Radlad Posted 3 May , 2013 Share Posted 3 May , 2013 What is the correct way to use a pull through? I was taught to use one by introducing the weight into the chamber and pull through to the muzzle, using the fingers of my left hand to support the rifle and guide the string away from the crown as much as possible. Cleaning rods were used the same way and even with pistols and revolvers, rods or pull throughs were always introduced to the chamber when practical A very entertaining video has just been posted in the cultural side of the forum and the actor pretends to clean an SMLE using the muzzle as entry point for the weight. he then pulls through to the chamber. i remember getting a thick ear as a child for doing that to my fathers favourite P14 What was the method taught to British troops. Is there a right or wrong way? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Wade Posted 3 May , 2013 Share Posted 3 May , 2013 I seem to remember being taught to pull it through the same way as the bullet went. This was in the Air Cadets, but at a proper range and everything, following the instruction manual. There was all sorts of details such as sizes of cloth and the correct order in which to clean things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scalyback Posted 3 May , 2013 Share Posted 3 May , 2013 Also taught block to muzzle. I think it is to do with the rifling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Wade Posted 3 May , 2013 Share Posted 3 May , 2013 Strange how these things come back to the memory even after 40 years. I'm rather pleased I had the chance to actually fire and then clean a proper .303 Lee Enfield all those years ago. Would love to own one now. SLR's were all the rage at the time, so the Lee Enfield was relegated to cadet firing. I remember the 'thump' in my shoulder as a 14 year old holding on to a serious rifle. Even managed to squeeze off a couple of 'Annie get your guns' on a Bren gun as well. Sorry, digressing... ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scalyback Posted 3 May , 2013 Share Posted 3 May , 2013 Slightly younger than you but had the chance to be one of last cadets to fire the bren(7.62 version) plus fired a .303 Enfield. Had a very indugant shooting coach! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radlad Posted 3 May , 2013 Author Share Posted 3 May , 2013 I seem to remember being taught to pull it through the same way as the bullet went. This was in the Air Cadets, but at a proper range and everything, following the instruction manual. There was all sorts of details such as sizes of cloth and the correct order in which to clean things. Lol, the standard size of patch was 4"x2" for a .303 and it came in standard rolls of flannelette that were marked to make it easy to tear off a correct sized piece. Intended for rifle cleaning but used for brass polishing,bandages, toilet paper, washing flannel and anything a soldier could think of . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Wade Posted 3 May , 2013 Share Posted 3 May , 2013 Wasn't there something about the amount of times it was folded depending on the bit of the cleaning process you were doing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikB Posted 3 May , 2013 Share Posted 3 May , 2013 From breech to muzzle is definitely the correct way, as well as much the easiest, as the patch is squashed down by the chamber taper rather than abruptly forced into the bore by the crown. My RSM in the cadets would've given you a thick ear for doing it the other way, too. Probably in clean conditions, with a rifle not in severe and frequent use, there's not much harm done by either letting the cord rub against the crown or cleaning from muzzle to breech - but in dirty wartime field conditions, the cord may become impregnated with grit and grease that'll work like grinding paste on the crown. Because the patch has been aligned by the chamber when cleaning from breech to muzzle, the force of any abrasive grit against the steel will be less - though it has to be said that throat damage will also reduce accuracy, though maybe not so severely as a tramline gouged into the crown by a fresh bit of sharp grit introduced forcefully from the muzzle. Regards, MikB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stoppage Drill Posted 3 May , 2013 Share Posted 3 May , 2013 The boys had a funny song based on a Ken Dodd ballad called "Eight by Ten". Dodd was lamenting that all he had left of his amour was an 8 x 10 photograph. Their version was "Four by Two, Four by Two, That's all I've got to pull my rifle through" and then became unrepeatable. Three loops on the pullthrough - first for a gauze patch, second for a dry bit of forbitoo, third for a lightly oiled bit. Always, always, always from breech end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyE Posted 3 May , 2013 Share Posted 3 May , 2013 There is actually an inspectors stamp for "Cord Worn" at the muzzle but I cannot remember what it is. I will check and post if I find it. Regards TonyE Edit: it is an asterisk over a "W" on the Knox form of the barrel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roxy Posted 3 May , 2013 Share Posted 3 May , 2013 The youngsters call it '100 by 50' now! Roxy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 3 May , 2013 Share Posted 3 May , 2013 First loop nearest to weight is for the gauze, the second is for the flannelette and the third is for the purpose of removing the pull-through should it break or become stuck in the bore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyE Posted 3 May , 2013 Share Posted 3 May , 2013 ...and who knows how to wind the pullthrough so it fits in the butt trap? Cheers tonyE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 3 May , 2013 Share Posted 3 May , 2013 Me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 3 May , 2013 Share Posted 3 May , 2013 Hold the pull-through, loop end between the forefinger and thumb, so that the end falls about 2 inches below the third finger; roll it loosely once round the fingers. Slip the coil off the fingers, and twist the remainder of the cord lightly round it, leaving sufficient to allow the weight to drop easily into the recess made for it in the butt. Push the cord into the trap, leaving the loop end uppermost and close the trap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyE Posted 3 May , 2013 Share Posted 3 May , 2013 Well I knew a true afficiendo like you would , Mick! Cheers tonyE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 3 May , 2013 Share Posted 3 May , 2013 No I just have a very strange selective memory, I have no idea what I had for lunch though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daggers Posted 3 May , 2013 Share Posted 3 May , 2013 Cordwear! That was why we had to pull straight. The armourer's hook was the (never seen) implement for extracting a broken pullthrough. Memories from ??? Years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikB Posted 3 May , 2013 Share Posted 3 May , 2013 Hold the pull-through, loop end between the forefinger and thumb, so that the end falls about 2 inches below the third finger; roll it loosely once round the fingers. Slip the coil off the fingers, and twist the remainder of the cord lightly round it, leaving sufficient to allow the weight to drop easily into the recess made for it in the butt. Push the cord into the trap, leaving the loop end uppermost and close the trap. I couldn't remember it to write down at that level of detail, but there's one correctly coiled in the butt-trap of my 1917 Mk.III*, on top of the oil-bottle, as I write! Regards, MikB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Wade Posted 3 May , 2013 Share Posted 3 May , 2013 Stop it you lot, I'm going all moist here... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5thBatt Posted 3 May , 2013 Share Posted 3 May , 2013 How they are stored in the butt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deadin Posted 4 May , 2013 Share Posted 4 May , 2013 Besides, if you used a pull-through from muzzle to breech all of the crud knocked loose by the patch/brush would end up in the action. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 4 May , 2013 Share Posted 4 May , 2013 No names because he may visit, completely unable to get the pull through into the butt, so displayed it alongside, I'm not sure when he was told it was for a Bren. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pylon1357 Posted 4 May , 2013 Share Posted 4 May , 2013 Besides, if you used a pull-through from muzzle to breech all of the crud knocked loose by the patch/brush would end up in the action. Exactly the reason that was explained to me as I picked my a$$ up off the floor. That is one lesson I will never forget. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
303man Posted 6 May , 2013 Share Posted 6 May , 2013 No names because he may visit, completely unable to get the pull through into the butt, so displayed it alongside, I'm not sure when he was told it was for a Bren. A BREN pull through was longer (Known as a double pull through) so you will not get a quart into a pint pot! ditto the Web Sling for a BREN looks like the rifle sling but longer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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