Author Topic: Mortar Swabs (Read 565 times)

HotGuns · « **on:** April 22, 2005, 06:29:27 PM »

What are yall using to clean out a beer can mortar between shots ?

Is there a wire brush or a swab in a 2.625 bore dia. out there somewhere or would a 2 3/4 be better ?

Please enlighten me...

Thanks !

Evil Dog · « **Reply #1 on:** April 22, 2005, 07:03:35 PM »

Check your local grocery store to see if there is a proper size toilet bowl brush.... believe it or not they work great and are real cheap to buy

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #2 on:** April 23, 2005, 02:26:28 AM »

There are several good ways of making a swab. CJ posted a picture of what she did for her 1" bore scale 6 pounder.

You've convinced me that I have to make one now, since I've gone for 30 years without one. (With the 4.5" I just reach in with a shop rag.) But for beer-can and golf-ball calibers you have a little scaling buildup after a number of rounds that needs to be pried off with vigor.

One method I've seen is with a simple wooden rod wrapped with a wash-cloth and secured with cable-ties. Another used a sock to cover what-ever was under it - looked good too.

jeeper1 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 23, 2005, 08:00:34 AM »

Would a 40mm bore brush work on a golfball size mortar? I don't have a GB mortar yet and am curious as I have 3 different types of 40mm brushes and a cotton swab. Just trying to think ahead.

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #4 on:** April 23, 2005, 08:34:35 AM »

It's been 1972 since I cleaned an M79, but 40mm is 1.574798" and with the brush being a little oversize, I would guess that would work well.

With hot soapy water cleaning doesn't take much energy.

But between rounds one wants to eliminate sparks, and a wet/damp sponging is a great idea because it both cleans and kills sparks.

With the 155mm howitzers we had a 1' cube of a sponge to wipe the chamber and obdurating disks between rounds. (Dipped into a bucket of water each time.)