[tenaciousj]

i have noticed some manufacturers include nylon bristle brushes but i cant seem to get barrels truly clean unless i use a phosphor bronze brush.
is there anything wrong with using a quality bronze brush and if not why doesnt the gun come with one?

i just spoke to someone at springfield on an unrelated issue and when i asked her about this she just gave a vauge "maybe over the life of the barrel there could be some damaging effects" kind of answer

if bronze is so much softer than steel, how could it hurt if you were to scrub it for days on end?

[Brucev]

You should live so long as to cause any appreciable wear to a steel barrel using any phosphor-bronze bore brush. Use common sense, i.e., buy brushes with brass not steel cores, use a good quality cleaning rod made of steel not aluminum or brass and use a good quality solvent (I like Shooters Choice but there are other good brands) with properly fitted cleaning jag and patches and finish with a good quality oil such as CLP... you will be able to keep your barrel properly clean and ready for use at the range or anywhere else. HTH. Sincerely. Brucev.

[Jim S.]

If a barrel can shoot thousands of bullets and still be ok, how could a brass/ bronze brush hurt it.
The cleaning rod could possibly if you are not careful.
I say you just have to be smarter than the cleaning rod.

[unclebob]

There is nothing wrong with using a bronze brush.
If possible always clean from the breach end too the muzzle end.
Always use a wet brush. Solvent on the brush.
Always go completely threw the bore, do not go in half ways then pull it back out. You well probably do nothing too the bore but you well break off the bristles.
When finished spray the brush with, I use break cleaner too stop the chemical reaction of the solvent eating away of the bristles.
My guess why they put a nylon brush in with the gun is the cost.

[481]

They'll ruin your gums and destroy your teeth, but they oughtta be just fine for your barrel.

Levity aside, it sounds as if your "someone" at Springfield has not a clue about these matters. A single FMJ or JHP jacketed in copper/zinc alloy causes a lot more wear than a phsophor-bronze bore brush. Good posts above, all true and all worth heeding.

Scrub away. It's