Each one of us, if we spend enough time afield, has plugged the end of our barrel with mud, snow, or some other obstruction. Clearing those plugged bores can be something of a challenge if not prepared for such an occasion.This idea below makes clearing the bore easy, as well as bore swabbing afterwards.
Carry with you in your pack a four to five foot section of heavy nylon line - the same type used in rotary lawn trimmers. It is very stiff, while being flexible enough to insert into the breech end of a firearm and push towards the muzzle to clear an obstruction. Its stiffness will push out snow, mud, and dirt with ease. Then, if prepared before taking afield with a loop in one end (it is too stiff to make a knot hold well, but just use some hot-melt glue to make the loop as pictured), one can insert a cleaning patch into the loop, and pull all the way through the bore in one motion. Not only is the barrel cleared of the obstruction, but it is swabbed out as well.
This is a nifty, lightweight item that deserves a place in the pocket of your hunting coat, or in your pack whenever going afield. As pictured, when placed in a small zip-lock bag with a half-dozen cleaning patches, it takes up virtually no space and can be stored anywhere.
::Comment On This Article/View Replies
