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Posted: 8/1/2006 12:14:59 AM EDT
| So today I went to...wal-mart...to buy CLP and patches in anticipation of the gun that I've been waiting on for T minus 2 weeks and counting. Anyway...while I was there I went ahead and bought a cleaning rod, a bore brush and a 3 pack of "utility gun brushes." The cleaning rod is one piece, 26", says it's for .223 and has some kind of blue coating on it (probably just paint), however, it claims to "protect bore and resist chemicals." The thing that scares me is the little metal tip on it...doesn't really look like any other cleaning rods I've seen. The rod itself has a male end on it, which screws into this little metal piece that the brush screws into the other end of. Should I take this thing back? And also, the other gun bruses are stainless steel (for non-blued surfaces), phosphor bronze and nylon. Think these are worth keeping or should I just grab a tooth brush and use the bore brush on the chamber? Thanks. |
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Dewy rods are male thread as well. Dewy male thread rods keep the finish on longer than there rods with female threads at the tip area. Why, no idea. I would toss the SS brush. Bronze will clean everything you need with less chance of premature wear. Get a bore guide. |
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The rod you bought sounds just like the one I bought...then threw away. It's made by Outers and you will find it impossible to find a chamber brush to fit it. Take it back and get one by Deweys or Kleen Bore. Oh, and for a chamber brush rod, I had to go to a surplus store and buy an M16 cleaning rod. |
| So...is there a general concensus as to who makes better cleaning rods...dewey or kleen bore? And should I go nylon coated, brass or stainless steel? How about the carbon fiber rods? And is 8/36 or 8/32 easier to find brushes for? Are loops or jags better for pulling patches through the barrel? Is there anywhere cheaper to order these cleaning rods than directly from the company? |
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I use a dewey 30" service rifle rod, perfect for 20" AR barrels. I takes standard 8-32 threaded tips. www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/productdetail.aspx?p=5643&s=13170 Avoid Outers and Kleenbore if you can. I use nylon and bronze bristle brushes. So...is there a general concensus as to who makes better cleaning rods...dewey or kleen bore? And should I go nylon coated, brass or stainless steel? How about the carbon fiber rods? And is 8/36 or 8/32 easier to find brushes for? Are loops or jags better for pulling patches through the barrel? Is there anywhere cheaper to order these cleaning rods than directly from the company? I use Deweys and BoreTechs, both are very good. I hear good things about Tiptons. I prefer coated steel one piece rods, as they flex less and protect the bore. However, even cheap mil-spec steel segement rods are okay, since a chrome lined barrel is tough. My selection of cleaning tools are a carryover from shooting and cleaning bolt guns. 8-32 threaded tips are industry standard and you can find them everywhere. However, 8-36 miltary threaded brushes and such are relatively common. I have a couple of mil-spec segmented rods I keep as a backup, but I bought 8-32 adapters to consolidate my supplies to 8-32. The 8-36 tips I donated to the cleaning kits at work, which are built around mil-spec kits. hproper tools. You can pull a patch only with a loop. With a jag you push the patch through from the breach and it falls out at the muzzle. Depending I what cleaning kit I have with me (I have 4) I may use an Otis flex-rod with a loop. Insert it at the muzzle and out the chamber, insert patch and apply solvent, and pull it through. Repeat. It's slower than with a rod/jag, but does the same job, and you can carry an Otis kit in your pocket. I was down in TX/LA/MS/AL/FL for three weeks after Katrina (work related) and took an Otis #750 kit with me (with a few things added.) Worked out great in maintaining M-4s, MP-5s, 870s. I buy all my cleaning supplies from Brownells, but I get the trade discount (LEO). |
| Ignoring the fact I will never step foot in a Wal-Mart....buy the best cleaning rod you can, and they are NOT avb'l at Wal-mart. Sinclair International on-line is the place to shop....regarding Wal-Mart...they have not only ruined small town America, they don't seem to think a living wage is their concern...why do all the Walton boys have a worth, individually, of $19B, apiece? Guess that's the wages they never paid their people. I own a small business and pay my people very well-if you can help someone, you do it, in the long run we're all dead, and who cares after that? And never buy cheap cleaning gear. You take care of your gear and it will take care of you. |
Hmm.. You never had some of that coating come off that Dewey, exposing the metal below? Or loose that little adapter thingy at the range and now cant attach your jag or brush? Not gonna happen with the Tipton. Now I have both (two of each), and they both work well, BUT that darn adapter piece comes loose sometimes or it gets stuck to the jag and I have to struggle to seperate them (I have carpal tunnel so it's not fun). And while my Deweys have not yet lost their plastic coating, I have seen it happen to my brother's. So I treat mine carefully and hope it doesn't happen, but if it does and exposes bare metal, I will replace it with a Tipton. And the handle spins smoother (if it means anything). Because it's carbon fiber it's not going to 'peen' the bore, yet it's also not a coating that can be damaged and peel/tear off. So it does solve a problem, not by being carbon fiber, but by NOT being a plastic coating. So I agree with beltfed_308 for specific reasons. And I like not having to have that adapter piece to use standard tips. |
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The blue rod you bought at Wal-Mart is threaded 5-40. The silver screw in tip is aluminum and is an adapter. It is threaded 8-32 which is the most common size for cleaning pieces. The 8-36 thread size is the military thread size which is standard for the GI cleaning kits (buttstock kits). The next size up is 5/16-24 which is used for the big shotgun rods. I have used the blue rod in the past for my .204 Ruger with no problems. I eventually changed to a Dewey rod. I have Dewey rods for all of my guns now. I like their quality. You can get Deweys from Brownells or Midway or several other places. I deal with Brownells and Midway because of their selection (plus I'm a dealer so I get discounts). I would say that if you get a rod that you like stay with it. Also, with your cleaning supplies I suggest getting chamber guides so that you can clean exclusively from the chamber end and not get a lot of solvent down in the trigger mechanism (fire control group) of any rifle. Ron |
That would be good for a bench rest rifle. For a chrome lined military barrel a piece of coat hanger with a bit of toilet paper on the end would work just fine. Then again, if everyone needs carbon fiber golf clubs why not rifle cleaning rods?? |
Now are you saying, for a bench rest rifle, use proper cleaning technique, and for your M4gery use whatever will hold something fuzzy on the end, even if it scratches/peens the bore?  And it would work just fine? I don't think so. I'll stick with whatever works, doesn't damage the bore, and makes it easier to clean. So it's:A: One piece (if I need compact, I'll use a boresnake in an emergency) B: At least coated, but a material that does not require coating is better. C: Can take cleaning tips (jags/brushes) without having to use a adapter which could get lost. I'll leave the bent coathangers to the daredevels (who have money to burn on barrels). 
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Note to myself, don't buy any rifles or barrels that you have for sale on the equipment exchange! 
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