Steal (un-coated) cleaning rods

[Mulligan]

I have several Dewey coated cleaning rods which I have no complaints at all with.
I am in need of a longer cleaning rod for my new rifle and have read a zillion threads regarding this subject. It would appear polished stainless steel uncoated cleaning rods have a strong following, why?
I see Dewey, proshot, Montana extreme, boretech and Ivy all offer these uncoated rods. How are they better? Are they really better? Do Dewey or other quality coated cleaning rods really drag abrasive material back into the bore more than uncoated rods?

Anyone have experience with PMA bore guides?

Thanks
CW

 

[LHSmith]

Are they really better? Do Dewey or other quality coated cleaning rods really drag abrasive material back into the bore more than uncoated rods?



CW

Yes. It is common practice among veteran SR BR competitors (who generally clean between each relay) to constantly wipe the rod with a rag to remove this grit- which contains carbon residue which can be quite hard when left to accumulate in the throat (diamonds are carbon). No cleaning rod will offer 100% protection from bore/ crown damage if not used properly.....if your method simulates a fiddler playing the "Orange Blossom Special"- your technique is wrong.
If you use the rag often on a coated Dewey, you should have no problems. However, I started buying hardened steel rods for any new lengths/ calibers my needs require. FWIW- I never wore out a Dewey coated ...and one is 20 years old.

 

[Mulligan]

Yes. It is common practice among veteran SR BR competitors to constantly wipe the rod with a rag to remove this grit- which contains carbon residue which can be quite hard when left to accumulate in the throat (diamonds are carbon). No cleaning rod will offer 100% protection from bore/ crown damage if not used properly.....if your method simulates a fiddler playing "Cannonball Express"- your technique is wrong.

Thank you

What about the long range crowd, what are they using?

CW

 

[dannyjbiggs]

Thank you

What about the long range crowd, what are they using?

CW

Un-coated and a rag.

Dan

 

[GaryL1959]

..if your method simulates a fiddler playing the "Orange Blossom Special"- your technique is wrong.

Reminded me of being in the squad bay at Camp LeJeune at weapons cleaning time......all the squeals and squals from those jointed, bare steel rods being shoved through chrome lined M16 bores would make your teeth hurt.

 

[Uthink Uknow]

I was in the Army and I can certainly relate to the squeak and the grinding of cleaning those barrels. But there is no comparison in the two. For instance, we have to buy these barrels and we use better rods.
I used to use coated rods but got away from them. They were peeling and chipping at the ferrell. The coup de gras was when this happened to Greg Walley and he wrapped the rod around a tree at Holton. Now we're talking of 6mm and .30 cal rods. But when you go to .22 or smaller you get too much flex. In fact, I don't they think come in the coated variety in the smaller calibers.

 

[gotcha]

In fact, I don't they think come in the coated variety in the smaller calibers.

Coated rods come in calibers as small as .17 ......... Personally I'm not convinced that carbon particles small enough to become imbedded in a nylon coating would have any effect on the lands other than polishing. JMHO since I've never seen any conclusive proof that spring steel rods or coated rods are superior, given they are used without the accompaniment of the Charlie Daniels band. And as LHSmith says, wiped clean often. Does anyone have real proof? I'd love to see it.

 

[BoydAllen]

One friend of mine switched to an uncoated rod for brushing because, for a given diameter, they are stiffer. This is primarily an issue when inserting a stiff new brush into the bore. I have always just choked up on the rod if there was an issue starting a brush. Once it is in the bore I return to the handle. I have an old Dewey rod that has all of its coating intact, that I replaced the handle on to upgrade to better bearings that came out a number of years back. The old handles' bearings used the plastic handle material as the outside bearing race. I have the use of a borescope and I have never seen evidence of a problem caused by a cleaning rod, but then I am careful how I use them.

 

[Steve Blair]

Yes. It is common practice among veteran SR BR competitors (who generally clean between each relay) to constantly wipe the rod with a rag to remove this grit- which contains carbon residue which can be quite hard when left to accumulate in the throat (diamonds are carbon). No cleaning rod will offer 100% protection from bore/ crown damage if not used properly.....if your method simulates a fiddler playing the "Orange Blossom Special"- your technique is wrong.
If you use the rag often on a coated Dewey, you should have no problems. However, I started buying hardened steel rods for any new lengths/ calibers my needs require. FWIW- I never wore out a Dewey coated ...and one is 20 years old.

Graphite is carbon, too. I also use an uncoated rod and wipe with a rag. But, I suspect there are no diamonds forming in barrel throats.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I have some dewey rods that have seen a lot of use and they certainly have some embedded grit. I am preferring a high polished uncoated rod now. IVY makes very nice ones. I think for the normal shooter you will never see a difference. The Bore tech rods look nice and they make a dedicated 6mm rod thats long.

 

[tripdad]

Have used un coated and coated and am not competition shooter so don't know as much as alot of people here. I just don't like the idea of running a rod that is as hard as barrel through it, would rather wipe alot than risk a miss stroke scarring a barrel. I use coated now for scrubbing and bore snake unless really dirty.

 

[butchlambert]

Hey guys, this has been beat to death. Do a search and then continue what ever you are doing. I've heard all of the stories of ruined barrels from cleaning, but have never seen one.
I use Ivy steel rods.

 

[Mulligan]

]Hey guys, this has been beat to death. Do a search and then continue what ever you are doing. I've heard all of the stories of ruined barrels from cleaning, but have never seen one.
I use Ivy steel rods.[/QUOTE]
no words

 

[bsekf]

Has anyone tried a solid brass rod? They may be too soft and bend. There is a guy selling them on e-bay and will make anything you want.

Bill

 

[gotcha]

[QUOTE They may be too soft and bend.

Bill[/QUOTE]
You've got that right !!! The very last choice I'd opt for in a cleaning rod.

 

[dickn52]

I did not read this complete thread, but why would you 'drag' anything back into the bore or crown of any rifle? I use a fitted guide, any rod and go from chamber to crown ONLY.

I was in the Army and I can certainly relate to the squeak and the grinding of cleaning those barrels. But there is no comparison in the two. For instance, we have to buy these barrels and we use better rods.
I used to use coated rods but got away from them. They were peeling and chipping at the ferrell. The coup de gras was when this happened to Greg Walley and he wrapped the rod around a tree at Holton. Now we're talking of 6mm and .30 cal rods. But when you go to .22 or smaller you get too much flex. In fact, I don't they think come in the coated variety in the smaller calibers.

They do, got two right here. .22 and .17

 

[JasonT]

I use an Ivy rod in 0.281 for .30cal. Perfectly straight...I put mine in my homemade heat-treat oven to harden it more to H900. That thing is super stiff and ultra glassy. Nothing sticks to it or scratches it at all. If anybody wants, I'm happy to do the full heat treat and re-polish service for $30+shipping for each rod. Only Ivy rods though because I know he uses 17-4Ph steel.

FWIW, I also use Homemade 15-5PH steel rods, Dewey, Boretech, and Tipton.

My favorite for cleaning at the range is the Dewey because the coating just gives me more of the warm fuzzies when cleaning amidst dust and dirt.

I always use my custom-hardened Ivy or my own homemade steel rods when I'm cleaning in the shop though.

 

[74Bronco]

no one using the Tipton carbon fiber rods ?

 

[Ned Ludd]

I use the Tipton rods, won't use anything else unless I have to. I have a few steel rods, just don't care for them.

For the OP - please don't steal uncoated cleaning rods...they're not that expensive.

 

[Randy L]

For the OP - please don't steal uncoated cleaning rods...they're not that expensive.