Steel rods cause no damage when cleaning from the breech and when a bore guide is used. Steel, uncoated rods were the prefered cleaning tool for benchrest shooters for many, many years and nobody cares more for their bores than the benchrest folks. Plain steel was often prefered over coated rods because the coated rods were more likely to retain abrasive grit on their surface.
My rods are all one-piece steel. I also use a Bore Snake for quick cleaning, but it doesn't come close to cleaning as well as a rod, jag, brush, and patches. Doubt it? Clean your rifle first with a Bore Snake. Then break out the cleaning rod and proper fitting brush and patches. You will amazed at the filth that comes out of the supposedly 'clean' Bore-Snaked barrel.