Coated cleaning rods - vs - Carbon cleaning rods?

[1972]

Does anybody have any thoughts on the pros and/or cons of carbon fiber cleaning rods (for example Tippton) vs nylon coated cleaning rods (for example Dewey). I’m not singling out any manufacturers – those are just the first two examples that came to mind. Actually, I haven’t been able to find anybody other than Tippton that makes the fiber rods.

I need to order brand new cleaning rods for two new rifles (.223 and 6mmBR). I’ll be using Lucas bore guides.

Is there really any significant difference? Some shooters don’t like the coated rods because they feel they can get grit imbedded into them and become abrasive in the bore. Other shooters don’t like the carbon rods because they feel they are also susceptible to picking up grit, and they are very “whippy”.

Is this concern about nylon coated rods picking up grit really a “recognized problem” or is this just more of the “Ford vs Chevy” kind of thing. I don’t see why either rod should pick up enough grit to be a problem if you cleaned them regularly and took care of them.

I’m kind of leaning towards the Dewey rods. They’ve been the standard in this game for a long time, and I like the fact that they are very caliber specific. They have one for the .22 and one for the .24 and so on and so on. The carbon ones I’ve been able to find have a kind of “one size fits all” concept that goes from .22 to .27 Might not be a big deal, but I’d think that the tighter it fits the bore guide the better.

Any thoughts or comments appreciated.

 

[Tozguy]

A search would likely turn up some interesting info already posted about cleaning rods. The 'carbon fiber cleaning rod' thread has three pages of relevant comments.
The Lucas bore guide is customized to fit whichever rod diameter you want to use. Mike Lucas will ask you for that info when you order. good luck.

 

[skeetlee]

Scrap both of them and go with a stainless rod. Much stiffer!! Lee

 

[Kenny474]

Skeetlee has my vote as well. Stainless is the way to go. No coating to pick up crap and scratch your barrel, and about as stiff as you are going to find. Solves both problems.

 

[Rust]

The issue of picking up grit is greatly reduced if the rod is wiped down after each pass. And unless sand has been poured down the barrel all that grit isn't really all that abrasive or coarse in the first place.

Since nylon is softer than stainless steel I'll just stick to coated rods. Choosing the right jag and patch improves the fit down the bore so that the rod doesn't try to squirn like a snake and need a hammer to drive it down the bore, and a good bore guide further helps matters.

Don't like the idea of carbon fiber rods, steel can bend but carbon fiber can snap and a handful of carbon fiber splinters doesn't sound like a good thing to me.

 

[Tozguy]

Just a tidbit more info,
I have a coated Dewey and a carbon fiber Tipton rod that are both .210 in diameter (for 22cf & 6mm). The Dewey is noticebly more flexible (whippy) than the Tipton. I use a .190" Gunslick nude stainless rod for 22 rimfire guns. All rods are wiped after every pass. Any rod will pick up dirt if you let it. I never use excessive force on the rods. Coated rods (including carbon fiber) seem to offer less friction through the bore guide and bore thus allowing better feel of the drag on the patch or brush.
Of the three brands, Tipton has the best handle and bearings.

 

[CoverDog]

"Of the three brands, Tipton has the best handle and bearings"

You need to try a fourth, BoreTech, if you want good handles and bearings. 21 bearings in each handle and handles are a different color for each diameter. IMO they are the most comfortable and their handles will spin forever.

 

[Preacher]

Plus 1 for the Bore Tech rods, especially the new Proof Positive rods with out the brass ferrels...........

 

[JHardy]

Get a custom stainless rod ordered to your specs (Ivy) and don't look back. They are works of art.

Jim Hardy

 

[flatlander]

I bought several BoreTech rods a few years ago because I really liked their handles & bearings, but their rod coatings started flaking off after a few months of use. When I called BoreTech, their response was to use black fingernail polish to cover up the bare spots!

Dewey improved their handle bearings a couple of years ago, and are now my first choice. They're made of spring steel, and will remain straight, while a very nicely finished SS rod I ordered got bent in shipping, and bends fairly easily in use.

I've never tried the carbon fiber rods - believe I'll stick with the Deweys.

 

[LHSmith]

Read the customer reviews posted on Midways site, Boretech and Dewey get favorable reviews with almost no negatives, while Tipton reviews have more than a few negatives, such as breakage, including user injuries as a result of such.

 

[LHSmith]

Plus 1 for the Bore Tech rods, especially the new Proof Positive rods with out the brass ferrels...........

I liked the idea when I first saw these offered, but I find in my cleaning regimen in which Butches Bore Shine is the principal solvent, I cannot detect any copper positive (blue on a clean white patch) when I set a BBS soaked patch against my brass jags for a period of a few minutes. Now bronze brushes are another story- they turn the patch blue in an instant.

 

[243jimb]

Some time ago (over a year) I bought two Tipton Carbon Fibre cleaning rods one in .243 and one in .17/.20 calibres. I have used the .243 one extensively without any problems. I have only recently begun using the .17 rod. When I was pushing it in the bore (which was a little tight but not excessively so) and using a bore guide as recommended, the rod snapped cleanly in two. It says on the labelling that This product is warranted to withstand reasonable blows, torque pressures and shaft flexations during the course of normal firearm service operations. This to me was not abnormal by any means, I was only pushing on it not hammering on it. When I contacted Tipton (BTI) they simply stated that their warranty was only for a year and even when I explained that I had only recently started using it they still were not interested in replacing it. So much for " The finest cleaning rod money can buy" So be very careful before spending any hard earned money on this product! Has anyone else had problems with this calibre/type of rod?
Jim.

 

[fdshuster]

I'll also go with the Bore Tech cleaning rods, have several, along with a couple of Dewey's. Have never had a problem with the coating on either, but I wipe them down after each pass thru the bore. Really like the bearings and spin-up on the handle: like an airplane propeller at takeoff. The new design Dewey handles are also a big improvement over the old that had the bearings mounted in a plastic raceway. Have watched for bore damage at the crown using my borescope, and with some of my older barrels with close to 5000 rounds fired, see no trace of damage.