shotgun cleaning rod question

[mattw]

I know its better to get a 1 peice rod and since they cost about $30 i want to get the right one.

I think i want the nylon coated one but will stuff like butch's bore shine and other aggresive and semi-agressive cleaners and bore solvents harm the nylon? Should I go with the brass? If i get the brass rod do you guys think that the solvents that i'm using that would get rid of copper fouling in my .308 harm the brass rod?

I should probably be using different bore cleaners in my shotgun than my M1A shouldn't i? What is good for shotgun bores?

[84B20]

Try this out. I've been using them for years and they work great. Here is a link that talks about them:

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_6_49/ai_100727312

Here's where you can buy them:

http://www.outdoorsuperstore.com/store/archery/productDisplay~manufacturer~Outers~model~Tico+Tool.htm

[dfariswheel]

Shotgun rods are somewhat less critical than rods for rifled barrels.

Rods for rifled barrels can abrade the delicate and critical muzzle, or damage the rifling if grit gets embedded in the rod.
This embedded grit can turn a rod into literally a lapping rod, and wear or damage the muzzle and bore.

Shotguns are MUCH less prone to damage since there is no rifling, and the muzzle is less critical than a rifle or pistol.

Good rods for shotguns are the Dewey coated rod, the Dewey brass rod, the Hoppe's Graphite rod. All these are available from Brownell's.

Pro-Shot sells good stainless steel rods.
http://www.proshotproducts.com/

You can also buy an adapter that screws onto a standard rifle rod that allows attaching shotgun tips and brushes to a standard rod.

[kudu]

Go with the Tico tool, and a bore snake. Pull the bore snake through to loosen up any plastic fouling, and the tico tool to shine it up.

[45crittergitter]

I love the Tipton carbon fiber rods, and they have some big bore versions. Sometimes Midway Arms has them on sale.

[mattw]

the only thing i was really worried about with the nylon coated rods was the nylon getting eaten up by solvents that would be used to dissolve plastic residue in the bore

or a brass rod getting discolored or becoming weakened due to the solvents that might dissolve copper

have you guys had any issues with this? what bore cleaners do you guys use?

[ArmedBear]

Use a boresnake for the 12 Gauge.

Buy a rod for your rifle, spec'd the way you want it for the rifle. Use it for the shotgun occasionally for tough fouling.

I use an ancient aluminum .22 rod for the rare occasions when I want to use a copper brush in the shotgun to remove plastic with a plastic solvent spray. No need to buy a shotgun-specific rod for $30. A boresnake, however, is worth the money.

BTW I think wads are polyethylene. Check on that. Nylon is a different plastic.

[TrapperReady]

what bore cleaners do you guys use?


Hoppes #9, a Tornado brush and some patches. Honestly, I don't clean the bore much... maybe two or three times a year on my main clays gun. It sees over 1000 shells per month during most of the year.

For an O/U, I wipe down the action and scrub the chambers with a Scotch-Brite pad maybe once every few weeks. On a similar schedule, I'll take a repeater apart (field-strip only) and wipe down the bolt assembly, inside the receiver and scrub the chamber (again with a Scotch-Brite pad). If a gun gets wet, then I'll do a more thorough cleaning, and while I'm at it, I'll take care of the bore at the same time.

I use a coated one-piece rod and haven't found any problems with either debris or the coating breaking down.