Best material for range rods ?

[J. Paul]

A brass rod is a brass rod, but if it ain't threaded for the attachments you need, then it ain't very useful as a ramrod or cleaning rod.

Took less than 10 minutes to drill and tap for attachments

 

[doubleset]

Took less than 10 minutes to drill and tap for attachments

Yeah, it took you that long. And it would take me that long (though I'm not sure I currently have the right tap ). But a lot of people just like to shoot BP guns and don't have the machinery, attachments, and experience to drill and tap things -- especially to center-drill a rod accurately.

 

[Gordoncourtney]

It’s not the material you should be worried about you want one you don’t place your hand on when ramming down At my mates club. two have gone through the guys hands and one went through the hand then blroof as well.
not nice

choose wisely. Ha ha

 

[doubleset]

I don't think I'd be shooting at that club. It's not the rod material that appears to be the problem.

 

[Wildrangeringreen]

I like tubular steel, particularly if you use a muzzle protector with it. Keeps the weight down, while being very strong. Could go with a solid steel rod if you like to pound your projectiles down the bore, I suppose . A great many firearms were made over the years with steel rammers, not all of them Military, some of them were target rifle, and most of the barrels are not too messed up from them (just make sure the rammer is annealed lol).

Brass is my second favorite (.30 and up), followed by aluminum (for bores .40 and up). Metal is easier to keep polished and grit-free. That's what erodes your muzzles the most, crap you pick up from the ground that embeds in the rod material. Rub two polished steel rods against one another a hundred times, can you see any wear?

I agree with doubleset, I'd be a little concerned for my safety (and questioning my sanity) if I kept going to a club like that . Sounds like the kind of place where people look down the barrel to see if it's loaded, lol.

 

[doubleset]

Metal is easier to keep polished and grit-free. That's what erodes your muzzles the most, crap you pick up from the ground that embeds in the rod material.

This is why there's often concern expressed about those expensive Dewey coated rods. I originally got one for my CZ .22 target rifle, but don't use it for that any longer (although it's nice to put a small cotton bore swab on it to clean out the patent breech in the Crockett .32!).

 

[Josephg]

I use steel most of the time. Hickory for long barrels.

 

[Gordoncourtney]

I don't think I'd be shooting at that club. It's not the rod material that appears to be the problem.

It’s a good. Club so please don’t pre judge them , it was actually two separate clubs a couple of powder horns on the bench also exploded last year. It’s a friends club 130 miles from me we can only speculate how these things happen. I have no real detail

 

[doubleset]

Well, the two exploding powder horns do just tend to reinforce my reluctance to participate in any activities of a club where that kind of thing happens.

 

[Gordoncourtney]

I cannot disagree

 

[Gordoncourtney]

While I am on just wittling away with my penknife on my chunk of walnut, no flap discs around. It’s a Gibbs MZ loading target rifle well maybe a look alike

 

[Mangonboat]

I have been saving a 72" .25" steel surveyors rod I acquired to use for locating a buried tank. Very straight, a wee bit of flex and spring to it. I was thinking it could be made into a range rod but worry about the potential for damaging the bore. But after reading some of the ideas other folks have come up with, I am thinking I can get wood, HDPE or nylon beads the proper diameter for close clearance in each of my rifle bores and then drill the center holes out so they are a snug fit to keep the rod in the center of the bore. Not HC but certainly durable.

 

[Josephg]

I have been saving a 72" .25" steel surveyors rod I acquired to use for locating a buried tank. Very straight, a wee bit of flex and spring to it. I was thinking it could be made into a range rod but worry about the potential for damaging the bore. But after reading some of the ideas other folks have come up with, I am thinking I can get wood, HDPE or nylon beads the proper diameter for close clearance in each of my rifle bores and then drill the center holes out so they are a snug fit to keep the rod in the center of the bore. Not HC but certainly durable.

Use a bore guide. Your steel rod will never touch the bore. Then there is no chance dirt grime and abrasives can be imbedded in your plastic or wood beads. Bore guides have been around forever. You can make one out of anything solid.

 

[doubleset]

Of course, the bore guide itself can get abrasive material embeded in it if you don't keep it reasonably clean.

 

[LME]

Took less than 10 minutes to drill and tap for attachments

That is what I did? Ray Charle`s could do it.

 

[fishmusic]

My first range rod was a piece of 316 SST tubing. I had a friend weld 10-32 nuts at each end, Cost me a six pack. I still have it but I plan on giving it to a youngster who is building his first kit.

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

My first range rod was a piece of 316 SST tubing. I had a friend weld 10-32 nuts at each end, Cost me a six pack. I still have it but I plan on giving it to a youngster who is building his first kit.

Good on you with the donation!

Unless one really wants the weight ... tubing is the way to go IMHO, as it has >95% of the strength of a solid bar at ~50% of the weight.

 

[Cpt Flint]

I use fiberglass..haven't broke one yet.

That rod is notorious for muzzle wear.

 

[B P Maniac Shooter]

That rod is notorious for muzzle wear.

Doesn't bother me.....my barrels are coned anyway.

 

[Tenring]

Saved a length of brass rod from our machine shop and Made one, brass ones are hard to find.