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VA, USA
Posted: 8/5/2023 12:06:51 PM EDT
| As I said in my previous topic, I recent bought a BCM upper and cleaned the bore a bit with a Hoppe's one piece stainless. I only recently learned that you are supposed to use a bore guide to clean with a rod or you might damage the barrel. To what degree is this true? I just don't want to think I damaged my brand new barrel, lol. |
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A rod certainly can damage the crown, bore, and throat of a barrel. I wouldn't worry about a common rack grade barrel, most likely it'll copper up and stop shooting or the rifling near the throat will burn out before you notice a change in accuracy. |
Keep your powder dry, and watch your back trail.
| Most damage will happen on the crown or throat by dragging the rod repeatedly across the edge. Are bore guides absolutely necessary?, no…just be mindful when cleaning and it will be just fine. I do use guides, in the scope of everything else they are inexpensive and make the process more efficient for me. |
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The US government doesn't issue bore guides to troops for maintenance of our M16/M4 platforms. Still lethally accurate at great distances. Certainly not setting any bill's eye contest records but, not intended to. Are you shoot an accurized DMR? Interested in sub MOA consistently over thousands of rounds? Maybe you want a bore guide. 99% of people with 99% of rifles will never see the benefit. That's not to say it hurts anything to use one, only that you might be turning an already less pleasurable aspect of shooting (the cleanup) into a slightly more involved process than it needs to be. A better approach is probably a simple non-marring cleaning rod, brass or composite, softer that your bore, that isn't going to do any damage. Some folks use bore snakes... not my personal choice but, people do use them. Good rod, good solvents, good patches, and soft brushes. |
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I had previously viewed a YouTube video by GunBlue490, (see below link) in which he referenced the use of a bore guide while cleaning the AR-15. He stated that your rifle already come with a bore guide, which is the bolt carrier itself. He removes the bolt and then inserts the carrier back into the chamber and the proceeds to clean the barrel with the cleaning rod passing through the opening in the carrier as a guide. I have utilized this practice and it seems to work well and you don't have to spend extra money on some fancy bore guide by just utilizing your own bolt carrier that came with your rifle. Simple solution in my opinion for those who would prefer to use a bore guide to clean their rifle bore and at no additional cost. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPAzSVtSaDk&t=338s |
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Originally Posted By Jnat: Most damage will happen on the crown or throat by dragging the rod repeatedly across the edge. Are bore guides absolutely necessary?, no…just be mindful when cleaning and it will be just fine. I do use guides, in the scope of everything else they are inexpensive and make the process more efficient for me. This Given enough passes a nylon and copper brush will wear down the muzzle |
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