cleaning rods

[Reloadron]

This is a good read on the subject of cleaning and what to use.

Now for those who read the link what you will come away with is pretty much how this thread reads. To each their own and reading the link or any of likely hundreds of other published articles on the subject we will see that all shooters develop their own methods using equipment that works for them. Frequently they contradict each other but that really matters not because their methods work for them.

I shoot quite a bit at a bench rest type range. While I am not a bench rest type their cleaning habits are interesting. Guys shooting a 6PPC at 100 - 200 yards will frequently shoot 3 to 5 rounds and clean the bore. Seldom do I see any brush used, just a rod, a jag and solvent with patch after patch. The long range guys have different procedures and methods.

As to things like muzzle damage? A little care and patience while cleaning coes a long way as in pay attention to what you are doing.

Ron

 

[Nom de Forum]

This is a good read on the subject of cleaning and what to use.

From the link I think the very last comment is the most applicable to the vast majority of gun owners -"My own 3-groove, 8-twist 6BR barrel has never seen a brush in over 400 rounds and I've never used JB, Rem-Clean, or Iosso paste. I clean with wet patches and Wipe-Out only, and the lands are still very sharp, the crown is undamaged, copper fouling is negligible, there's no carbon problem, and accuracy is as good as new. I'm not suggesting that my methods will work for top PPC competitors, but for the rest of us, the "less is more" approach is worth trying."

In my opinion most of us are spending far too much money and time cleaning guns and consequently have rapidly diminishing returns for every minute spent doing it.

As to things like muzzle damage? A little care and patience while cleaning coes a long way as in pay attention to what you are doing.

Ron

Exactly. Regarding "grooves" in crowns, it seems more probable that is from gas cutting after the crown has been slightly damaged from a cleaning rod rather than from the cleaning rod alone.

 

[The Bushmaster]

And they never mentioned what cleaning rods they use. How 'bout that...

I've been using brass rods for years for my rifles and handguns. Oh the blasphemy...I even have a few aluminum rods from the "old days"...

I'm an old Hoppes fan from way back and still use nitro solvent and Benchrest #9 for copper removal. Bronze brushes and "T" shirts cut for patches. And finish with ATF for lube including in the barrel.

In 53 years (I'm 71) I have never wrecked a barrel or firearm.

 

[Nom de Forum]

And they never mentioned what cleaning rods they use. How 'bout that...

Re-read the link. Mention was made.

 

[Deanimator]

And they never mentioned what cleaning rods they use. How 'bout that...

Unless "Dewey coated rods" is actually some sort of euphemism (sexual or otherwise), I think I named what I use.

 

[Reloadron]

Well I use Dewey coated rods but sometimes I grab a Tipton rod. Then too, some of my Dewey rods as some of the Tipton rods are un coated stainless steel. Then there are assorted unnamed rods that I might grab. It can get confusing, god I hate making decisions. All of my rods reside in a once fired 155mm howitzer case so I just pick a rod that I feel will work best for whatever it is I plan to clean. Works for me anyway. The handgun rods are was down in the case so I need to reach for them and hope I grab the rod I want. I need to work on that.

Seriously, the best rod is likely the rod that works best for the individual cleaning any given gun on any given day.

Ron

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

Seriously, the best rod is likely the rod that works best for the individual cleaning any given gun on any given day.

You need to stop that. You're getting out of control with the common sense here. People could get hurt.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Whoops...Missed it. Oh well...Onward and upward.

 

[fguffey]

I have cleaning rods, I make bore snakes that are impossible to jam, then I have the old cleaning rods that screw together. In the old days it was common to tape the joints, for those that never took the rods apart the joints were ground smooth, before that the rods went bump, bump and bump on a 3 section rod. then there are other things that can be done with a cleaning rod outside of cleaning.

F. Guffey

 

[Panzerschwein]

I like a nice steel rod, often they come with plastic crown protectors.