Cleaning Rods

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JHZR2

JHZR2

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What do you use/like?

Left mine at Ft. Dix today by accident...

Main need is for .223/.308 rifles, and id assume the same rod would be used for .22LR and .38 lever guns. I know some conpanies make many variants across the range of calibers.

Also, Id consider buying another pistol rod, I have the plastic one that comes with a glock, as well as a decent coated Gunslick one.

Is Carbon fiber really better? Are there any good US made CF rods?

Im leaning towards bore tech as they are relatively local and USA made, but they are just coated.

Recommendations?
 
Just generic threaded aluminum rods found in most any gun cleaning kit sold in most any sporting goods.

Hoppes is nice, so is Remington.
 
For .223 or .308 I have hoppes kit.

You might swing by or call range control to see if it's still there and they can secure it for you.
 
Originally Posted By: billt460
Coated Dewey Rods are the only way to properly clean a barrel. More barrels are damaged by improper cleaning, than from being shot out.


Can't say I have ever had a soft aluminum cleaning rod damage a hardened steel barrel.
 
I use Tipton Rods. I used Dewey rods in the past, but the vinyl coating can become embedded with grit and act as a fine hone in the barrel or the coating can flake off. Tipton is carbon fiber and I have never had an issue with them.
 
Originally Posted By: Linctex
Originally Posted By: billt460
Coated Dewey Rods are the only way to properly clean a barrel. More barrels are damaged by improper cleaning, than from being shot out.


Can't say I have ever had a soft aluminum cleaning rod damage a hardened steel barrel.


Bingo. Same thing with brass. I don't use a rod, though, I use a Bore Snake. Before everyone freaks out, I know a woman who for several years was a top 10 nationally ranked AR 15 competition shooter. She used highly customized rifles with extremely expensive barrels. She used CLP and a Bore Snake, and nothing else, ever. She told me that's how she shoots so consistently.
 
Not so much the inner barrel, but various cleaning rods eventually create problems with the crown of the barrel. Probably less than 10% of guns cleaned use crown protectors when swabbing / cleaning up & down the barrel.

So if you aren't going to use the protector, then use a rod that leaves the fewest / lightest marks around the crown. Fingers-cupping is OK, in place of a protector, but not as effective.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: Triple_Se7en
Not so much the inner barrel, but various cleaning rods eventually create problems with the crown of the barrel. Probably less than 10% of guns cleaned use crown protectors when swabbing / cleaning up & down the barrel.

So if you aren't going to use the protector, then use a rod that leaves the fewest / lightest marks around the crown. Fingers-cupping is OK, in place of a protector, but not as effective.


This is another reason not to use 2 and 3 piece cleaning rods. I've seen too many of them that are not concentric when they are screwed together. This leaves a sharp edge where the O.D. is mismatched. Not so much with Aluminum rods, but with the longer, harder Stainless Steel rods used in a shorter, (16"), barrel, they can cut into the muzzle at the crown, and at the breach like a broach when run in and out through the barrel. A one piece coated rod is the best. Just be sure to wipe it clean with each pass so it won't become charged with abrasive contaminants.
 
I use a Gunslick cleaning rod that I'm happy with. Whatever cleaning rod you decide on make certain to add a bore guide to your cleaning regimen.
 
Originally Posted By: GenSan
I use a Gunslick cleaning rod that I'm happy with. Whatever cleaning rod you decide on make certain to add a bore guide to your cleaning regimen.

I bought and started using Glunslick rods a few months or so ago. I'm pretty happy with them to. I wish they had one on Amazon to fit my Super Redhawk. It has about a 9-1/2" barrel. The one I bought was just a tad short when using the slotted patch jag or brush. So I use it for shorter barrels.
The long rod works well for the rifle barrels.
No regrets on Gunslick quality.
 
Crown protector is definitely the case if I must push in from the muzzle. I usually use only a jig and patch, and push in the direction of bullet travel, if I can.
 
Originally Posted By: 2015_PSD
I use Tipton Rods. I used Dewey rods in the past, but the vinyl coating can become embedded with grit and act as a fine hone in the barrel or the coating can flake off. Tipton is carbon fiber and I have never had an issue with them.


If Tipton was made in the USA Id go with theirs.

Is there a US made CF rod?
 
Dewey one piece rods, with a good bore guide for bolt action rifles. Clean the rod after each use. If the bore has to be cleaned from the muzzle end get a crown protector. If When I clean a bolt action rifle I remove the brush or jag once it exits the barrel. Then reinstall it to push it through the bore guide again, and repeat the process until the barrel is clean.
 
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: 2015_PSD
I use Tipton Rods. I used Dewey rods in the past, but the vinyl coating can become embedded with grit and act as a fine hone in the barrel or the coating can flake off. Tipton is carbon fiber and I have never had an issue with them.
If Tipton was made in the USA Id go with theirs. Is there a US made CF rod?
Not sure. I have been a customer of Midway since 1990 and am supporting them with my purchase and in all of my years of shooting for the money, Tipton has been the best.
 
Originally Posted By: billt460
Coated Dewey Rods are the only way to properly clean a barrel. More barrels are damaged by improper cleaning, than from being shot out.


+1

Dewey for me too. One for 30 cals and one for 22's
laugh.gif
 
Originally Posted By: Linctex
Originally Posted By: billt460
Coated Dewey Rods are the only way to properly clean a barrel. More barrels are damaged by improper cleaning, than from being shot out.


Can't say I have ever had a soft aluminum cleaning rod damage a hardened steel barrel.


I always thought the possibility of damage came from the aluminum oxidizing into hard oxide and/or picking up embedded grit as the years go by.

Originally Posted By: IndyFan
I know a woman who for several years was a top 10 nationally ranked AR 15 competition shooter. She used highly customized rifles with extremely expensive barrels. She used CLP and a Bore Snake, and nothing else, ever. She told me that's how she shoots so consistently.


Question: how fast do 223 barrels wear? I know some of the high pressure rounds have "fast" wear, especially at the throat region. Could there be some balance where the barrel wears out fast enough to not matter?
 
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