Clng rd...
+1 on coated rod. +1 on one-piece, too, therefore have no joints to catch and hold crud.
I happen to have Dewey rods and they work nicely, but any other maker will do just as well IMHO. My LGS sells the Deweys.
To protect the rod so's it doesn't get bent: Make a case for it out of PVC pipe--One long piece to hold the rod; cap one end, larger diameter piece for the handle with screw-off cap. Glue-weld it all together, and poof, you have a custom case for yr clng rd. Paint it if you want it to look less clunky.
Easy, quick, and cheap insurance.
BTW, it's not a good idea to use a .22 cal rod on a .30 cal bore--get ye 2 rods, one for each. The little .22 (They're really little; most also do .17's) will get bent easily if you have a "difficult" patch in the .30.
Clng rods don't cost that much so get the 2 calibers. But replacing one you pushed too hard on & bent, OOH, that grinds!!