Shotgun Maintenance with the Flex-Hone® for Firearms

Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM) supplies three types of shotgun tools: barrel hones, chamber hones, and shotgun forcing cone hones. As hunters, target shooters, law enforcement personnel, and the firearms industry know, proper firearms maintenance is an important part of gun ownership. Moreover, as gunsmiths will attest, weapons that are properly cleaned, polished, and maintained will shoot more accurately and last longer.

BRM shotgun tools don’t require elaborate setups or special equipment. Built with a metal mounting stem, the Flex-Hone® is designed for use with a variable-speed electric drill, a type of power tool that most gunsmiths already own. Flex-Hone® technology is best known for its flexible nylon filaments and distinctive abrasive globules, however. Self-centering, self-aligning to the bore, and self-compensating for wear, the Flex-Hone® for Shotguns is also as easy-to-use, as this video explains.

Shotgun Barrel Hones

BRM’s shotgun barrel hones improve the appearance of smoothbores and make shotgun barrels easier to maintain. By gently smoothing the metal, these Flex-Hone® for Firearms tools create a more uniform surface that resists corrosion and wear while reducing fouling. Choose medium-grit and fine-grit barrel hones for 10, 12, 16, 20 and 28 gauge barrels or .410 bore. These shotgun barrel honing tools use silicon carbide (SC) or aluminum oxide (AO) abrasive.

For used shotgun barrels, use a medium-grit honing tool to remove rough and tight spots from the bore, and then a fine-grit hone to impart a final finish. With new shotgun barrels, a fine-grit tool is enough to produce a bright, mirror-like finish that improves resistance to corrosion, fouling, and wear. Whenever using shotgun barrel hones, insert the tool from the breech if possible. These flexible honing tools have a protective shrink tube coating on the stem wire.     

Shotgun Chamber Hones

 Shotgun chamber hones improve the surface finish of the chamber, the part of the shotgun where shells fit into the gun for firing. Although chamber lengths may vary, especially in old shotguns, all weapons require proper chamber maintenance. Unless this important firearms component is regularly cleaned after firing, residues may build-up and eventually cause the firearm to malfunction.      

BRM’s shotgun chamber hones have a 3” abrasive part, 12” overall length (OAL), and use fine-grit AO abrasive for an ultimate finish. Choose flexible honing tools for 10, 12, 16, 20, and 28 gauge shotguns or .410 bore. Like all  Flex-Hone® for Firearms tools, these gun hones are versatile, reliable, and easy-to-use.  The final polish they provide also helps to reduce fouling, corrosion, and wear.

Shotgun Forcing Cone Hones

Shotgun forcing cone hones are tapered so that this Flex-Hone® tool’s abrasive globules gently smooth the surface of the funnel-shaped area between chamber and bore. If a shotgun’s forcing cone has a flat rim or is too rough, the shot pattern may be adversely affected. Honing your shotgun forcing cone with the Flex-Hone® for Firearms produces smoother shot constriction and less barrel fouling.

Brush Research supplies forcing cone hones for 12, 16, 20, and 28 gauge shotguns. Choose medium (180), fine (400), and ultra-fine (800) grit tools in SC abrasive. All shotgun forcing cone hones feature a 1-5/8” abrasive part and have an overall length (OAL) of 10”. Use BRM Flex-Hone® tools to put the finishing touches on these important firearms components.