As I begin to lower the ramrod into my bore, I change directions withmy "correct fitting"brass brush in all my ML bores... even get to the bottom & turn it clockwise a few times. Sometimes I'll stop half-way down the bore & scrub up & down/sideways to remove a stubborn fouled area.

Some of my ML bores have several hundred shots accumulated.... no signs of damage or pitting yet. I think the secret to my success is not using a brush that's not meant formy caliber - not using a dry brush without a large 3"clothed patch around it - never using that dry/unsoiled, clothed patch in a squeeky clean barrel.

The closest caliber to a 50-cal muzzleloader barrel is a 28 gauge shotgun. I "think" 20-gauge is close to the 54 - 12 gauge is close to the 58.