Cleaning Rods

HappyGunOwnr · October 24, 1999, 01:09 PM

Is it true that using non-coated cleaning rods can ruin a rifle's bore? If so, which cleaning rod should I get?

------------------
Joe

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Gale McMillan · October 24, 1999, 01:27 PM

I recommend the Parker Hale coated rod. when it gets dirty rub it down with a rag with aceatone on it and its as clean as new

Jason Demond · October 24, 1999, 02:19 PM

All mine are Dewey coated rods

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ACCEPT NOTHING LESS THAN FULL VICTORY!"

General Dwight D. Eisenhower-- June 6,1944
------------------------

http://www.homestead.com/gunrights/G...Gunrights.html

Jim V · October 24, 1999, 05:06 PM

It really does not matter what the rod is made of or if it is coated or not, IF you use a bore guide. Keep the rod itself clean and do not let grit become imbedded in it.

------------------
Ne Conjuge Nobiscum
"If there be treachery, let there be jehad!"

Nakano · October 25, 1999, 12:54 AM

Righty-O Jim V. But still, one can slip sometimes. So I prefer to use an aluminum rod a majority of the time. It' s still softer than a steel (uncoated) rod at least. An alternative to the pricier Dewey and Parkers are the rubber coated Kleen Bore in one piece or sectioned. It is one of the few that will fit .22 cal and up.

L8r,
Nakano

------------------
"To earn a million is easy, a real friend is not."

[This message has been edited by Nakano (edited October 25, 1999).]

**4V50 Gary** · October 25, 1999, 08:20 AM

I use a Dewey rod for my .308 bolt gun and a one piece brass Outers rod for my AR. All my other rods are 3 piece brass. While one piece rods are preferable, (since there's not joints to catch dirt), the important thing about any rod is to use a bore guide and to wipe the rod down after you push it through a bore.

------------------
Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt

HankL · October 25, 1999, 07:12 PM

Joe, Let's clear up one thing. If a bit of silica "sand grit" whatever becomes embedded in your rod it can put a scratch here and there. Wipe down your rod on every stroke.
If you try to use a .17 cal rod to do all of your swabbing you will get flex in the larger bores and this can cause damage as it will soon cause a coated rod to become uncoated!
Make sure that you keep them clean and use the proper one for the job. "This is starting to sound a bit kinky and I didn't intend for it to." A good cleaning rod is a very small investment as compared to your firearm.
Whatever you decide on, never go through the bore more than a few times without wiping off your suitable sized rod. Bore guides are also recomended unless you are shooting a rifle that has no easy access to the breach. I would strongly suggest a muzzle guide when cleaning a M14 M1A type.
I know that Gale and others have swabbed many more miles of bore than I have but I get pretty good service out of my barrels too!
Best of luck and keep um clean! Hank

slickpuppy · October 26, 1999, 07:09 PM

Hank,
I can see your reasoning but have to disagree at least when it comes to pistols. I use a Dewey coated .22 pistol rod on all of my pistols and have no problem with flex. Flex would be indicated if the rod had scratches or gouges in the coating. I never have that problem. Then again, I do go slow when putting the rod to the barrel. YMMV

sbs · October 26, 1999, 11:34 PM

I used a cheap Hoppe steel 3 piece rod in my Steyr. Don't faint

However, before I used it I sleeve coated it with a 1/4" heat shrinked (sp?) plastic tubing cut to lenght I bought from electrical supply store. This heat shrink is not only tough but also grit and chemical resistance. If it getting dirty, I peel it with a stanley knife and apply a new shiny sleeve. Voila! a brand spanking now coated rod! SBS

**4V50 Gary** · October 27, 1999, 12:40 AM

sbs: U b clever, and cheap...are we related?

------------------
Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt

oberkommando · October 27, 1999, 01:54 AM

Thats what I have heard also HankL if you use alum. it is so soft, harder debri can embed itself in the rod and it will act as a lapping rod, as to pistols usually the rods are a lot bigger in diameter than rifle, have more room around rod to bore, and patches are usually not as tight as say a 223 patch.

I use coated dewey and wipe with every stroke.

For the uniformed this thread sounds disgusting.

[This message has been edited by oberkommando (edited October 27, 1999).]

sbs · October 27, 1999, 04:36 AM

4V50 Gary, may be we are related. Do you own Microsoft?

Oh, I forget to add. These heat shrink tubes come in many colors. I use light colour shrink tube (imperial yellow, Mary Kay red, earthly green etc. ) so it is easy to see when getting too dirty or gritty. Also, to color coded the caliber. use your imagination.
BTW, always get asked at the range where I get them and I'd say from an Avon girl. sbs

HankL · October 27, 1999, 06:32 PM

sbs, this is a good idea except that if you have to pay for the heat shrink tubing you could have bought yourself a one piece Dewey rod pretty soon.

Keep em clean,

Hank

sbs · October 28, 1999, 04:43 AM

Yes, I supposed so.
At about 35 cent for a meter (39.3"), I would have about 50 lengths of home coated rod for about the price of a $20 manufacturer coated rod. sbs

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October 24, 1999, 01:09 PM	#1
HappyGunOwnr Junior Member Join Date: August 31, 1999 Posts: 6	Is it true that using non-coated cleaning rods can ruin a rifle's bore? If so, which cleaning rod should I get? ------------------ Joe http://hometown.aol.com/heartboy22/myhomepage/politics.html http://hometown.aol.com/heartboy22/myhomepage/howto.html

October 24, 1999, 01:27 PM	#2
Gale McMillan Member In Memoriam Join Date: September 10, 1999 Posts: 411	I recommend the Parker Hale coated rod. when it gets dirty rub it down with a rag with aceatone on it and its as clean as new

October 24, 1999, 02:19 PM	#3
Jason Demond Senior Member Join Date: May 9, 1999 Location: Mivonks, Michigan Posts: 1,846	All mine are Dewey coated rods ------------------ ACCEPT NOTHING LESS THAN FULL VICTORY!" General Dwight D. Eisenhower-- June 6,1944 ------------------------ http://www.homestead.com/gunrights/G...Gunrights.html

October 24, 1999, 05:06 PM	#4
Jim V Senior Member Join Date: January 31, 1999 Location: SE Michigan - USA Posts: 4,038	It really does not matter what the rod is made of or if it is coated or not, IF you use a bore guide. Keep the rod itself clean and do not let grit become imbedded in it. ------------------ Ne Conjuge Nobiscum "If there be treachery, let there be jehad!"

October 25, 1999, 12:54 AM	#5
Nakano Member Join Date: March 1, 1999 Location: USA Posts: 72	Righty-O Jim V. But still, one can slip sometimes. So I prefer to use an aluminum rod a majority of the time. It' s still softer than a steel (uncoated) rod at least. An alternative to the pricier Dewey and Parkers are the rubber coated Kleen Bore in one piece or sectioned. It is one of the few that will fit .22 cal and up. L8r, Nakano ------------------ "To earn a million is easy, a real friend is not." [This message has been edited by Nakano (edited October 25, 1999).]

October 25, 1999, 08:20 AM	#6
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,829	I use a Dewey rod for my .308 bolt gun and a one piece brass Outers rod for my AR. All my other rods are 3 piece brass. While one piece rods are preferable, (since there's not joints to catch dirt), the important thing about any rod is to use a bore guide and to wipe the rod down after you push it through a bore. ------------------ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt

October 25, 1999, 07:12 PM	#7
HankL Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 1999 Location: The Sunny South Posts: 2,174	Joe, Let's clear up one thing. If a bit of silica "sand grit" whatever becomes embedded in your rod it can put a scratch here and there. Wipe down your rod on every stroke. If you try to use a .17 cal rod to do all of your swabbing you will get flex in the larger bores and this can cause damage as it will soon cause a coated rod to become uncoated! Make sure that you keep them clean and use the proper one for the job. "This is starting to sound a bit kinky and I didn't intend for it to." A good cleaning rod is a very small investment as compared to your firearm. Whatever you decide on, never go through the bore more than a few times without wiping off your suitable sized rod. Bore guides are also recomended unless you are shooting a rifle that has no easy access to the breach. I would strongly suggest a muzzle guide when cleaning a M14 M1A type. I know that Gale and others have swabbed many more miles of bore than I have but I get pretty good service out of my barrels too! Best of luck and keep um clean! Hank

October 26, 1999, 07:09 PM	#8
slickpuppy Senior Member Join Date: August 29, 1999 Posts: 928	Hank, I can see your reasoning but have to disagree at least when it comes to pistols. I use a Dewey coated .22 pistol rod on all of my pistols and have no problem with flex. Flex would be indicated if the rod had scratches or gouges in the coating. I never have that problem. Then again, I do go slow when putting the rod to the barrel. YMMV

October 26, 1999, 11:34 PM	#9
sbs Junior Member Join Date: October 12, 1999 Location: Bangkok Posts: 13	I used a cheap Hoppe steel 3 piece rod in my Steyr. Don't faint However, before I used it I sleeve coated it with a 1/4" heat shrinked (sp?) plastic tubing cut to lenght I bought from electrical supply store. This heat shrink is not only tough but also grit and chemical resistance. If it getting dirty, I peel it with a stanley knife and apply a new shiny sleeve. Voila! a brand spanking now coated rod! SBS

October 27, 1999, 12:40 AM	#10
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,829	sbs: U b clever, and cheap...are we related? ------------------ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt

October 27, 1999, 01:54 AM	#11
oberkommando Senior Member Join Date: September 25, 1999 Posts: 1,158	Thats what I have heard also HankL if you use alum. it is so soft, harder debri can embed itself in the rod and it will act as a lapping rod, as to pistols usually the rods are a lot bigger in diameter than rifle, have more room around rod to bore, and patches are usually not as tight as say a 223 patch. I use coated dewey and wipe with every stroke. For the uniformed this thread sounds disgusting. [This message has been edited by oberkommando (edited October 27, 1999).]

October 27, 1999, 04:36 AM	#12
sbs Junior Member Join Date: October 12, 1999 Location: Bangkok Posts: 13	4V50 Gary, may be we are related. Do you own Microsoft? Oh, I forget to add. These heat shrink tubes come in many colors. I use light colour shrink tube (imperial yellow, Mary Kay red, earthly green etc. ) so it is easy to see when getting too dirty or gritty. Also, to color coded the caliber. use your imagination. BTW, always get asked at the range where I get them and I'd say from an Avon girl. sbs

October 27, 1999, 06:32 PM	#13
HankL Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 1999 Location: The Sunny South Posts: 2,174	sbs, this is a good idea except that if you have to pay for the heat shrink tubing you could have bought yourself a one piece Dewey rod pretty soon. Keep em clean, Hank

October 28, 1999, 04:43 AM	#14
sbs Junior Member Join Date: October 12, 1999 Location: Bangkok Posts: 13	Yes, I supposed so. At about 35 cent for a meter (39.3"), I would have about 50 lengths of home coated rod for about the price of a $20 manufacturer coated rod. sbs