Stainless Steel Cleaning Rod

[Ram]

I helped a friend clean his Savage 204R using a new SS rod 0.1875" in diameter and Lucas bore guide. While patching out the bore four times, the resistance would increase slightly near the end of the barrel which I think may be due to the rod contacting the bore as the rod now has longitudinal scratches. The patch was a 1" round and was a snug fit, but did not require a lot of force. We were very careful to keep the rod inline with the bore. With the rod only having a ~ 0.007" radial clearance, a few thousands clearance at the Lucas insert and the rather long whippy rod, I'm not sure we could prevent this from happening in the future.

Could this have damaged the bore? Would a coated rod be a better choice? Would the T.K. Nolan guide help?

 

[gmorganal]

IMO, there's nothing out there commercially available that beats the TK Nolan bore guide. That said, most good shooting aftermarket barrels have a tighter muzzle than the rest of the barrel, so it gets a tighter feel the last three or four inches of the bore.

 

[Ram]

Based on what I've read, the SS rod is harder than the SS barrel material. Based on this, I guess the bore has been damaged to some extent. It's surprising then that the majority of recommendations here are to use an uncoated rod.

 

[LongRanger]

For about $6 I bought a 40" length of plastic heat shrink tubing from local electric supply shop and coated my stainless steel rod.

Frank B.

 

[Ram]

I'll check into the shrink tubing, but I'm sure it would prevent the use of the Lucas guide with the current insert and it may not fit the bore.

 

[johara1]

Now how do you know if the rod is making marks in the barrel? Do you use a borescope? I have used a a Ivy rods and have found them to be better than any coated rod ever made. You can keep them clean, coated rods let the dirt imbed in the coating,and the coating comes off and then they are pure junk....jim

 

[SmokinJoe]

I also am using Ivy rods these days, but have had good experiences with Dewey and even those dreaded Bore Tech coated rods in the past. IIRC, Pro-Shot is making a nice solid SS rod these days, too, as well as Dewey in the small calibers. What I like about the SS rods is the extra stiffness in the small rods. I would also speak up for Lucas bore guides. If used correctly, they are as good as any made. FWIW, I don't think the "scratches" you are seeing are due to the rod fit in the bore. What is your cleaning regimen and what cleaning agents are you using? The patch getting tighter towards the end of the barrel is normal on lapped barrels, don't know about your Savage barrel. You might save yourself a lot of consternation if you could find somebody that has a borescope.

 

[Ram]

Now how do you know if the rod is making marks in the barrel? Do you use a borescope? I have used a a Ivy rods and have found them to be better than any coated rod ever made. You can keep them clean, coated rods let the dirt imbed in the coating,and the coating comes off and then they are pure junk....jim

I don't know if the rod is making marks in the barrel. I tried looking in the barrel with a bore light, but I couldn't see well enough to tell one way or the other. However, there are scratches on the rod that were not there before cleaning and this could have only come from the barrel.

I also am using Ivy rods these days, but have had good experiences with Dewey and even those dreaded Bore Tech coated rods in the past. IIRC, Pro-Shot is making a nice solid SS rod these days, too, as well as Dewey in the small calibers. What I like about the SS rods is the extra stiffness in the small rods. I would also speak up for Lucas bore guides. If used correctly, they are as good as any made. FWIW, I don't think the "scratches" you are seeing are due to the rod fit in the bore. What is your cleaning regimen and what cleaning agents are you using? The patch getting tighter towards the end of the barrel is normal on lapped barrels, don't know about your Savage barrel. You might save yourself a lot of consternation if you could find somebody that has a borescope.

We used Patch Out and a Lucas guide with 1" Pro-Shot patches. The jag was not removed before withdrawing the rod. The Patch Out was allowed to sit for 30 minutes before removing with dry patches. The rod was wiped down with a microfiber towel between patches. When we saw the scratches on the rod, we stopped. The rod scratches can not be felt, but they are clearly visible.

 

[SmokinJoe]

Looks like you are doing things the correct way, but I still don't think your rod should be a problem. See how it shoots.

 

[waltersboy]

I use the Lucus bore guide (imho the best in the business) and a carbon fiber tifton rod. Never had a problem. I got rid of all of the ss and coated rods that I had.

 

[butchlambert]

That was a terrible mistake buying a Tipton.
Butch

 

[DanCarey]

Alright PaPa, why are you picking on Tipton? I have a SS, Dewey and a Tipton in 17 cal and the Tipton is the best of the bunch.

 

[butchlambert]

Two problems with them. They are abrasive and they have a propensity to break.
Papaw

 

[sharps]

I have loaner rifles I use in my guiding business offering P-dog/fly fishing trips here in Montana and have quit using rods period on the loaner rifles and have had no dust, dirt, scratching or bore damage at all...........I'm using string trimmer
cord!!!!!!!!! just cut 36" of cord, heat the end and make a ball on the end and while hot bump it on a flat surface making a small nail head looking stub........heat the other end and either cut or hit while hot to make a flat then cut it to a point...............stab the point through the patch and add solvent........run patch through bore side and pull wet patch through....then dry patch and on till bore comes clean.....a bit of paper towel on a split dowel cleans the chamber and by then the bore is cool again........I have been using this on 17 Rem, 204, 222, 223 and I don't pick up dust and dirt as you just wipe the cord every time as you pull it through..................

 

[artbosco]

I have four Dewey coated rods, one Lucas bore guide and four Sinclair bore guides. They've all served me well.