Why do folks like the slotted cleaning jags?

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rpenmanparker

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I don't get it. I have always preferred the fat, round cleaning jags with the pointed end that you impale one or two patches on to swab out the barrel. That is all I have ever known since I first started shooting back in the '70s. But nowadays it seems the standard jag is the narrow, slotted kind. I guess you are supposed to fold up the patch and slip it through the slot. When I have tried to use those, I have found they don't work nearly as well as the round, pointed ones. This is true in pistols and rifles, sure, but even more so in shotgun barrels.

The round ones firmly press the patch against the barrel wall and really do a good job of removing the dirt and solvent. Some, for shotguns, even have a springy action that really compress the patch against the barrel without it being too tight. The slotted ones, not so much. So I can't understand why the slotted ones are the only kind that come in cleaning kits these days. And it is really getting hard to find the round ones anymore. You can order them from the internet of course, but they are not no easy to find in the LGS in a variety of sizes.

For example, at a sporting clays range a friend takes me too there is a cleaning room set up for the members to use before going home. All the jags put out for folks to use are the slotted kind. What's up?
 
I use both kinds. The slotted with a very wet patch to apply solvent to the bore and let it sit a few minutes. Then the round jag with patches until it comes out clean. If not clean, more solvent (slotted jag) and brush. Round jag and patches until clean. Finish with round jag and CLP or similar.
 
I don't get it either. To get the terminology straight, I did some looking and it seems "jag" is the term for something with a sharp tip or barbed tip. The other tips with just a slot seem to be called "loops". I use ONLY jags, for exactly the reasons you mention - they just work better. I suppose one possible advantage to using a loop is the patch will not fall off the end of the rod as easily when the rod is extracted from the barrel, especially if the rod tip exited the opposite end of the barrel.

I am also thinking a loop is probably far less costly to make and thus more affordable for people to buy.
 
Used to use loops many years ago because it was all I had, and probably was not exposed to anything different. Been using barbed jags for may years now. As I shot more and got into reloading and shot even more you pick up a few ideas along the way if you pay attention. :)

-Jeff
 
I use the type where the patch is tightly rolled onto the jag. It is what we were issued in sniper school, so that is what I am used to. I store patches wet by jamming a baby food jar with them and pouring in solvent and letting them sit. When I start to run low, I just reload the jar. I have found that I actually use less solvent this way.
 
The slotted jag allows me to use random sized patches that litter my maintenance kit. Like how you can wrap the jag like an Otis patch to use the same patch with different calibers.

All of my precision rifles fell into a volcano. It doesn't matter what I use for my pistols and carbines. They don't require much barrel cleaning, just action cleaning.
 
I prefer the slotted tips too. I have many sets of both but still prefer the loop type. They are quicker easier and do as good of a job for me
I only use the jags on my precision guns with the perfectly sized patches, cause the internet "experts" say too, but i can't tell a difference. To each their own though. They do the same job so use whichever you feel works best.
 
Seems to me ever since they got away from muzzle loaders the armies of the world have used loops. Each has advantages.
 
For example, at a sporting clays range a friend takes me too there is a cleaning room set up for the members to use before going home. All the jags put out for folks to use are the slotted kind. What's up?

The slotted ones are the only kind that get donated.

Or, all the good jags walk home with someone (accidentally [if someone actually uses them and they end up in a bag] or not [I kept it because I liked it]).

I too like the real jags (the pointed ones).
 
The slotted ones are the only kind that get donated.

Or, all the good jags walk home with someone (accidentally [if someone actually uses them and they end up in a bag] or not [I kept it because I liked it]).

I too like the real jags (the pointed ones).
Dang, I never thought of that. Good one.
 
I use slotted ( looped) ends on handguns and shotguns.
There is a trick to them.
Fold the patch into a triangle (or half circle if using round patches) and insert one corner into the loop about 1/4 in, then spread open the larger end, making a cone and fold it over the tip of the loop. Apply solvent and insert it from the breech until it's beyond the muzzle (or the breech end on a revolver). When you pull it back into the barrel the cone will invert and the clean side of the patch will now be on the outside as it gets pulled back. It's the same thing when cleaning after the silicon bronze brush---you use half as many patches that way.
You can apply oil to a patch placed over a wool mop. The wool fibers will press the oily patch against the sides of the bore. Jags are useful as well. It just depends on how you like to clean your guns and what you have to work with.
 
Slot jags are terrible. I use them because that's what the kits come with, but I hate them. For shotgun, I have a cheap fishing stringer that i tied a few knots in. I jam it through a couple patches and pull it through. I also hate the cheap patches, i prefer old tshirts chopped into pieces.
 
For me it is easier to apply solvent and clean charging holes with a loop, I use a jag/patch or RamRodz in barrels .
 
I use slotted ( looped) ends on handguns and shotguns.
There is a trick to them.
Fold the patch into a triangle (or half circle if using round patches) and insert..../QUOTE]

I have never heard this before. Thank you for sharing your knowledge! Don't know if I like it yet, but I will have to give it a try!

Something went wrong with that quote thing...
 
I also use them both, the loop mostly for dipping into solvents and the jags for other stuff. The jags do fit the bore better and seem to get more gunk out of the bore.

Stay safe!
 
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