This is a discussion on Which Way? within the Maintenance forums, part of the Firearm Forum category; When I got my Ruger a couple of months ago, I watched some cleaning videos and read up on it as I'd never cleaned a ...
When I got my Ruger a couple of months ago, I watched some cleaning videos and read up on it as I'd never cleaned a gun before. The video showed the guy pushing the rod with the brass brush in and out of the barrel. Recently, I just read that you should just push it through only the way the bullet travels. That means, push it through, take the brush off, put it back on, push it through, etc., right? That seems like a LOT of hassle! Is it OK to push it through then pull it back out the opposite way (the way the guy did in the video)? That's the way I've been doing it till my last cleaning and the barrel (inside) looked perfect. Will it really make a difference? Thanks!
I have never worried about moving it back and forth and have never had a problem. The idea is to move the fouling out of the end of the barrel with the brush by only pushing it one way. I just figure I will use the brush to loosen the fouling with the solvent and then use a tight fitting patch/jag setup to push everything out.
Cleaning from breech to muzzle is the ideal way to clean. But............It's a real pain in the butt with a six gun. I run the brush both ways, the dirt don't know the differance.
Most rifle shooters (myself included) will clean from breech to muzzle to avoid getting all that crud in the action and/or magazine. Unless I'm cleaning my lever action, than it's in and out from the muzzle. Don't make a big deal of it, just keep it as clean as you can.
I have never worried about moving it back and forth and have never had a problem. The idea is to move the fouling out of the end of the barrel with the brush by only pushing it one way. I just figure I will use the brush to loosen the fouling with the solvent and then use a tight fitting patch/jag setup to push everything out.
That's what I figured. I thought, though, it may have something to do with not scratching the inside of the barrel and just wanted to be sure. Anyway, that's how I'll keep doing it from now on (in and out). Thanks to both of you for the replies!
one reason people will not pull the brush back through is to not ruin the crown on your barrel which in turn will affect accuracy. It will take many many cleanings to do so. Most of the time it is only a concern if you are using a match barrel. Most of the time this is only with a rifle barrel. I am not sure what kind of gun you are cleaning but IMO you will only need to use a brass brush every 5 cleanings or so. Some people use it every time they clean but I clean my guns after every range visit so it is not necessary for me. Good luck and feel free to ask anything else if you need more information.
I have an SR9. I clean it, including the barrel with a brush, after every trip to the range, too.
Ditto - the SR9 is so easy to take down and clean its silly not to after my range visits. My range visits will be anywhere from 200 t0 300 rounds a pop.
John
There are many different techniques employed in firearm cleaning and most have good reasons for the process. The only thing that concerns me is to be sure I do not change direction of the brush while it is still in the barrel or chamber. One direction all the way through and then pull it back and out. I know a few folks who have interpreted the caution of not changing direction in the barrel to mean that you should not change direction period. If I were to shoot competitively I might do some research and use a one direction method but going both directions has not given me any evidence of wear.
I use bronze brushes mostly but will also use nylon brushes after light sessions. I clean my guns after each session except for my .22 which I use often and run a bore snake through the barrel every so often between regular cleanings. The bore snake has a bronze brush embedded and I always clean the .22 with a bronze brush, never a nylon brush. There is no evidence of wear and the accuracy of the .22 is improving (my son and I are getting much better with it) so I can detect no side effects to my technique.
I run a solvent soaked patch through the BBL and let it sit for a couple minutes and then run a dry patch thru. If it still needs help then I will use a brass brush with solvent and run it back and forth 15 times. Another clean patch and then check it. If it's good then I run a patch thru with a light coat of oil if it isn't I repeat or even upgrade solvents and hit it with the brush again.
With an SR-9 I would field strip and clean the BBL from the breech. Good luck.
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