In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.

some cleaning issues

bwabwa Member Posts: 224 ✭✭✭
edited January 2002 in Ask the Experts
I would like to invite comment on the following:1)Are aluminum cleaning rods capable of damaging/harming bores(I'll be cleaning a revolver, which means I have to go in from the muzzle.)? Is it worth the extra money to get a nylon-coated one? Could a guy dip an aluminum one in that fast-drying liquid vinyl stuff used normally for tool handles?2)I see rods with different diameters on the store shelf for different calibers. Might it be acceptable to get a smaller one than recommended to avoid contact with the bore?3)Are all bore solvents created equal? I would like one that removes all kinds of fouling without being hazardous to the bore or the finish(Am I asking for the moon here?).4)Do you fellows recommend commercially-produced patches, or is an old cut-up t-shirt acceptable? Do you push them through or insert them in the loop tip? Give the rhyme and reason for your answers here.Don't feel you have to respond to every question. I'm sure you're all busy guys. Thanks for your input.
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • GreenLanternGreenLantern Member Posts: 1,647 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    1) I asked the same question a few days back and never got an answer. My feeling is that alum shouldn't really matter since it's not anywhere near as strong as the metal the barrel is made out of. However, I do have one precision rifle that I'll probably not use a metal cleaning rod with. All my other guns I use alum.2) ?3) ?4) I prefer to buy patches. I find it very tedious to try and cut up a tshirt to the right size pieces. Patches don't seem to be expensive. Also, I also seem to get a lot of little fibers left around from the cut edge of the tshirts. I generally save the whole tshirt for wipping down the outside of the gun metal. That's my $.02!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • badboybobbadboybob Member Posts: 1,658 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    1. I've used aluminum rods for over 50 years with no damage to the barrel.2. I use a .22 cleanind rod for all rifles and handguns with appropriate size patches.3. Have never used anytning but Hoppe's #9. For fmj rifle I clean the day of firing, then again the next day. Handguns get cleaned once.4. Buy patches. Anything else is a bother.
    PC=BS
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MIKE WISKEYMIKE WISKEY Member Posts: 10,035 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    aluminum rods will damage rifling, they are so soft they pick up small particuls of 'grit' that act like a file (they cut large rocks with copper wire and diamond dust) get a good stainles or coated rod and when cleaning from the muzzel use a cut off shell casting so you don't rub the end of the rifling (cut off .30/30 casing in a .357 etc.)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • luger01luger01 Member Posts: 230 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Aluminum rods (IMHO) are fine. As for picking up particles - any rod will do that. I mean a soft teflon coared rod really picks up particles.Answer: Clean your rods! A few light strokes of 0000 steel wool can keep a rod slick and clean.As for using a small diameter rod in a larger bore, what happens is the rod flexes and unnecessarily contact the bore (if you have your patches sized to the correct diameter the fit is tight).Another poster mentioned the bore guide (well he said a used case - not as good). THIS IS CRITICAL! Always you a bore guide to keep solvent IN the bore and not all over everywhere AND to keep the rod and jag from hitting the bore and chamber.There are many good discussions of the proper way to clean guns so I won't fill things up here. It's enough to say that you need the proper size of rod, jag, brushes, and patches plus good solvents, oil, and a bore guide to keep a gun clean and in the best possible condition.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • bwabwa Member Posts: 224 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    luger01:You mean those short pistol rods flex? And you use a bore guide to go in the muzzle of a pistol? Pardon my ignorance and confusion; I just want to make sure we're on the same page.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • luger01luger01 Member Posts: 230 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    bwa-Guess I didn't read closely enough and missed "revolver". I was talking about rifle cleaning and how the rods flexes.In my revolvers I do use a guide - it's a small brass cone that fits over the rod and I hold it against the muzzle, but I do use aluminum rods for 9mm and up and have a small diameter brass rod I use for my .22s.I've GOT to start reading more carefully before I look really stupid!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • IconoclastIconoclast Member Posts: 10,515 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I use a variety of rods for cleaning handguns & have never seen a bit of difference in one material over another. I don't believe there's a single 'magic bullet' solvent. If there were, it would be the only thing anyone used. Some are better for copper, others for lead. Ask 12 guys what is best, and you will get at least 8 different answers - this was beaten to death on the General Discussion board, with everything from carberator (sp) cleaner to the high priced speciality items being offered up as personal favorites. Best advice I can offer is to pick up a variety of products which purport to do what you want and use the one you like the best.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • festusfestus Member Posts: 1,011 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    might try (www.otisgun.com) works great for me.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Sign In or Register to comment.