VFG Rifle Cleaning Kit

The VFG System offers a quick and effective barrel cleaning option; it uses calibre-specific pellets of a stiff, feltlike material, which fit, via an adaptor, onto a standard cleaning rod.

The adaptors have a large diameter threaded section behind a much smaller diameter forward section. The larger thread holds a pellet securely in place, while the forward, smaller diameter section holds the nut supplied with the adaptor to keep everything in place. This nut can also be tightened to squeeze the pellet, and so increase its diameter, giving a better contact with the inside of the barrel. Alternatively, a pellet can be screwed further onto the thread until it comes into contact with the sloping shoulder at the back of the threaded section; this flares the pellet increasing its diameter. A second pellet can then be added to the adaptor, held in place with the nut. The manufacturer’s website includes instructions, which suggest not securing the front pellet with the nut, allowing it to fall off when it exits the barrel and takes the bulk of the dirt with it. While a good idea in theory, care needs to be taken to be sure it doesn’t come off, and get left behind, in the gun.

The pellets are available in sizes to suit most common calibres and they are sold in packs containing from 30 to 500 pellets. They also come in two types; the standard cleaning felts, which are for general day to day cleaning, and the intensive cleaning felts, which contain phosphor bronze particles, which are green and are intended to tackle more intense fouling.

What makes this product pretty much unique is that it is a totally dry process, requiring no solvent or cleaning fluid whatsoever. This means that there is no mess and there is no risk of drips getting into the action or onto the gun’s woodwork. It also means that if you are out shooting and want to give the gun a quick clean before bagging it up for the journey home, there is no need to carry any fluids with you. So, no spills in the car boot or in the field.

Tight fit

The pellets are a good tight fit in the barrel, although for the larger calibres they do need expanding slightly by either of the methods described above, to get sufficient pressure on wall of the bore. After passing them through the barrel you can see the impression of the lands and grooves on the pellets, which is a good indication that they are getting full contact with all of the internal area of the rifling. The cleaning action is surprisingly good and even barrels that had been previously cleaned by more traditional methods gave up some soiling that was visible on the pellets. The intensive cleaning felts do remove even more fouling from the barrel, including indications of copper fouling that can be so difficult to shift.

The level of cleaning achieved is remarkably good, bearing in mind that they rely entirely on the brushing effect of the pellets and use no cleaning chemicals. This system is a good cleaning option, in the field and at the cleaning bench, and particularly when you don’t have time for a full clean with solvents.

After the cleaning process, the felts are also very useful for applying a good coating of oil or rust inhibitor to the bore, ensuring the entire internal surface is covered and protected.