I must be doing something wrong. How does a bore guide protect the throat or the crown and "preserve" accuracy?

If the guide is large enough to accommodate the jag, it doesn't really seem to guide the rod into the bore since the jag/patch exits the guide, drops down to the bottom of the chamber, and then slides into the throat.

Once the jag/patch or brush exist the muzzle, the rod drops down and contacts the crown.

So... what am I doing wrong?

Nothing


Cheap bore guides are a waste of money. A good bore guide will seal the barrel and keep solvent from dribbling down into the innards of your gun. Fermented solvent is not a good thing to have in there. A tool that goes with the good bore guide is a good cleaning cradle that keeps the muzzle below the receiver so that all solvent squeezed from a patch in the throat runs down the barrel. A good bore guide is supposed to keep cleaning rods from bowing in the barrel, perhaps scratching it. I've heard opinions both ways as to that. I use a good Dewey coated rod and never worry about bowing. This video may be of some use to you.



http://www.brownells.com/.aspx...eanest_Bore_Possible

Is a "good" bore guide expected to keep the rod from contacting the crown when pushing a brush or jag out the muzzle?

I understand how it could keep solvent out of the action, but I'm just not seeing how they are critical to "avoid ruining the accuracy of a rifle" when compared to a rod alone.

I'm not trying to be a smartass... I just don't get it.

The idea is one of keeping the rod straight, avoiding wearing down one side of the crown disproportionately to the other.

quote:

Originally posted by mrjulian_1970:
Is a "good" bore guide expected to keep the rod from contacting the crown when pushing a brush or jag out the muzzle? ...

I have a Bore Guide that is used when Cleaning from the Muzzle on Semi-Autos, etc. It is a barely Snug Fit on that Cleaning Rod and stays right there. In that situation, the only purpose it serves is to keep the Cleaning Rod from rubbing against the Muzzle.

As for the Bore Guides stuck into the Action. You should be able to feel the Brush as it begins to Exit the Barrel - if you are pushing at a low rate - I can.

Some take the time to Unscrew the Brush, Jag, or whatever they are using when it Exits. Then they ease the Cleaning Rod back through the barrel, reattach the Brush(Jag, etc.) and push it through again. I do not do that.

I push the Cleaning Rod through and as the Brush Exits(into a small cardboard box where it flings all kinds of trash) I stop. Then I slowly begin pulling it back with my Right Hand while my Left Hand helps align the Brush(Jag, etc.) with the muzzle. I've experienced ZERO problems and ZERO Off-Set Crown Wear, by doing this for over 5-decades with Lots and LOTS of rifles.

If anyone wants to believe a Brass or Nylon Brush will cause "Off-Set" Crown Wear the way I do it, that is fine with me.
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Just like, "A person can Damage a Bore by Cleaning it too much!" There is a whole lot of floating around.

A bore guide shaped like a tube should be of proper diameter for the bore, will have a couple O-ring seals on one end, and a port on the other. It will have a slip collar w/ a threaded rod. This type is inserted in lieu of the bolt. The O-ring end snugly fits the chamber at the throat, and the sliding collar slips within the rear bridge to hold it centered. The threaded rod is adjusted like the bolt handle to prevent the tube from backing out the chamber. This type prevents solvents from flowing down into your action and bedding, and allows you to push the rod from the breech end straight down the bore and out the muzzle like a bullet. Once out the muzzle, you do not pull it back through, you unscrew the brush/jag, pull out the rod, re-thread and go again till done.

A muzzle guide runs the other direction and is used when you pull a rod or cable through the bore to the muzzle. This type centers the rod or cable at the muzzle so it does not drag along the edge of the crown when pulled. Insert the rod or cable and push/feed it to the breech. Screw on the brush at the breech, hold the muzzle guide secure and pull the brush through the bore like a bullet. Once at the guide, pull the whole thing out the muzzle and then go again till done.

I was always taught NEVER to run the brush into the muzzle from the outside, unless it is impossible to do otherwise, such as a muzzleloader. In this case, use the muzzle guide behind the brush to center the rod, this prevents the rod from running at an angle against the crown edge.

Good Luck!