Rifle cleaning rod advice..please

[TennHunter]

I need to get a new one-piece cleaning rod for my rifles and want to know what other people use and would recommend, or not. A lot of people seem to like Dewey rods, but I've also looked at Tipton's which seem to be a little less expensive. Are Dewey rods worth the difference in cost?

Also there's the question of stainless steel, nylon coated or carbon fiber...

Anyone..anyone..?

 

[slowr1der]

I had a Dewey, and I didn't like it at all. The coating started coming off after just a couple of uses. Then I used it to clean my muzzle loader, and next thing I know it was bent. At this point, I threw it away and bought a Tipton. The Tipton is tons better. I'd never buy another Dewey over the Tipton ever. The Tipton doesn't have a coating that can come off. I love that about it. Another nice thing about the carbon fiber is you can't bend it. Either it will pop back into shape, or it will break. So if it's not broken it's not bent. It's taken a lot more abuse than my Dewey ever did, and it stills holding up great. I love this thing.

Another thing to mention is that while the handle was okay on the Dewey, the one on the Tipton is a lot better and seems a lot smoother. I like how the handle is longer and really fits my hand well.

I just can't say a single bad thing about the Tipton. I'd highly recommend one.

 

[highorder]

I have a Kleenbore rod I like. It appears to be blued steel, but it may be a coating.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

I use Dewey solid brass, one piece rods for all my long guns.

I don't suggest stainless steel - it's harder steel than your rifle barrel and can damage the bore.

I also don't suggest coated rods - abrasive particles can become embedded in the soft coating and damage the bore.

I don't have any experience with carbon fiber rods.

 

[ants]

Personally, I don't use bronze rods or jags because I use copper remover solvent that disolves bronze & brass. It's just a personal choice I make, YMMV.

If you use copper remover, check to see if the threaded ferrule at the end of the rod is bronze or brass. Tipton uses brass a lot. Brass is nice and soft, but doesn't last long with copper removers. (And it makes the patch perpetually blue, even when the bore is clean.)

 

[00]

I have the Tipton and likes it a lot. I tried the Dewey and it is good but the handle doesn't feel good in my hand so I returned it. I would recommend trying both and see what works for you. Can't go wrong with either.

 

[mc223]

Downside of carbon fiber and coated rods is that some of the junk that your trying to remove from the bore can become embedded in the surface and damage the barrel.

I use the IVY Rod

http://www.ivyrods.com/

 

[esheato]

Dewey coated for me. With a proper bore guide, I've never bent one or any any problems scraping the coating off. I wipe the rod down every time it comes out of the gun. No issues whatsoever.

YMMV.

 

[fractal7]

I'm a fan of my carbon fiber Tipton. Just wipe down the shaft and use a bore guide. Also it has really smooth bearings in the grip to allow for rotation of the brush (I'm sure the Deweys do too or have something, but I've never had it bind up even when pushing pretty hard on mine.)

 

[menacingsquirrel]

Also a fan of Tipton.

 

[slowr1der]

Downside of carbon fiber and coated rods is that some of the junk that your trying to remove from the bore can become embedded in the surface and damage the barrel.

Not true. This is the downside to coated rods, but the carbon fiber doesn't have a coating for any "junk" or grit to get embedded in.

 

[ants]

On the subject of bore debris sticking to the rod...

I know we repeat this weekly on a few dozen internet forums, but I truly don't believe that the same fouling that didn't hurt the bore at supersonic velocity at 2000 degrees fahrenheit will suddenly hurt a cold bore at 10 strokes per minute.

Yes, I know you'll argue with me. It's just that I don't believe everything I read on the internet. You decide on your equipment, I'll decide on mine.

"Oh yeah, ants? Well what about the 1000 yard long range match rifle gurus, they really know their stuff. And they all use (xyz) so it must be good."

OK. It's your money and your gun, you buy whatever you want. I've been shooting the same rifles and cleaning them since 1960 and I don't have a problem with my bores. You go with your personal experience. I'll go with my personal experience.

The point is that it's a personal choice. Nothing is 'wrong' when used to clean a bore gently without pretending like you're drilling through the earth for oil. Problems arise when some nice fellow gets a big ole oversize patch and just rams that suckin rod back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, scraping hard and aggressively against the sides of the bore over and over and over. Then he wonders why his rifling gets beat up. He can't believe it's him (it's never the shooter, it's always some equipment problem) so he blames the rod/jag/solvent/debris/grit.

Millions of shooters have used every rod out there.
It's a personal choice on which one you want.
Just treat you gun right, and it will take care of you in return.

 

[Larry E]

I've got several Dewey rods for various caliber rifles, more rods than I likely need, but I clean at the range and don't like hauling (or forgetting to haul) rods to the range. The only problems I've ever had with Dewey rods is that the older ones had lousy bearings. The newer ones have much better bearings, and Dewey sells replacement handles with bearings.

If crap imbeds in a Dewey coated rod it's because it wasn't wiped down after use or was laid on a dirty bench top.

Use a good rod guide, and a good rod of your preference, wipe the rod after use, and don't lay it on a dirty sandy bench. That's all less expensive than a new barrel or new rifle.

Don't use stainless steel brushes either, they'll scratch the bore. If you can't get it out with a phosphor bronze brush and a good solvent it's likely there to stay.

 

[JTHunter]

Heck, I just use the aluminum 3-piece rods that come with the rifle kits! Never had a problem with any of them and they get used on .22's, a .243, an AK, and a 12 gauge. I also use single piece aluminum rods for cleaning pistols ranging from .22 to .38.

 

[HD Fboy]

Boresnakes for me. Got one for every caliber now. They get dirty, I put them in an old sock and run them through the washing machine.

I have rods I just don't use them except to run a oiled patch down the bore.

 

[USAF_Vet]

In the past, I had used the multiple piece brass rods, and I loathe them. My wife found a nice stainless steel rod kit at Goodwill for a few bucks, and it has been a great investment. For my Mosin-Nagant rifles, I still use the cleaning rod that came with the gun, although I've read on other forums that practice is not recommended; a thought I reject outright due to the fact that the rods were issued with the rifle, and if it was good enough for the battlefields of WWI and beyond, it's good enough for me.
I also don't use the coated ones because I've also had the coating rub off inside the bbls. Just my experiences, but I go with either SS, or what comes with the firearm.

 

[SwampWolf]

The only ones I've used for the past couple of decades are Pro-Shot one-piece, s/s rods. They are rigid, well-made and finished but, like any cleaning rod, they should be used judiciously, with great care taken to avoid any contact with the edge of the crown on those rifles that have to be cleaned from the barrel's muzzle.