Flex-Hone® Tools for Rifles and Shotguns

Firearms maintenance and cleaning won’t make you a marksman, but experienced gun owners and manufacturers understand the importance of choosing the right gunsmithing tools. Flex-Hone® for Firearms tools from Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM) promote firearms performance by improving the surface finish of gun parts. That’s why amateur and professional gunsmiths alike use Flex-Hone® tools for rifles and shotguns when it’s time to clean and maintain chambers, barrels, and forcing cones. 

Rifle Chambers

The Flex-Hone® for Rifles removes residues, surface imperfections, and machining marks from a rifle’s chamber, the part of the firearm where the cartridge is inserted prior to firing. Polishing this part of the action promotes smoother loading, feeding, extracting, and ejection in bolt, pump, lever, and gas-actuated rifles.

BRM supplies rifle chamber hones for a wide variety of long guns, including .17 CAL/.22 MAG, .223 Remington, .243, .357, 25-06, 30-06, .308, .44 MAG, .44 CAL, .45 COLT, 50 BMG, 5.56 NATO, 6.88 MM, 7.62x39MM SAAMI, and 7.62x51MM NATO. These Made in the USA Flex-Hone® tools have a 1-5/8” abrasive part and are available in overall lengths (OALs) of 6, 8, 12, and 14 inches.

Shotgun Barrels

Flex-Hone® for Shotguns tools are great for Mossberg 500 barrels, Remington 1100 barrels, and many other types of smooth bore shotguns. By improving the inner diameter (ID) surface finish, these BRM barrel hones make shotgun cleaning faster and easier. Flex-Hone® for Firearms tools are also used with new shotgun barrels, which sometimes have reamer or machine marks that can accelerate fouling.

In both new and used shotgun barrels, even the smallest surface irregularities can cause problems. For example, moisture can collect in tiny scratches or shallow grooves and cause corrosion. Plastic fouling and carbon or lead build-ups can hide this rust and lead to higher pressures and patterning problems. To prevent excessive fouling with each added shot, use a BRM barrel hone to eliminate surface roughness.

Shotgun Chambers

In single and double barrel shotguns, the chamber is the part of the firearm where the shell is fitted for firing. Older shotgun chambers that were made for paper-hulled shells often experience problems with today’s plastic shotshells, but that’s not the only potential gun maintenance issue. Newer hunting and tactical shotguns also need a wear-resistant finish that’s free of surface imperfections.

Like BRM’s shotgun barrel hones, Flex-Hone® for Firearms tools for shotgun chambers are ideal for long guns made by Remington, Mossberg, Winchester, Bernelli, and other firearms manufacturers. Choose gunsmith tools for 10, 12, 16, 20, or .410 gauge shotguns and, depending on the base material, select aluminum oxide (AO) or silicone carbide (SC) as the abrasive. Grit size is also important to consider.

Shotgun Forcing Cones

Shotgun forcing cones are areas of transition between the chamber of the barrel and the bore, and between the bore and the choke. As their name suggests, these cone-shaped regions are designed to force the shot charge or shot column. Shooters sometimes argue about whether or not a shotgun need longer forcing cones, but experienced gunsmiths understand the importance of surface finish.

Even if a shotgun forcing cone is cut with a high-quality reamer, leftover ridges may affect the shot pattern. By honing these ridges with the Flex-Hone® for shotgun forcing cones, gunsmiths can polish the metal to impart a finish that results in smoother shot construction with less barrel fouling. BRM supplies medium, fine, and ultra-fine grits for 12, 16, and 20 gauge shotguns.

Visit BRM at SHOT Show 2015 (Booth #2828)

Do your tradeshow plans include a visit to SHOT Show 2015 in Las Vegas later this month? Visit BRM in Booth #2828 at the Sands Expo Center and learn more about Made in the USA surface finishing tools for rifles and shotguns. Our technical team is ready to answer your questions, and can tell you more about the gunsmithing tools shown in this new YouTube video. To arrange a meeting, contact BRM today.