Can some of you guys give me some advice? I'm fixing to place a order with Midway and was needing some cleaning stuff. How about graphite rods? Who makes the best cleaning rods. Thank you! BA
I have MIdway stainless rods and like em. My theory is that being a "hard material" dirt won't tend to dig into the rod and hang onto it. If I think I'm in a gritty environment I just wipe it down occasionally.
The only thing I can think of that would be a negative is that if you are working the rod from the muzzle end you wouldwan't to be careful not to be "banging on" the rifling or crown??
[This message has been edited by Don Krakenberger (edited 01-08-2002).]
Instead of placing the order with Midway, try Pro Shot rods. I will never use another rod other than the Pro Shot Rods. His solvents are great too. There is no smell with them. www.proshotproducts.com Telephone # 217-824-9133
Pro-shot is THE company to deal with in my opnion. I love their products, very reasonalbly priced and of the highest quality. I own two of their one piece rods and would not part with them.
I would stay away from the Tetra rods, I bought two becuase they looked nice in the store and was for a moment convonced I should own some costed rods as well. I am sorry I did, they are way to flexable for my tastes.
I have been using the Dewey cleaning rods for a long time now, and would'nt change. I have heard of the rifling being damaged from rods that were too har, and scraping the lands. Think about it. I haven't had any problems with grit getting embedded in the teflon coatin either. I do wipe the rod down after each use. I also use the Hoppe's # 9. It's as good as perfume for me. I like the smell. The Hoppe's Copper out stuff seems good also, but doesn't have the good smell. You might want to check all the neat cleaning stuff that is available from the Sinclairs web site. They cater to the bench rest shooters. What's good enough for them, works well for me, too.
I use Dewey rods but have heard good things about the bore tech also. My requirement is that the rod has to be plastic coated. There's no way I would ever put a stainless rod down any of my barrels. The rod should be made of something significantly softer than the barrel is to keep from damaging it, stainless rods don't qualify.
I suspect either will serve you well. Just wipe them down after each pass. BTW, benchresters all advocate coated rods for reasons noted above. However, John Barsness a couple of months ago reported his findings over the course of a year using a borescope on his rifles and he said there was no evidence of land peening or any other marks from using an uncoated stainless steel rod. So who knows.
What is pretty much accepted as common knowledge is to stay away from aluminum, and avoid multi-segmented rods. Also, if your rifle allows it, use a properly fitting bore guide. The bore guide will work wonders in keeping the rod from entering at a goofy angle and screwing up your throat or muzzle.
Re that wonderful banana-oil smell -- cartoon caption (wife of gun nut, talking to friend): "Getting Ron to propose was no problem. I wore Hoppe's No. 9 instead of Chanel No. 5."
Dewey rods are good. So are Parker-Hale. Bore Tech's are as good if not better.
Keep a supply of plastic sipping straws on hand. Slip several down over your rod as bore protectors.
