Jag size differences

[SS427]

With a Tipton 6mm jag, the largest square patch I can get down my 6BR barrel is 1 inch. A couple times I got a 1 1/8 inch patch through but it was obviously too tight. The Sinclair 1 3/8 inch patches I bought for the gun don't stand a chance of making it down the barrel with this Tipton jag.

I always assumed jag sizes are all the same for a specific caliber, but I don't think that is the case. Anyone have a jag suggestion so I can get these 1 3/8 inch patches down the barrel? I've thought about turning the jag down a little, but jags are so cheap I'd rather just buy a new one that fits these larger patches.

BTW - with a .22 caliber Tipton jag, I can get the 1 1/8 inch patches down my .224 caliber barrels very easily.

 

[groupshooter22]

Try your .22 jag with the 1 3/8" patches.

 

[fdshuster]

otter: I've had the same experience with the Tipton plated stab jags: not good. Sinclair patches that are a perfect fit in 22 & 6mm will not fit down the bore when using the Tipton. I measured them with a dial caliper and they are oversize compared to my Dewey, Sinclair & "Pro Shot". The Tipton's are a P.I.T.A., so I never use them. Very poor product, and I would never recommend them. JMO.

 

[SS427]

I thought about using the .22 jag, but just assumed it would be too small. Just tried it, and while not ideal, it does work with 1 3/8 inch patches. Certainly fits good enough to apply solvent with for now.

I think Frank's solution is what I really need though. A jag about half way between the size of my .22 and 6mm would be perfect. I took a trip down to the local sporting good store and all they had were Deweys. Nice looking jag, but they have a female end and my cleaning rods take a male end. :-\ Next order with Sinclair or Midsouth and I will order what I need. (Frank, thanks again for your advice and insight. I owe your experience a debt of gratitude and hope to some day pass along to others what I've learned from you so far.)

 

[FBecigneul]

Try spearing the patch off center.

 

[SS427]

That's what Sinclair said when I ordered the patches in case they were tight. Didn't work. The 6mm jag I have is either to big or the patches are to thick.

When I looked at the Dewey 6mm jags at the store they appeared to be the size of my Tipton 22 caliber jags, but it is hard for me to judge that by eye.

Out of curiousity I measured my Tipton jags. The 6mm jag measures .205 and the 22 caliber jag measures .186. For both of them that gives a clearance of .038 for the patch in the respective bore sizes. (Based on .243 and .224, which I know isn't quite right, but good enough for comparison.)

Part of the problem with my 6BR is it is hard to get any patch started down the bore, even the one inch size. Perhaps the way the chamber is cut causes part of the problem. Sometimes the one inch patch hangs up too, and I have to pull it back, fluff it up, and then it will go down the bore.

I think this is a good sign about tight tolerances, and certainly not a serious problem. Just a slight pain in the butt until I get a better jag.

 

[fdshuster]

When I get a new Dewey rod, the first thing I do is install the female to male adapter, and from that day on it's used as any standard rod, like my other favorite the "Bore Tech's". I'm really impressed with their ball bearing handle design, it spins up like an airplane propeller at take-off. I also like the "pro shot" stab jags since they are long enough to grab it without making contact with the solvent soaked patch. Good suggestion to "stab it off-center": I recently was shown that "trick", and for the most part, it does work.

 

[RBD]

Another vote for the Dewey rods and jags.

We prefer the Parker-Hale style jag with the patch wrapped around it.

RBD

 

[Moderator]

Patches used to apply solvent should be fairly loose-fitting in a bore so you don't squeegee off the liquid in the beginning.

I use a .22 Tipton spire-point jag in .243 barrels. Works fine, no problems.

HERE's another tip... if you're need to get a lot of solvent into the bore, just plug the breech and use a plastic "wash bottle" with long tapered spout to squirt the fluid in. Saves time and patches.

 

[FBecigneul]

Where are you getting the jag dimensions? The jag at the base should be the exact size of you rod ferrule so that you don't have a high spot there when entering the chamber to lands area or hit the crown when drawing back. Our Ivey and our Pro-shot 6mm stainless steel rods are .203; Our David Wick style jags from Larry Allred are .203 at the base but at the business end of the jag where the patch would ride are .180 and we use 1 3/8 patches when cleaning the 6mm. This .180 inch section is .750 long and then the shaft of the jag is rebated to .140 for about .750; all these measurements are for a 6mm jag.

 

[expiper]

modify the one you have....

you are either gonna have to get other patches or change the jag to suit....you cant always get what you want down the street....sometimes you gotta make it instead of buy it...just put the jag you have in your cordless drill and sit and watch the Rose Bowl game and while using a piece of sandpaper on it ...it will amaze you how quik it will change size ....Roger

 

[SS427]

I measured the fattest part of the jag, which was at the end near the spear. They taper smaller toward the male end that goes into the rod.

The sand paper idea crossed my mind, and I will probably go ahead and turn it down a little. Jags are so cheap I was just going to buy a new one and save the Tipton for future use when all I have on hand are one inch patches.

 

[SS427]

I put the jag in a drill and turned it down to .196 with sandpaper. That knocked the edge off the main part of the jag too, so it has a very slight taper. Put some JB on a patch and polished it right up. When I was done it measured .195. Will try it next time I clean the gun.

Thanks for all the input guys.

 

[SmokinJoe]

Something to keep in mind about jag dimensions. The diameter works in conjunction with the length of the cylindrical part of the jag that creates the contact area between patch & bore. In other words, a larger diameter works OK with a shorter cylindrical section, and conversely, a little smaller diameter will work the same with a longer cylindrical section. But for any length, the diameter has to be small enough to get the patch material between the jag & bore. I have always liked the David Wick jags, but if you measure them, you will find that they run a little smaller diameter than many popular jags. The difference is that the Wick's jags have a longer cylindrical section than most. The advantage of this is that you can use a variety of patch sizes to get the fit you want, whereas the shorter cylindrical section jags depend more on patch thicknes for fit. I hope this makes sense; I had a hard time understanding it at first. Denny Phillips & I had quite a discussion about jag geometry a while back talking about this exact thing.

 

[FBecigneul]

Joe:

Did Denny say anything about making jags? Last I heard the David Wick Jags are made by
Larry Allred
Lapa Shooting Supply, Inc.
Box 50939
Billings, MT 59105
406-698-4662
larry@allredtail.com

 

[SS427]

A quick follow up on the turned down jag. First attempt with the 1 3/8 inch patch soaked with solvent wouldn't go down the bore. Stabbed the patch off center and it worked great. The last few patches I stabbed in the center and they worked. Must have gotten enough carbon out of the throat for the additional clearance.