Ramrod

[rancher]

Should I stick with a wooden ramrod or is there something better I should be using. Thanks in advance!

 

[BRUN]

Wood rods are great.Just make sure the ends are pinned.Ya dont want to lose one in the barrell.

 

[playfarmers]

I use the wood rod for field use, but I like the new synthetic rods for cleaning.

 

[spottedpony]

You'll probably get as many opinions, as we have members, on this. but i'm sure most will say they have more than one rod, no matter what material you choose.
IMO a quality hickory rod serves well in general, but my concern with wood is with heavy usage, such as repeated use under range conditions, they are more prone to breakage, (ive broken a couple rod tips off myself)

Personally i have a couple of fiberglass rods i use as range rods, and in a pinch, can be carried as replacements in the thimbles of my rifles if necessary.
What i find works best for me is the use of the glass rod(s) for range/target use, mainly using the wood rod with my rifles in the field, and i also consider a bore guide to be a good idea. this prevents the rod rubbing against the rifling at the muzzle and promoting wear that could affect accuracy.

A little trick i do, is find an inexpensive (read cheap) plastic funnel, cut the spout off to allow your rod to pass through the spout part, yet enter the muzzle, and cut the funnel part of 3/4 or an inch tall, it makes a cheap bore guide, it can double as a small funnel to assist in pouring the powder charge down the barrel, and it takes up little room in a shooting kit or bag.

I also keep a "T" handle in my kit, in case i have to pull a ball. It makes getting a good pull on the rod easier than trying to grasp a couple of inches of rod without something to hang on to. (voice of experience here :haha: )

There are a few options for replacement rods, ranging from traditional wood, fiberglass, and the metals, aluminum, brass, or steel. and ive seen one advertised that is a steel rod embedded somehow in a wood shaft. My only concern with one of the metal rods is the possibility of bending one, accidents do happen, & it'd be a bugger to get one straight again. Though i will admit that when i clean here at home i use a 3 piece aluminum shotgun rod with appropriate tips, because........well.....it works well for me. i find a .410 guage bore mop works great in my .45, and a 28 guage mop in my .50. they fit snuggly for good cleaning, then i revert to my glass rods with a jag to dry patch and lube patch the barrel.

All of them will work, so let your tastes determine what route you take for rod choice.

 

[Heidi 1672]

I have solid brass rods made for all my rifles and threaded on both ends so that if you get something stuck you can use a T-Handle on it. Also the added weight makes it a little more muzzle heavy and this makes it rock steady for offhand shooting.

 

[roundball]

Since my MLs are TC Hawkens with their brass furniture, a brass ramrod looks great with them...and I don't know of a ramrod that's any stronger than a 3/8" solid brass rod with no tips to pull loose and a matching brass T-handle in the pouch.

 

[rancher]

Can anyone provide a link to either a good fiberglass or brass rod? Thanks.

 

[Rebel]

www.rmcsports.com

 

[roundball]

Can anyone provide a link to either a good fiberglass or brass rod? Thanks.

I get my brass ones from October Country...they'll make any size you want and drill/tap the ends whatever size you want. He also adds a nice touch which is about 1.5" of a non-slip crosshatch pattern at the end under the muzzle so your fingers can get a good grip.

90% of mine are solid brass because I like the extra weight out front and the rifles I have them on are rifles I use while sitting on stand deer hunting...you probably wouldn't want a solid one for a rifle you'd do a lot of walking/still hunting with due to the extra weight...or on a small caliber barrel which is already heavy due to the small bore.

In those cases I get hollow brass tubular rods from him...very strong because he uses brass tubing that has .060" thick walls...and glues/pins the ends...finishes them so smooth at first glance you think it IS solid...and same crosshatch on the ends...they're a tad heavier than wood but noticeably lighter than solid brass.
[url] www.octobercountry.com[/url]

 

[spudnut]

I soak my hickory rods in linseed oil for about a week The one in my Bess is ten years old and Ive bent it almost in half( at least 45 degree :winking: ) without cracking...Mark

 

[Heidi 1672]

Give me a PM and I will give you the name and number of a machinist in NW. Pennsylvania who makes all mine just like Roundball described. I think that they are very reasonabbly priced at about $20 for solid brass and he will ship them to you usually the next day.

 

[roundball]

I soak my hickory rods in linseed oil for about a week The one in my Bess is ten years old and Ive bent it almost in half( at least 45 degree :winking: ) without cracking...Mark

Haven't cracked any of mine either...
:grin:

 

[roundball]

Give me a PM and I will give you the name and number of a machinist in NW. Pennsylvania who makes all mine just like Roundball described. I think that they are very reasonabbly priced at about $20 for solid brass and he will ship them to you usually the next day.

Same situation at October Country...I think they're $17-$18...the good thing about getting them from a ML supplier is you can get other items you may need and bundle the shipping costs

 

[alton russell]

I am looking for a good ramrod for my T/C hawkin, I also want a bore guide.
I see at October they have something but not complete with bore guide. is it added or do I add it???
Grits

 

[Slake]

call the folks at October...they know
I keep the wood rods in my rifles for looks and hunting. While at the range I take them out for safe keeping and use mostly brass rods, although I do have a variety, some for different guns. I'm getting so I have a favorite range rod for each rifle I have which is very managable as don't have lots of them {yet}

 

[roundball]

I am looking for a good ramrod for my T/C hawkin, I also want a bore guide.
I see at October they have something but not complete with bore guide. is it added or do I add it???
Grits

The good news is that full length brass rods look terrific with the Hawken brass furniture...and you don't ever have to worry about one breaking or tips pulling off, injuring yourself or ruining a hunt.

I use bore guide but prefer the nylon one carried by ML Builders Supply...they're very inexpensive, weigh virtually nothing, and are 100% quiet...excellent attributes for hunting...I keep a nylon guide on the jag in my pouch so it's there when I need to clean a barrel and reload after a shot out hunting.

Talk to 'John' at October Country about making your rods, but if you want the lightweight quiet nylon guides you'll need to give ML Builder's Supply a call.

 

[rancher]

Do you clean with the brass rod too?

 

[roundball]

Do you clean with the brass rod too?

In the field yes, in the garage sometimes depending on caliber.

Some calibers I can use polymer covered firerglas range rods I have...the soft rubber cover doesn't hurt the crown, but the .40cal for example I only have brass rods.

Same with my short starters...they have stainless or brass shafts with brass muzzle guides

 

[Blizzard of '93]

Equally as important as the rod itself is the quality of the cleaning jag and threads on it and threads on the rod end. Also the patch/ball puller. Check that you have a good set-up. And pinned-on rod ends.

 

[alton russell]

I guess this is a real dumb question,but anyway....
when you say brass ramrod, it the whole rod brass or the working end like the jag brass???
Grits