Will stainless steel bristles damage chamber?

[mi4]

Will the steel bristles in those AR15 chamber brushes actually damage the chamber?

[teflondog]

I wouldn't use a steel brush on any barrel. Even if it's safe to do, I'd rather play it safe and use a copper brush.

The only thing I use a stainless steel brush for is to clean out revolver cylinders.

[mi4]

I wouldn't use a steel brush on any barrel. Even if it's safe to do, I'd rather play it safe and use a copper brush.

The only thing I use a stainless steel brush for is to clean out revolver cylinders.

Thanks for the suggestion. However, I am not talking about barrel. I referred to this kind of AR15 chamber brush, which has both bronze and steel bristles.

https://www.brownells.com/aspx/search/productdetail.aspx?pid=1234

[Barang]

i have a bunch of those and never paid attention the stainless steel part. now i wonder if it's harmless. so far, the rifles are fine with thousands plus rounds through them.

[theLBC]

i only use plastic brushes.

[smoothy8500]

The stainless bristles will only contact the locking lugs...if it's used correctly.

[ScottsBad]

Will the steel bristles in those AR15 chamber brushes actually damage the chamber?

I use polymer brushes available at Brownnell's. Especially in the chamber area. I seldom ever use brass. I also use a bore guide when cleaning the barrel.

[ScottsBad]

Thanks for the suggestion. However, I am not talking about barrel. I referred to this kind of AR15 chamber brush, which has both bronze and steel bristles.

https://www.brownells.com/aspx/searc....aspx?pid=1234

^^^ Those will do the job, but I use these IOSSO brushes. You can buy them individually, I believe. https://www.brownells.com/gun-cleani....aspx?pid=1234

Works well with the Dewey short rod. https://www.brownells.com/gun-cleani...prod25910.aspx

[Pofoo]

I will guarantee you that if you just use a nylon brush and patches, with most solvents, to clean your barrel, and then follow up with a brass or stainless brush with the same solvent, you will get a lot more crud out of your barrel.
Especially in a mil sup or a really dirty barrel, a metal brush will do a better job much faster.
A nylon brush really doesn't have much scrubbing power.

[FeuerFrei]

I use the mil-spec AR and M1A/M14 chamber brushes as part of my cleaning regimen.

Chrome and nitrided on different AR type barrels. SA barrels are oem du jour.

Rifling is more critical to see that you don't do any harm. Plastic and brass used there.

[Usmc0844spare]

The stainless bristles will only contact the locking lugs...if it's used correctly.

/\ This. Stainless bristles on the chamber brush should only be contacting the are where the bolt lugs reside when the bolt is closed.

If this sort of thing worries you (over-cleaning with tools ruining something), do what I do and rely on chemistry to do the bulk of the work. WipeOut is the way to go.

Spray liberally and let it sit as long as you like. Then run a couple brushes and patches down the chamber, good as new. Also had similar positive results with BreakFree CAC, which also did a bang up job on copper.

[ScottsBad]

I will guarantee you that if you just use a nylon brush and patches, with most solvents, to clean your barrel, and then follow up with a brass or stainless brush with the same solvent, you will get a lot more crud out of your barrel.
Especially in a mil sup or a really dirty barrel, a metal brush will do a better job much faster.
A nylon brush really doesn't have much scrubbing power.

I would agree that a brass brush will get more crud when the barrel is dirty. But we are talking about the chamber which is smooth.

I use polymer on both, and occasionally brass in the barrel.

[ScottsBad]

The stainless bristles will only contact the locking lugs...if it's used correctly.

Here is the problem with the brass/stainless chamber brush for me when I use it to clean the lugs. The lugs are much harder to clean so I end up inserting the brass brush way more frequently than I want in order to get the stainless brush on the lugs and get them clean.

So, I use a polymer chamber brush to get the lugs/chamber mostly clean, then I can give it a couple swipes with the brass/stainless brush if its not clean enough.

The chamber is critical, that's why I try to be easy on it. JMHO

[ScottsBad]

/\ This. Stainless bristles on the chamber brush should only be contacting the are where the bolt lugs reside when the bolt is closed.

If this sort of thing worries you (over-cleaning with tools ruining something), do what I do and rely on chemistry to do the bulk of the work. WipeOut is the way to go.

Spray liberally and let it sit as long as you like. Then run a couple brushes and patches down the chamber, good as new. Also had similar positive results with BreakFree CAC, which also did a bang up job on copper.

I thought Wipe-Out was for copper fouling? Maybe I misunderstood.

[Usmc0844spare]

I thought Wipe-Out was for copper fouling? Maybe I misunderstood.

It primarily is but does a decent job on powder/carbon.

But the BF CAC stuff is pretty much all around good as well.