This might sound a bit stupid, but I can't help but think I did something wrong on my practice rifle. I use a Pro-Shot rod that I really like but my bore guide wasn't the best, so maybe that was it, but whenever I removed the patch and jag, there was still enough flex in the rod for it to slide along the bottom of the barrel when I pulled it back through. Is there a muzzle device or certain technique I should use?

I stepped up to a much nicer rifle so I'm planning on a Lucas bore guide which should help a bit but I really want to do the maintenance correctly to protect this investment.

As a note: I was using a coated rod. I'm considering a Stainless for the rigidity, but the fact that I was already seeing contact with the bottom of the barrel is making me a bit squeamish about that.

It seems like most of your problems could be solved by using a bore-snake instead of a rod.

...or pull the rod from the muzzle end.

This is the precision rifle forum, right?

I'll toss my two cents out here...

Having a clean one piece stainless steel rod contacting the bore of the barrel should not cause any problems.  It hasn't for me over the years.

What I have found is that having an aluminum, coated, or sectioned cleaning rod does cause problems.  Here's why. Aluminum and coated rods are soft, much softer than your barrel.  When you use those rods hard particles and grit can become embedded in the rod.  The next time you use those rods those particles and grit will act like sand paper on your barrel, not good.

Sectioned rods can have the same problem with stuff getting lodged in the small interface between sections.

In general I stay with one piece stainless rods and don't worry if the rod touches the bore.

This. ^^^

8541 Tactical

The guy in the video used to post here. Good guy, lots of knowledge.