Cleanning rods and Bore guides

[LouTarantino]

I am just getting into benchrest and its extensive cleanning regimens. What is the best cleanning rod, Coated or Stainless?
Which is the best Bore Guide to use?

Thanks,

 

[SF340Driver]

As far as a bore guide goes, you can't do better than one from Mike Lucas.

I use Dewey rods, but to each his own.

 

[Mark Walker in TX]

As far as a bore guide goes, you can't do better than one from Mike Lucas.

I use Dewey rods, but to each his own.

Yep and Yep.

 

[Preacher]

I just received my second bore guide from Mike Lucas and it's as nice as the first one was.
Darn things sure fit tight in the chamber without a locking devise needed.
The Dewey rods also serve well.......

 

[Hipshot]

I switched from Dewey to Bore Tech carbon fiber and like it better than a coated rod. Nothing to scratch off.

 

[tightneck]

If using a properly fitting bore guide, I cant see how one could scratch the finish off a coated rod. I have 5 Dewey rods and cant say a bad thing about them. I use Sinclair guides with an insert in the rear very much like the Lucas design,probably stolen from him). Have no Idea who made the inserts as I found them on some guys table at a gun show. I had to counterbore my guides a little deeper to accept the insert, but it works like a charm. Another option is TK Nolan as many consider his guides at the very top of the heap but three times the cost of the Lucas.

 

[Hipshot]

CORRECTION: I was just reminded by a reader that the carbon fiber cleaning rod I identified, above, as being Bore Tech is not. The carbon fiber rods I have are made by TIPTON. My apologies if I sent anyone off on a wild rod chase

 

[WayneShaw]

How does the coating come off? Ask Bore Tech! You have Deweys and the coating on theirs does not come off. I have had Deweys for decades and they are still fine. I also have some Pro Shot stainless and love em! All my future rods will be Pro Shot stainless.

 

[tightneck]

Wayne, Ive heard a few people say that Bore Tech has had this problem. I'm guessing you have first hand experience and I'm just wondering if this failure is due to the rod contacting the bore or if their coating just sucks and cant hold up to the solvents we use?

 

[WayneShaw]

Yes, I have first hand experience with them. I bought a pair shortly after they came out. I used the same bore guides, solvent, brushes, etc. as I had with my Deweys. As I said before, I still have my Deweys and the coating is still fine. I called Bore Tech and talked with them, and was told they would not replace the rod, but would recoat it for a fee. They are standing in a corner of my shop. Pitty too, the handles and bearings are great.

 

[Bobs243Ackley]

From what I understand, the Bore Tech rods use a powder coated finish for the coating on all of their rods. The Dewey .22 Cal., and larger, rods use a hot dip nylon that actually bonds to the rods. I hope that this information will help all of you.

Cordially,
Bob Blaine

 

[tightneck]

Thanks Bob for your reply. I figured it had to be something to do with the coating itself. I'm not surprised that a powder coat wont hold up to the solvents in use today.

 

[steveyrock]

I love the handles on those Bore Tech,they sure do roll nice compared to the Dewey.

 

[BoydAllen]

A couple of years ago Dewey redesigned their handle bearings. The old ones used the plastic handle material for the outer bearing race. The newer ones use an aluminum outer race and I think that they work as well as the Bore Tech. The difference being that the Deweys are lighter and so they don't have as much flywheel weight to keep them spinning, but they allow a brush to track the rifling just as well. I installed a new handle on my old rod, and it just keeps on truckin', with its coating intact. I also have a pair of Bore Tech rods. One of them has a small nick in the coating. I think that the coating has done better than those of others is that I wipe them dry each time that they are to be out of the barrel more than a few seconds. One thing that you may not be aware of is that Bore Tech also makes polished stainless,uncoated) rods, as does Dewey. In this style Pro-Shot makes a very good,straight, well polished, and stiff) uncoated rod. A friend got one because he wanted something stiffer to brush with. He didn't like the way that his coated rods tended to bow when starting a new brush.

 

[Schandler]

the newer style bore tech rods - anyone know if they have improved them ?? its not a nylon coating and i read that they are consistent for the length of the rod as far as diameter- anyone used a newer bore tech ? - reason i ask - i have tried to use a 22cal dewey on a 22 rimfire and its too tight - now dont get me wrong all i own is deweys and a pro shot for 17cal but wouldn't mind trying out a bore tech in 22cal if someone has tried it ?? and liked it - not sure on the new coating or what it is exactly or if its as stiff as the pro shot

 

[ANDY5]

I am using Tipton, and like them very well. The customers in the store have been happy with them. Only one had the tip come off and we replaced it for the customer told tipton and they gave me a new one right away. Some have said they have switched from Dewey to Tipton all the way. At the range I use both as my shooting partner owns a Dewey. Dewey's are a nice rod also. I think with a good guide you can't go wrong with either

 

[Silverfox]

several years ago I ordered a .204 caliber coated rod and .204 caliber spear tip jag from Bore-Tech. The jag was smaller than the end of the rod. The coating wore off the end of the rod in a big hurry. I communicated my dissatisfaction to Bore-Tech and they had me send the rod back. They did send a .19 caliber coated rod to me and said they would be sending a .204 caliber rod to me to try when they started rolling off the assembly line.

Well, the .204 caliber rod was NEVER SENT to me. I believe the improvement they made on the new rods was to place a threaded brass end on the rods so the coating starts on the handle side of the rod tip. Any contact with the bore is "intercepted" somewhat by the brass tip. I haven't tried ordering a new .204 rod, but I do have one in another caliber that has the brass tip.

I am a fan of the Dewey all stainless steel rods and/or SS Pro-Shot rods.

 

[rstreich]

I had started buying Tipton rods for a while, but the last couple I bought had the ferrules on crooked. Since it was a winter day and I was a bit bored, I decided to take a survey of my cleaning rods. I rolled them all over a relatively flat table top. That was a real eye opener. Then I decided to be real smart and took a brand new Dewey .20 cal stainless and bent it about 15-20 degrees just to get a feel of its stiffness.,Just a suggestion, but, don't ever test the stiffness of your Dewey rod just for fun. Not if you ever want to use it again.)

Now I have about a half-dozen of Denny Phillips' cleaning rods. Well, I have one in hand and about a half-dozen due in shortly based on the last email I had from Denny. To go with them I have a set of inserts from Mike Lucas for each diameter.

 

[dreever]

I always scratch my head when I hear how bad Bore Tech rods are. I have four BoreTech rods, and four Dewey's and use Lucas bore guides, and have NEVER had a problem with any of them. In fact my one 6MM Bore Tech rod is ten years old and still as good as it was the day I bought it. I used to use the Kroil/Shooters Choice mix and now use either Pro Shot Copper Solvent IV or Bore Tech Eliminator and have never had the coating come off due to chemicals.
I think the vast majority of problems with any make of rod can be linked to harsh chemicals, improper bore guide/rod fit, or improper cleaning using to tight a patch and too much muscle and bowing the rod in the bore.
I do prefer the Bore Tech rods over the Dewey's because I like the slimmer handles and smooth bearings. I cannot offer an opinion on the Tiptons since I've never owned one, or steel for that matter since I prefer something softer than my rifling in my bore.

Danny

 

[rebs]

CORRECTION: I was just reminded by a reader that the carbon fiber cleaning rod I identified, above, as being Bore Tech is not. The carbon fiber rods I have are made by TIPTON. My apologies if I sent anyone off on a wild rod chase

I bought a Tipton cleaning rod and the handle stopped rotating freely. I also bought a Dewey and the coating developed a ridge in it and would rub in the bore. I called both manufacturers and neither was interested in helping me or fixing the rods or anything.