Pull throughs

What's everyone's opinion on pull-through cleaning systems? Not the bore snake types. I will admit I have only been using bore snakes to clean and oil my rifles after every shoot session which is once every few weeks and a dozen rounds on average. I gave away and never replaced my old rod style cleaning kit with break down rods because it was a heap of junk that damaged the bore in one of my rifles. But I've noticed recently my rifles where getting quite dirty to the point the bore snakes weren't doing much and one rifle started to develop a small amount of rust. So I'm going to invest in a new cleaning kit and I like the concept and price of pull through systems. Nothing I own is new and precision so I don't see the need to spend a lot of money on a one piece rod cleaning kit, I'm sure some of you will disagree.

I think bore snakes with oil are a terrible idea as it's just going to get filthy then your dragging the same crap thorough you barrel everytime. You need to use patches that get thrown away after it is pulled or pushed through.

A simple pull through made up of a brass weight and string with a loop in the end is what you after. Put patch through loop pull through job done. Patch goes in the bin.

Personally I use proper rods at home and only carry bore snakes when hunting for the occasional oopsy i got shit in my barrel.

buy a decent one piece cleaning rod,a bronze brush and a spear jag...once you start using a spear jag you will wonder why you ever pissed around with anything else. simply cut your 4x4 cloth to correct size (.303 will be red line square near enough so 3-4 bits per inch line) first one oiled,2nd and 3rd dry,4th one oiled...I reverse 1-2 and 3rd as Im a tight wad... so rifle has 7 passes of the rod per cleaning...and about once every 18mths a really good dung out,might even use some boretech or hoppes for that big clean up,normally just a few drops of breakfree CLP....
a boresnake is good for the shotguns or quick clean when get in doors,leaving proper clean for later in the day,or morning after.

I use a pull thru on the lever action (Outers brand I think). More difficult than a rod but less chance of damaging the crown, and you are dragging the crud out the end of the barrel rather than into the action.

I only use boresnakes for giving the barrel a wipe to remove excess oil before heading out hunting or to the range.

if you really must go with a pull through find a "whole kit n kaboodle" and make sure not to let cord touch sides of muzzle. the only real excuse for not using a rod for cleaning is a lever action.

Greetings All,
Pull throughs are fine for wiping out a barrel in the field but to properly clean it the propper rod, jags, brushes, bore guide, patches and solvents are essential. Yes they are not cheap but are vastly cheaper than wrecking a barrel through inadequate cleaning.
GPM.

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Originally Posted by grandpamac

Greetings All,
Pull throughs are fine for wiping out a barrel in the field but to properly clean it the propper rod, jags, brushes, bore guide, patches and solvents are essential. Yes they are not cheap but are vastly cheaper than wrecking a barrel through inadequate cleaning.
GPM.

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This. The pull through is all you really need in the field. You must have something with you to wipe oil out of the barrel and chamber before use and to give it a rough clean and oil after use. But it won't shift harder copper or carbon fouling. Like said above, watch out for running the string along the crown, keep it central. Not that the string by itself will do the crown any harm, but it may be contaminated with some fine grit.

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Originally Posted by Three O'Three

What's everyone's opinion on pull-through cleaning systems? Not the bore snake types. I will admit I have only been using bore snakes to clean and oil my rifles after every shoot session which is once every few weeks and a dozen rounds on average. I gave away and never replaced my old rod style cleaning kit with break down rods because it was a heap of junk that damaged the bore in one of my rifles. But I've noticed recently my rifles where getting quite dirty to the point the bore snakes weren't doing much and one rifle started to develop a small amount of rust. So I'm going to invest in a new cleaning kit and I like the concept and price of pull through systems. Nothing I own is new and precision so I don't see the need to spend a lot of money on a one piece rod cleaning kit, I'm sure some of you will disagree.

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Buy a Parker hale cleaning rod jag and bronze brush

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Originally Posted by Bobba

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Personally I use proper rods at home and only carry bore snakes when hunting for the occasional oopsy i got shit in my barrel.

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That's my view of pull-throughs: an emergency item for when you get crap down your barrel when away from home. Proper cleaning involves high quality rods.

I agree with 6x47 - I always carry a pull thru in the field -just in case of crud/water entering barrel - always a proper rod set up when back home - when I had my 742 remington woodmaster i used a pull thru as did not want to use rod from muzzle end ( man I miss that 742 ) did not do a good job at all

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Originally Posted by omark

Buy a Parker hale cleaning rod jag and bronze brush

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Yes the Parker hale jag that you wrap the patch around is the business, far superior to the spear jag.
Pull throughs all I use them for is to swipe the oil out from the barrel when the rifle gets out for a shoot.

On the use of pull throughs and bore snakes my opinion is never ever.My father told me 60 odd years ago never use a pull through and I have followed his advice. If going away the gun is in a case or gun bag and it is easy to throw in a rod with the gun.Cleaning rods live in my truck and have often been handy for myself and others. I have heard of a few instances where pull throughs have been jammed in a barrel,string broken requiring a gunsmith to fix.

I only use quality one piece rods, good fitting bronze brushes and jags (ALWAYS a bore guide) to "deep clean" rifle bores.

However, I do fire a lot of rounds at the range and always run a couple of wet patches through before I leave. A plastic biro cap fits the cartridges I own and very light pressure will keep a pull through centered without risking damage to the crown if you're careful.

https://i.imgur.com/SHqyhhG.jpg

Otis make the best commercial pullthrough kits IMHO.

Attachment 203426

As above, bore snake when I get out of the car to make sure any residual oil, dust, or whatever, (I cycle all my brass in my lever action after sizing) is gone and again after shooting when I get back to the car.
If I have been at the range or fired off a number of rounds then at home I get out my rod, (carbon fibre and brass) and use wet followed by dry patches wrapped around the bronze brush.
Z

@ZQLewis where do you get a carbon fibre rod ?
And what brand ?

I have always used a boresnake after and before a hunt or shooting.
I will only clean properly when the rifle needs it. For some that's a lot of rounds down before a proper cleaning for others that's very few. Depends on how bad the rifle fouls.
Really have to ask yourself what the full clean is hoping to achieve?
For me it's when accuracy might be affected by either carbon or copper fouling.

Potential corrosion is handled by the boresnake which provides a light coating of oil and takes out the chunky bits of residue that might be present.

Edit: Also if your boresnake is filthy, wash it!

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Originally Posted by Bagheera

@ZQLewis where do you get a carbon fibre rod ?
And what brand ?

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Tipton make a good one, got mine from Reloaders


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by Bagheera

@ZQLewis where do you get a carbon fibre rod ?
And what brand ?

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Sorry can't remember now. Would have to have a look at the handle.
Think it was a Tipton from here.
https://reloadingdirect.co.nz/shop/c...cleaning-rods/

Z

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Originally Posted by Micky Duck

if you really must go with a pull through find a "whole kit n kaboodle" and make sure not to let cord touch sides of muzzle. the only real excuse for not using a rod for cleaning is a lever action.

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Turns out mine is the Otis Whole kit and Caboodle. It’s a handy kit to take on hunting trips.

Have used good old pull through my various rifles over the last 45+ years without drama. Current Howa 223 gets a pull through at end of day along with a quick wipe down maybe. Suppressor acts as guide for cord and only gets taken off off going in gunsafe. Had about 3500 rounds through it without drama. Just my 2c.

I have a home made pull through (not a bore snake) which I load with patches to remove loose material, apply a little oil to the inside of the barrel and then remove excess oil. I then stick a bore snake through a couple of times. Bigger clean with rods and solvents etc when required which is almost never in my case because I fire so few rounds. Bore snake never goes in to a properly dirty barrel. When the bore snake looks a bit worse for wear, I put it in a net bag and stick it in the washing machine.