To insure good shooting the barrel must be kept free from dents and thoroughly clean. A frequent use of the II otz gun barrel reliever is com mended. This is a sitnple device by irpans of an expanding rod and tube to force indented portions outwardly.. In the drawing t shows the expander rod and tube screwed together. 2 is a perspective view, showing part of the device. 3 is a longitudinal section showing the gun barrel with the device in operation, the gun barrel being represented bythe dotted lines. The expand ing tube is constructed in semi-cylindrical sections, which arc provided at their ends with a threaded bore communicating with a reduced bore, which are connected by two spring sections secured to a handle. The expander rod at its upper end is provided with an operating handle. The lower end of the expander rod terminates in a conical tip, surmounted by a reduced plain surface, abuve which a threaded surface is formed. In operation the expand ing tube is inserted in the gun barrel with the semi-cylindrical sections oppo site the indentations to be removed. The expander rod is then entered at the opposite end of the barrel, and the tip of the rod is inserted in the tube until the threaded surface of the rod engages the threaded bore of the tube, thus causing the reduced plain surface of the rod to engage the smooth bore of the tube and force it outwardly against the depressed portion of the barrel.
There are numerous cleaners on the market. The Tomlinson is excellent. It is made in 8, IC), 12, 14, 16 and 20 gaug-es, and will fit any standard rod, and is so designed as to fit the entire length of the inside of shotgun bar rels, notwithstanding the various chokes adopted by the different makers, and will therefore remove all lead, rust spots and foreig-n matter from breech to muzzle, and leave the barrels perfectly clean.
The sides are of brass wire gauze wrapped over wood, and although it cuts all lead and dirt from the barrels, it is too soft to injure them in any way. In fact, the constant use of this cleaner will improve the barrels by giving them a lengthwise polish. It should be inserted at the breech and not allowed to entirely leave the barrels at the muzzle. In a "pump" gun start the cleaner from the muzzle by compressing. A drop of oil should be put on the wire gauze, as it cuts inore easily. By giving the cleaner a slight jar the dirt may be removed from the wire siles. and when they become worn they can be easily replaced by unscrewing the back cap.
A barrel cleaner has been recently invented, by the use of which any powder or residue remaining in the barrel is dissolved, and thus makes rust ing impossible. The apparatus consists of a tin receptacle, from which the steam—generated by an alcohol lamp placed underneath—is led into the bar ref through a glass tube. The principle is the same as in the inhaler used by physicians. On the inside of every barrel there are small grooves caused by the tools used in manufacturing and partly in the material; these are not visi ble to the naked eve. Into these, as also into the pores, the residue settles, gases form and rusting results.
A proof that the formation of rust depends upon the nature of the mate rial of the barrel, or rather upon the existence of the tiny scratches and grooves mentioned, is that rust occurs in the same spots again and again. Even though the formation of rust has been much reduced since the use of the newer nitro powders and primers, in some powders it is still strong enough to render good rifles useless in a short time.