Why rods?

[Dan877]

With all the worry about the damage that improperly using a rod can cause to a barrel's throat, bore and crown, is there a particular reason that top shooters use rods to clean their barrels rather than the "soft" methods, i.e. bore-shake, patch-worm, etc.?

Is it more "results" oriented, in that the soft methods don't clean well, or is it more "procedure" oriented, in that it's not practical to try to thread the line down the barrel?

I do have a genuine reason to ask this.

 

[rstreich]

I haven't heard of a "soft" method that actually cleans much. That is, if you're referring to bore snakes or the Otis pull-through.

The key word in your question is "improperly." Just use a rod properly and you won't have any damage. But then, that's true with most things in life.

 

[Preacher]

I've often wondered about the contaminate's on the pull throughs after the first time through. Seems like after a few times it would need to be trashed.......

 

[Fred Bohl]

I can only speak to what works best for me.

For at range bore cleaning I prepare a Patch Worm kit for each gun and keep it in the gun case. I pre-moisten patches with my favorite products and also carry dry patches in the sealed containers. This system precludes any metal contact or dirty product contact with the chamber, bore, or crown and eliminates the need to carry bore guides or long rods.

In my shop I prefer to use Lucas bore guides, AccuPro jags,with protective oring) and either Dewey coated rods or Tipton carbon fiber rods. This also precludes any metal contact or dirty product contact with the chamber, bore, or crown.

For some special applications and/or products I prefer the VFG felt pellets and adapters in place of jags and patches. The two pellet adapter retains the rear pellet to avoid metal contact with the chamber, bore or crown on the return stroke but allows easy removal of the front pellet,with the dirty solvent) past he crown. I prefer to use three pellet adapter with 2 or 3 pellets when using polishing compounds such as JB or Iosso paste.

Attached are pics of the key items.