I like the BoreTech ones too, but the plastic threads pulled off the end of it. Now I can only use it to push.

 

I use traditional brass split jags, and have them for all gauges.

This one's by Parker-Hale, about $11 on line

Google "split brass shotgun jag"

Frank

 

I scrub back and forth with a brass brush vigorously. If it gets worn I throw it away and buy another one. They are not very expensive and last quite awhile with my "abuse".

 

I too use an old 12ga copper brush wrapped with a 12ga patch (or 2 if it needs to be a little tighter). a few of the fine bristles stick through the patch to give you little scrubbing action. That and some good ol' #9, and your're good to go. Dry the bore and give it a LIGHT coat of gun oil of your choice if it's going to sit.....Jack

 

In the past, after having tried all methods and jags listed above, (and a few more jag "schemes" as well), I have settled on the o-ring jag above. The o-ring makes the patch fit the barrel snugly, yet compresses for the choke. I have them in all the gauges. They work well, leave the barrel clean, and I'm really surprised that more folks don't use 'em.

 

Copper brushes are cheap, last a long time, and are disposable to me. Though the one I've used as a jag has lasted for years with considerable use and still works fine, so no need to dispose of it yet. I bought three copper 12 ga. brushes about 5 or 6 years ago... one has been used exclusively as "the jag" another just as a brush, and the third probably won't be needed for quite some time to come.

There are almost as many different means to clean a shotgun as there are people who will offer suggestions. They all pretty much get the job done with no worries. Use whatever means you like and enjoy shooting!

 

I will not reverse directions or scrub in the bore with a brush. Not if you want to keep from bending the bristles and loosening the fit of the brush in the bore. I always recommend full strokes out of the bore and back in. Doing it this way keeps the brush in good condition. The only reason I ever get rid of mine is because they are dirty and i don't want to clean them.

Using a jag I like to scrub back and forth with the patch to get it squeaky clean. If I used the brush I could not do that.

 

A 12 ga. copper bore brush serves perfect double duty as both a scrubber AND as a jag to hold cotton patches.

If the chamber or bore should need some scrubbing, apply shotgun cleaner to the copper brush itself - no patch - work out as needed.



THEN...

Lay a 12 ga. cotton patch over the brush, spray it with shotgun cleaner, and run through the bore (or bores).



Works just great! Always a perfect, and snug, fit.

Spray a little more shotgun cleaner on another patch... run it. Repeat as needed.

Follow with a fresh, dry patch, as needed.

Finish with a patch with some FP-10 applied, run it. Bore is ready for short or long term storage.

The brush holds the patches quite securely while running up and back through the bore.

 

Go to Home Depot or any other hardware store and buy a 7/16 or 1/2 wood dowel. Wrap your patch around the end of the dowel, soak your patch with your favorite cleaner and run it through the bore.

I also like to use my cordless drill and paper towels to start the party and finish up with the dowel.

 

Here is a better sore...the bore tech jag....identical to the one at cabelas but only $8

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/390354 ... read-nylon

I bought one of these at a local gun shop for about $8.00. I like it.

 

I use a bore brush to push and pull the patch trough the bore. I am assuming you have a modern gun with a chrome lined Bbl. The softer metal copper bore brush will wear and the harder metal chromium bore will not.

 

Here is a better sore...the bore tech jag....identical to the one at cabelas but only $8

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/390354 ... read-nylon

 

I use these

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Shooting ... t104270580

But, I hope that price is a typo...when I bought these, there were much cheaper than $19.95. Like the O-rings jags, they can compress a little bit, so you get good surface contact of the patches to the walls of the barrel, but they also will go through even modified or full chokes fairly easily.

 

I highly recommend the O-ring jags. I get them from Brownells.

http://www.brownells.com/gun-cleani...ning-rods-amp-accessories/cleaning-rod-jags/o-ring-cleaning-jags-prod24842.aspx

 

The only patches I use to clean a shotgun anymore are wadded up paper towels to make the bore shine after I've broke loose all the fouling and deposits with my trusty electric drill with a cleaning rod chucked up with a tornado brush tip, wound with steel wool, lubricated with gun oil, and ran up and down the bore and chamber,,,,at the top speed of the drill. Do this like you are really mad at the inside of your shotgun barrel,,,it only polishes the chamber and bore,,,,leaving behind a nasty slurry of oil and fouling that needs wiped out. If you use a bore snake to make the bore shine, it dirties up the bore snake, so instead I'll sometimes wad up a napkin or a piece of paper towel and push that down the bore using a dowel rod or the end of a shotgun rod to make everything shiny.

But, if you had a bunch of 12 gauge patches, I suppose it would save you money on paper towels.

Cleaning a shotgun bore like you do a fine rifle is a lot of needless work, I think. I use the power of electricity to mechanically clean and polish the bore and chamber.

 

It depends, the jag I have is a snug fit in the bore. If the patch is to thick it won't enter the bore so I have to watch the thickness of the patches I use.