.17Hmr - Is A Brass Cleaning Brush Okay?

[Beefbeefbeef 10]

Or will it damage the rifling?

[dadioles 68]

Personally I would avoid using a brass brush.

The theory is that brass is softer than steel and therefore will not damage the steel barrel but the rifling is extremely fine and hard particles may get trapped in the brush.

I use a bore guide, rod, jag and patches to remove carbon and copper fouling. A new patch with every stroke pushed from chamber to muzzle.

The first couple of "push throughs" can be quite tight and the rod sometimes needs to be firmly tapped through by hitting it with the palm of my hand but it soon becomes easier as the deposits are cleared.

 

I carried out some tests on cleaning my .22lr and found that after a really thorough clean a single "conditioning shot" was required to restore accuracy.

 

I have not carried out those tests with my .17 hmr but do not seem to have any issues with accuracy after cleaning. Obviously the copper jacketed high velocity hmr behaves differently to a soft lead wax coated subsonic .22lr

 

There are endless debates about cleaning rimfires (or not cleaning). Sports shooters of the rabbit shooting variety (rarely clean) seem to have a different attitude towards cleaning than the bench rest target shooters (always clean).

[Deker 3,478]

I use a Phospher Bronze brush, Dewey rod and jag!

[zx10mike 137]

used one for years it will not harm the bore.

try this ,clean your rifle with patches,when you have finished try a bronze brush you will get black patches again.

[Beefbeefbeef 10]

Oh oh. 3 replies - 3 different answers. Seems to be the way with gun cleaning posts.

 

Thanks for your thoughts nonetheless.

[dadioles 68]

Not quite three different answers.

What I should have said is that I have, and do use, bronze brushes. I use them sparingly and only when required. Most of the time patches are sufficient.

I was trying to avoid the scenario where people scrub vigorously up and down with a bronze brush on the assumption that brass is soft and can do no harm, use it carefully and infrequently.

When using a bronze brush I wet it with solvent but be aware that solvents that eat copper will also eat bronze so be sure to clean your brush after use.

If you are using copper solvents that change colour to indicate the presence of copper, don't use a bronze brush as bronze is mostly copper and you will never win!

Use the brush to give a couple of strokes and then back to patches.

[Deker 3,478]

Not quite three different answers.

What I should have said is that I have, and do use, bronze brushes. I use them sparingly and only when required. Most of the time patches are sufficient.

I was trying to avoid the scenario where people scrub vigorously up and down with a bronze brush on the assumption that brass is soft and can do no harm, use it carefully and infrequently.

When using a bronze brush I wet it with solvent but be aware that solvents that eat copper will also eat bronze so be sure to clean your brush after use.

If you are using copper solvents that change colour to indicate the presence of copper, don't use a bronze brush as bronze is mostly copper and you will never win!

Use the brush to give a couple of strokes and then back to patches.

 

You do win, you just get through brushes!

[Greg223 4]

i use a nylon brush followed by patches. saying that i don't clean it very often to start with

[Hawkeye. 26]

Brush or not depend's on what bore cleaner your using

[zx10mike 137]

if you don't brush you leave crap in the rifling your call.simples

[GEOFF.223 83]

Brush or not depend's on what bore cleaner your using

Dont listen to this bellend you'll only regret it.

[andyf 144]

I had a 17hmr for couple of years when they first came out, so at the time cleaning kit was a bit behind the game.

One thing though, I used to buy bronze brushes sourced from Midway UK (not brass - it looks like brass, so

if you really want to call it 'brass' that's fine).

Any way as the bristles were so short because of the tiny bore they only lasted 3 or 4 sessions before folding

over and 'dying' on me, by then you could push it down the bore with your little finger.

As for bore cleaner 'juice' I've tried/got most of the usual brands, and to be honest I can't tell the difference

in relation to the finished (cleaned) bore?

AndyF

[zx10mike 137]

I had a 17hmr for couple of years when they first came out, so at the time cleaning kit was a bit behind the game.

One thing though, I used to buy bronze brushes sourced from Midway UK (not brass - it looks like brass, so

if you really want to call it 'brass' that's fine).

Any way as the bristles were so short because of the tiny bore they only lasted 3 or 4 sessions before folding

over and 'dying' on me, by then you could push it down the bore with your little finger.

As for bore cleaner 'juice' I've tried/got most of the usual brands, and to be honest I can't tell the difference

in relation to the finished (cleaned) bore?

AndyF

hi andy i used to have this trouble but i clean the bore now for say 6-8 strokes then unscrew the bronze brush and straight under the tap it goes then i let it soak for five mins in the sink.now they last.there is no need to scrub your barrel to death but nowt cleans like one.

[compoundarcher 35]

i only ever use a bore snake and napier gun cleaner not had any problems with zero just a few shoots to check might be 1/2 out @100rds after cleaning but a few minor adjustments two clicks max..i don't over clean normally every 750 rounds and put the napier gun cleaner in the barrel leave for 5-10 mins the pull bore snake through till its shiny again ( shoot a lot of rabbits).

Edited November 15, 2013 by compoundarcher

[Psyxologos 2]

I clean mine every 150 shots or so. Just run the brush with napier gun oil a couple of times and it is fine. I have tried using patches but the problem is I can never get the patch at the right size (I have to use .22 patches cut in half or so) and makes my life hard. I tried using a boresnake but the problem I had was that the brass end was a bit too big (on the 3 different boresnakes I tried) which made it impossible to fit. I returned these and bought the brush...