I just ordered a new rifle(actually3) and was talking to the gunmaker who was very clear that I should only use a nylon briush for bore cleaning. I have used brass for years. Is nylon really THAT much better? I assume it doesn't scratch the barrel like brass brushes, thus longer life?

Thoughts ?

I believe brass will react with copper solvents.

Use a bronze brushe with low ammonia solvents like Hoppe’s, Shooters Choice, and Butches. Use a nylon brush with high ammonia solvents like Sweets, CR-10, and Montana X-Treme.

As Jim stated, bronze brushes will react with ammonia. This will give you a false indication of copper fouling when you swab the bore with a patch. The blue or green indication you pick up may actually be the bronze brush and not copper. This causes folks to scrub excessively when they have already removed copper fouling.

For a heavily fouled factory bore use a bronze brush with Hoppe’s or Butch’s to remove powder fouling. Dry the bore and then switch to Sweets, CR-10, and Montana X-Treme using a nylon brush to tackle the copper fouling.

Thanks, guys.

What you are saying is that my brass brush with hoppes#9 is fine. If I switch to another high ammonia solvent, then nylon is better.

Is there anything wrong or right with switching to nylon?
Do stainless barrels require solvents with more or less ammonia?

If I undertsood correctly you said these are custom rifles, and at the recommendation of the gun maker he strongly advises you to use only nylon brushes; Did he give you any explination as to why, he told you to use only nylon brushes, might not be a bad idea to follow his instructions unless he can not give you a good reason; Like if you use anything other than nylon brushes I will not honor the warranty, or such as that. Make him explain Why, then deside.

If you have a premium bore (Lilja, Krieger, Douglas, LW, etc) then follow their break-in and cleaning procedures. Not sure that any have a warranty which could be voided if you used a bronze brush on them, but it is always a good idea to see what they recommend.

Most lapped premium bores require a lot less scrubbing than factory tubes. Most can come clean with a good copper solvent and minimal brushing.

Who makes the stiffest, toughest, meanest, longest lasting synthetic brushes these days??

Hoppes used to make some great synthetic brushes, but I have not seen those in a long time???

- mike

quote:

Originally posted by mho:
Who makes the stiffest, toughest, meanest, longest lasting synthetic brushes these days??

Hoppes used to make some great synthetic brushes, but I have not seen those in a long time???

- mike

I like Montana X-treme nylon.

I usually use nylon but only because of the solvents I use that would react with a bronze brush.

I think it's interesting that some are worried about running a bronze brush down a barrel after they have sent multiple tight fitting bronze or copper covered bullets down the barrel at 2,000 to 3,000 fps.

quote:

Originally posted by Terry Blauwkamp:
I like Montana X-treme nylon.

Terry, it transpires you are one of several people, who have recommended the Mt Xtreme synthetic brushes. Reloader's Nest seems to have the best prices I could google up within a short time.

- mike

I usually use a patch to mop the bore with sweets, nylon brushes should be good, but even with No. 9 I wash the jag or bronze brush in turps or some such to neutralise the solvent.

I only use nylon brushes as I expect the solvent I paid good money for, to do the job that the manufacturers say it can do. That way Im not wasting more good money on bronze or stainless steel brushes.

quote:

Originally posted by 6XCVE:
...stainless steel brushes.

Gulp!
- mike

A brush is not needed. The solvents job is to remove the crud. Patch + jag + time = clean Oh yea alot of patches.