

If you have a GI cleaning rod you can use it for a chamber rod. I always carry one in my range bag they are small and in a pinch you can clean or clear an obstruction in about any firearm. They cost about six dollars. I made a AR chamber rod of a X-ACTO knife handle and a section of a 22 cleaning rod. I made a bolt scraper by smashing a empty 223 case in vice and sharpening with a file. I use a pair of hemostats and a cut down Q-tip for cleaning behind the locking lugs. At home i use a cleaning rod guide and a Dewey one piece rod. In the field i use a patch worm http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=614371 I have used bore snakes and Otis cable rods and liked them i just liked the Patchworm better. Here are a few AR cleaning links. http://www.surplusrifle.com/article...ools/pdf/tm9-1005-319-10-cleaning-excerpt.pdf and http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/edu49.htm Reversing a bore brush in the bore is hard on your bore and bore bush but as stated a few times won't hurt anything. Breakfree foaming bore cleaner makes rifle cleaning very easy.

Mike

AR cleaning tools.jpg (61.6 KB)

 

[AR-15 Rep]

I prefer to insert the chamber brush, turn in one direction, remove brush, then reinsert and turn the other direction, remove brush.

 

[Lost1]

Mike 56,

Ooohh. I like the hemostat idea. The modified casing also sounds a lot better than the modified coat-hanger I learned to use.

 

[taliv]

I prefer to insert the chamber brush, turn in one direction, remove brush, then reinsert and turn the other direction, remove brush.

how the heck do you do that? are you talking about the chamber brush pictured in the OP?

 

[Steve in PA]

"I prefer to insert the chamber brush, turn in one direction, remove brush, then reinsert and turn the other direction, remove brush."

Really? Must be hard to keep it from unscrewing itself, no?