Cleaning Rod/Range Rod

[Daryl Crawford]

Well I struggled on the range on Sunday with my ram rod getting stuck in my very dirty barrel. It was very evident that I had rounds spreading out when the barrel was dirty so I wanted to clean it a bit between rounds. Without a cleaning rod it was a bit of a pain.
What rods are you using? I need one at least 42" but 44" might be better. I've seen the Creedmoor cleaning rod at TOTW, and some delrin rods. I've seen brass and steel and lots of options so I'm not sure what works best. The Creedmoor looks good but the rod is steel which worried me a bit. The fiberglass ones might be too flexible.
I appreciate suggestions you all might have. I'm buying one in the next two weeks so any guidance is good.

 

[appalichian hunter]

I use a steel rod with a brass muzzle protector at least 5 in.. longer than the barrel length it has a aluminum handle firmly attached to the one end. Never liked the derlin ones as they could over usage contaminate themselves with crud therefor turning into abrasive sticks. Whatever you decide on make sure to use a muzzle guide properly fitted to the specific cal. of your weapon.

 

[Bearkiller]

All my rifles have synthetic ramrods. I have one aluminum, one delrin and two Creedmoor range rods. The Creedmoor's are my favorite rods to use and the supplied bore guide protects the bore.

 

[Stumpkiller]

I use the hickory rod in the thimbles that came with my flintlocks (and cap locks) when I shoot or wipe between.

At home I have an uncut 48" hickory for cleaning.

 

[Drago]

Rice barrels makes nice stainless rods with threaded round handles, reasonable prices 48 inch but I believe they will make custom ones.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Get a steel or brass rod with a muzzle protector.

 

[Eric Krewson]

A dying friend gave me his BP stuff, included were about 8 or 10 range rods, fiberglass and steel, some were too short for my rifles. I have since bought a Creedmore from Track for my TC and like it the best. I have so many rods that every one has its own specific caliber jag on it to fit one of my rifles or smooth bores. All the rods have a bore guide on them.

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

What rods are you using?
I appreciate suggestions you all might have. I'm buying one in the next two weeks so any guidance is good.

I use nothing but Hickory rods with the brass ends cross pinned, for range/field use. I like long so you can use a two handed grip for ball extraction, if needed.
I have two metal rods that stay in the shop for cleaning when the barrel is submerged in soapy water.
Flintlocklar

 

[Stubert]

I use shot gun cleaning rods with a 10/32 adapter on the end, T handle on top. use it for loading, cleaning, stuck ball removal.

 

[nhmoose]

Muzzleloader Builders Supply
https://www.muzzleloaderbuilderssup...1431.40401&next=25&product=Cleaning&Equipment

 

[Rifleman1776]

Like others I have a lot of rods. Some are stainless, several are Delrin, a couple brass and a lot of hickory. Ox Yoke sells an excellent brass rod.

 

[Baxter]

TOW Creedmoor rods, as supplied with muzzle guide/protector. Dependable. 10/32 fittings.

 

[Gun Tramp]

Daryl, after about the third wrong thread-size purchase for jags, etc., I made my own range rod from 1/4" mild steel. I threaded the end 1/4"-20, then cut the male mystery-thread from my jags and drilled and tapped them to match.
Drill the hole through the handle stock first, then shape. Attach with epoxy. A rod guide/muzzle protector is essential no matter the rod material.

 

[Griz44Mag]

I bought a 3/8 brass rod with muzzle protector and T handle from October Country.
I later bought a 6" extension for it when I got the Bess.
It's threaded 10/32.
I use it for a range rod and cleaning.
When hunting, I use the wood rod in the gun. (Most also threaded 10/32)

 

[spudnut]

I just use the hickory rammer, it has a perminent jag,that is threaded in the center. if i have to pull a ball i clamp onto the rod with my spring vice as a handle

 

[Brokennock]

For a range rod and for cleaning I really like these delrin rods,

They are very flexible, but it has not caused me any issues. They are softer than the muzzle, but I use my hand and a rag or paper towel to keep it from touching the muzzle anyway (the rag or paper towel wipes the rod clean as I withdraw it from the barrel). I know some people don't like them, can't really understand their reasoning, but hey, if they want to lug a heavy, overly stiff, cold, metal range back and forth to and from the range, fine by me. The only advantage I ever found to a metal rod was with a rifle I had with a messed up barrel, the T-handle metal rod was great for hooking onto something over my head to pull stuck patch/jag combos out.
I like these rods enough for smoothbores that they are all I use for all my shotgun cleaning.

 

[fleener]

I had a rod that was made out of fiber glass or graphite. At the bottom of my barrel it snapped for some reason with the jag on it.

That happened in the middle of a match. Ended up pulling the breach plug. That ended using that type of rod.

I second the use of Rice Barrel rods I have 2 or 3 of them. Good quality and price.

I also have a delrin rod, but use it only for one purpose.

The only time I use the wooden ramrod is if I am hunting. Even on a woods walk I use a steel loading rod.

Fleener

 

[Daryl Crawford]

Thanks much. After a number of comments on steel rods and the TOTW Creedmoor rod, I just ordered one.
Thanks again for guidance ya'll give.

P.S. I'll be looking at making a hickory down as well just for the heck of it. That will have to wait until my schedule eases up.

 

[jbwilliams3]

I have a brass rod I bought years ago from October Country. I seldom use it, but it’s very good quality with a wooden handle on one end. I use a bore protector with it. Like Stumpkiller, I usually use a long hickory rod for cleaning. The tapered wood rods in my guns are used in the field and the long straight hickory wiping stick is used at home. Light, strong, and cheap. When I use a hickory rod to swab the bore, I don’t even really touch the side of the bore with the rod, and if I do it’s so marginal as to have no long-term effect. I use one hand effectively like a bore protector, though if you’re doing some aggressive swabbing back and forth, a bore protector is probably a good idea.

 

[Ben Meyer]

I have a big honking T handled brass rod with a muzzle protector. My range actually has a metal plate for T handles mounted high on a rafter for just what happened to the OP. Easy to unstick a stuck rod. I swab between shots, so it hasn't happened to me, but it has my son.