Cleaning Rod Materials....

[jderrick]

Hello. I've heard some folks say a steel cleaning rod will mess up your bore/crown and hurt accuracy... that you should use coated rods or whatnot.

Is that the case?

I've got an aluminum cleaning rod. I've got some sort of copper brush as well. I figure the softer metals aren't supposed to harm the harder barrel.... Am I thinking right?

Thanks for any advice. I looked and don't think I'm overlapping too much with another thread, but please correct me as needed.

 

[roundball]

Hello. I've heard some folks say a steel cleaning rod will mess up your bore/crown and hurt accuracy... that you should use coated rods or whatnot.

Is that the case?

I've got an aluminum cleaning rod. I've got some sort of copper brush as well. I figure the softer metals aren't supposed to harm the harder barrel.... Am I thinking right?

Thanks for any advice. I looked and don't think I'm overlapping too much with another thread, but please correct me as needed.

Many types of materials, even when different from each other, when rubbed against another type of material long enough will cause wear...rods like those you described should be used with a 'muzzle guide'.

An example that has stuck with me for a couple decades is that an Easton aluminum arrow shaft...as smooth to the touch as glass...will wear right down through a set of stainless steel arms on an arrow rest after enough use.

The crowns on muzzles should be protected from ramrod wear..."Builders Supply" carries lightweight, inexpensive, tapered nylon muzzleguides that work great, wiegh nothing, and are quiet...compared to heavier, more expensive, noisy brass ones.

 

[TANSTAAFL]

Some advise against aluminum as they say the soft metal will embed harder abrasive materials which will act as a rasp on the bore.

With that said, I use naught but hickory wiping sticks for cleaning, and wood is softer than aluminum.

 

[Swampman]

I only use hickory. Anything can be used if you're careful. I've seen teflon coated control cables wear a hole right through the hardened armor plating and even cut an engine mount nearly in two on H3 heliocopters.

 

I'll agree with you on that statement! I too only use wood rods to clean my rifles.

 

[Java Man]

I use mostly stainless range rods fall all loading and cleaning, except reloading when hunting, all with muzzle protectors. Any rod material that gets used a lot should probably have a muzzleprotector included as Roundball suggested. Even wood rods will pick up dirt, and the dirt can damage your muzzle.

Java Man

 

[boondocker]

I gree with you there Swampman as I have seen Nylon Zipties rub a 1/8 groove in a truck frame and still have all their little grooves. Boon

 

[roundball]

I gree with you there Swampman as I have seen Nylon Zipties rub a 1/8 groove in a truck frame and still have all their little grooves. Boon

FYI...if you're worried that the Builder's Supply nylon muzzle guides will cause problems, they cause none what-so-ever.

In comparison, the brass muzzleguides on my short starters have a 'ring' beat into the same spot on the taper from seating thousands of balls and they haven't caused any damage to the muzzle.

Rest assured rifles don't even know the little soft tapered nylon muzzleguides are being used they're so soft and muzzle friendly

 

[Java Man]

RB,

I think they were referring to the ramrod itself, where you get a lot of rubbbing between the two materials. The muzzle protectors are stationary to the muzzle, and therefore not likely to cause any problems.

Java Man

 

[roundball]

RB,

I think they were referring to the ramrod itself, where you get a lot of rubbbing between the two materials. The muzzle protectors are stationary to the muzzle, and therefore not likely to cause any problems.

Java Man

:v

 

[Slake]

I think you're thinking all right. I use a brass range rod for most of my rammin. They make a tapered bushing that you could put on your rod to keep it from rubbing on the crown you could use one of those and some caution and be fine with that rod

 

[noahmercy]

I prefer steel or coated steel. Why? They can be made substantially smaller than bore size, they are rigid, and hard carbon particles will not imbed themselves in them. By being well under bore diameter and not flexible, they are less likely to ever contact the muzzle or bore if you use a guide (which you should). By not picking up those little bits of hard debris, they wont scuff the crown/bore even if they do come into contact.

:thumbsup:

 

[Slake]

here here...I love the bearing handled coated steel rod made by Dewey...one of the finest ram rods ever made by man...a wee but modern but awesome

 

[lonewolf465]

I'm pretty new to these parts and I'm needin' directions to the "Builder's Supply" that is mentioned.
thanks

 

Here's the new Link to MBS Click Here
It's not as pretty as Track, but great stuff, and I'd recommend the catalog, it's worth the few bucks. Last but not least, Susie's great to deal with. Bill

 

[lonewolf465]

Thanks for the info. I prowled around their site for awhile and it looks like there's some stuff I can't live without.