Just curious what the opinion is on this.  I have heard some people say you shouldn't and others that say the opposite.  Like on a Varmint heavy barrel AR or a 700PSS etc.  I have only used patch's for my rifles of this nature but I am curious if I am just being paranoid.

I also would like to hear about this.

My mentor advised me not to use any type of brushes on SS match barrell and I was fine w/ it since I saved money by not buying brushes.  I just run patches until they come out of barrel completely clean.  It takes up to 10 patches.
I clean mine coming back from range practice w/ about 20 - 50 rounds shot.   I also shot upto 170 rounds at a local DNR range, but the number of patches used were about the same always...up to 10 patches.

After patch cleaning, I still do see somethings (looks like small particles???) sticking right on the edges of lands & groves.  I do not believe these seem to affect accuracy so far.

bronze are ok to use. just do not use those stainless steel brushes. All a brush does is speed up the cleaning process.  Same effect as using a brush to vclean a pot or pan, vs just a wet rag.

A bronze brush with a brass core will do no harm if used properly.  Clean from the breech with a one-piece rod, and use a cleaning rod guide.  I prefer BoreStix by Bore Tech; the best source is Lock, Stock and Barrel - http://www.lockstock.com/prodinfo.asp?number=BTBSTX2236C.  Some prefer a bare stainless rod, but I prefer a coted rod; the coating is much softer than the barrel, but is tough enough that it won't imbed grit.  There are a variety of guides for the AR and all will do the job, but you want one with a solvent port - it's much easier to avoid drips with one.

I use brushes on most of my rifles.  I was mainly curious about match barrels and such like if there were different techniques and reccomendations for cleaning them than I do my chrome lined AR's, AK's, other military or misc rifles.  

Speedy is a Benchrest Hall of Fame member, and master gunsmith:  

www.benchrest.com/sgybreakin.htm

Bronze is softer than Chrome Moly or SS. The brush will not hurt your barrel! Ask the Bench Rest fraternity who clean with bronze brushes after every 5 rounds and put 5 shots itno a .020" hole at 100 yards.


Tack