Cleaning rod recomendations?

[TrxR]

Im running a Mwerks bore guide. and I dont clean that often . probably once a brick lately . I want quality cleaning gear to reduce my chances of damage.

 

[Hi-NV Shooter]

After cleaning and observing rimfire barrels for over a half century, I will offer these opinions, worth what you're paying for them: Get the high quality rod of your choice, material is more marketing than substance. Any rod or barrel can be ruined quickly with improper technique and maintenance. Get a good rod quide, but still exercise caution in your cleaning, nothing is idiot proof. Slow and easy does it, keeping the rod centered. Lastly, assuming no unusual conditions, a good barrel, and good ammo, you should only have to clean your barrel infrequently. If you find accuracy falling off more often than every 500 rounds or so, something is wrong.

I am curious about your statement of something is wrong if accuracy degrades before 500 rds. my question, what is accurate in your eyes. I shoot only BR so my rifles need to shoot within .250 OTO or better

Lee

 

[Tim s]

After cleaning and observing rimfire barrels for over a half century, I will offer these opinions, worth what you're paying for them: Get the high quality rod of your choice, material is more marketing than substance. Any rod or barrel can be ruined quickly with improper technique and maintenance. Get a good rod quide, but still exercise caution in your cleaning, nothing is idiot proof. Slow and easy does it, keeping the rod centered. Lastly, assuming no unusual conditions, a good barrel, and good ammo, you should only have to clean your barrel infrequently. If you find accuracy falling off more often than every 500 rounds or so, something is wrong.

Friend, that there last statement is laughable.....plain and simple.
The absolute most accurate rimfire rifles on the planet live in the benchrest world and if you go to a match, big,small, or anywhere in between, you will witness the overwhelming majority of rifles get cleaned every target, rarely does a gun go more than 50-100 rounds.
The old position rifle mindset has been gone for a very long time, especially with SS match barrels and full match chambers.

 

[XrayDoc88]

Most of the rods mentioned in this thread bend. They are virtually all far more flexible than an Ivy.
If you put them through a match grade SS barrel, your chances for damage go up exponentially.
Ivy’s have been difficult lately, Don’t overlook the carbon Tipton’s.....stiffer than all these, gotta check for properly aligned ferule.

I know this is an old thread, but I found this post helpful and upsetting. I have been using nothing but Tipton rods and Tipton ultimate jags. I recently discovered that either the brass ferule end or the Tipton ultimate jags are not absolutely straight. It wobbles enough in my 5.56 modern sporting rifle that it catches on something in the chamber despite using Mike Lucas bore guides. Is this a common quality control issue with Tipton? Can the ferule (or jag) be fixed in anyway? I don't know if Tipton has any warranty. My rods are all several years old.

Now I'm considering either Bore Tech or the Montana Xtreme rods. Is there a winner between these two rods? Thanks!

 

[waltk]

Myself I greatly prefer Bore Tech rods. Spin the handle on a Bore Tech rod and be prepared to wait a while.

 

[Appalachian]

I bent my 20 cal Boretech rod yesterday. I have a small car that I use for traveling to matches when I can. I fold the rear seats down to haul rifles on bipods. I folded them up to haul a passenger yesterday and one of them had some resistance. I forgot the rod was in there. I ordered a new 22 Rimfire Boretech Rod. That was a $100 mistake.

 

[butchlambert]

Word of warning! Stay away from carbon fiber rods.

 

[209jones]

Word of warning! Stay away from carbon fiber rods.

Yup, anyone that has ever used carbon arrows in archery can tell you that one for a fact. Grooves worn into arrow rest snake tongues and on prongs tell the story, and they're all made of stainless.
I've used Parker rods since the 1980's, I just bought a 20cal Tipton for a CZ457 as the bore is super tight on them, Parker will go in, but it is a struggle, first time encountering an issue like that.
Unfortunately, Parker is really hard to come by now, and they only make the two sizes.

 

[Chiquita]

The rod I have been most impressed with recently is the Montana X-Treme coated spring steel rod. Really well made.

Agree.

 

[BoydAllen]

On the rod guides....the best have an additional piece that stays on the rod and plugs into the back of the guide after the rod is inserted to the point where the brush or patch initially contacts the throat of the chamber. These do a much better job of keeping rods centered. In those instances where I have had to deal handle to comb issues, using one of these kind of rod guides, and the rifle secured in a cradle, I have used my left hand to hold the rod down in front of the comb, so that the handle clears the stock and the rod is in line with the bore in front of the comb. None of my rifles require this. The one with the highest cheek piece has a removable comb.