When I first started cleaning guns (58 years ago - @ age 11) I bought a Sears & Roebuck 3 section Aluminum cleaning rod in a kit - kind of a one size fits all type deal. I used that type for a number of years but never really cared for them. When I got a bit more knowledgable and could afford to upgrade, I went to Brass rods but noticed they were not much better than the Aluminum. Not too long after I switched over to a to a solid Nylon coated rod. Nylon coated solid rods seemed to be the cat's meow and I thought they were great - that is until they started chipping and picking up abrasive debris.

So then in my mid 30's I decided to call Mr. Dewey of Dewey cleaning rods. He was a very nice guy who spent time explaining the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of cleaning rods and materials. After talking for a while he suggested I switch over to his stainless steel solid rods, I was aghast at first. I said, "use stainless steel inside my bores"? He explained that if properly cared for, his stainless steel rods will not pick up any abrasive debris and actually cause less damage than a coated rod after they start chipping and getting porous. He also told me there are certain solvents that will not play nice with coated rods and cause them to deteriorate.

Well, I listened and learned. I wound up buying a bunch of his Stainless Steel cleaning rods in different calibers and lengths and still have and use them all to this day. Every 3-6 months I check them throughly and if there is even the slightest hint of a nick, scratch or burr (rare), I use very very fine crocus cloth to smooth them out so they are as smooth as a baby's butt! My cleaning rods stay straight, don't bend and have never done any damage to any bore or cylinder charge hole.

I have never regretted switching over to Dewey stainless rods and have never had to replace any. Anyone of my friends who ask me, I always recommend the same for them. I don't know how good other brands of stainless rods are since I have never owned any others. With minimal inspection and maintenance, they will last lifetimes and only get smoother with usage and this simple maintenance.

While I know nylon coated rods are all the rage now, anyone having deterioration issues with them might want to consider what I am posting here. I know this is a controversial subject and some here might think I'm nuts, but I did listen to "the man" and IMHO he was dead on! YMMV.

NOTE: In the beginning of using stainless rods I was using a bore rod guide. Shortly thereafter I learned the technique of not hitting the lands and groves without the guide. It takes a little hand/eye and muscle memory coordination, but most will pick that up quickly if they try. I rarely use a guide anymore.

PS: The Brass rod on the right is strictly for 12 Ga. Shotguns - no issue with it in a 12 Ga. bore. The other rod on the left is one my Dad made out of aluminum on our lathe - don't really use it but I don't have the heart to get rid of it.

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Totally agree with one piece stainless steel rods!And rifling has grooves, not groves! Why do so many use the wrong word?

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Gunsmithing since 1961

Eye think what happens is the spell Czech wizards don't ketch the wrong word if yew spell it rite.

The other option is a carbon fiber rod.
My buddy uses them on his VERY high dollar long range rifles because "Either the rod is perfectly straight or it's broken".
Supposedly they also won't allow grit to embed.
The watch-out is the lower end brands may allow the threaded insert to come out.

I've used Dewey one piece stainless rifle rods and Pro-Shot stainless pistol rods for many years.
Still like new and I expect they will be for several lifetimes.

Quality one piece polished stainless cleaning rods are a "buy once, cry once" product, because short a catastrophic event like bending it, it's a once in a life time purchase that won't harm your expensive guns.

It never ceased to amaze me at customers who bought guns worth thousands, agonized over the "best lubricant" and spend lots of money on accessories, then used a cheap screw-together aluminum or brass rod.

I've used Dewey rods for at least forty years and can see no good reason to change.

I've used Pro-shot SS one piece rods for decades. Family business with super customer service. I have a full selection of rifle caliber and lengths at my cleaning bench. I also have a caliber and length appropriate SS one piece rod with a basic cleaning kit in every rifle case. I am amazed at the number of times I have used them at the range to clear bore obstructions/squibs from the bore for other shooters. Yes, Pro-shot makes caliber specific brass tips for their rods to be used for clearing obstructions so the end/threads are protected. No more sectional rods for my rifles.

I use Dewey coated rods exclusively......Ben

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Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

On a Dewey or any other cleaning rod. You can slide a piece of heat shrink tubing over the rod ans shrink it in place with your wife's hair dryer.
THEN it matters not what your cleaning is made or jointed.....With this method. Only the rubber will touch the bore and it cleans up easily.

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S&W Accumulator

I've always preferred one-piece rods over assembled rods for several reasons. Those of you who use one-piece rods know why. I have a coated Dewey, a stainless Dewey, and a carbon Klean Bore for all my cleaning needs.

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SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS

I didn't use the wrong word - just typed it incorrectly. Because groves is a word as is grooves, it slipped by. I am a very poor typist and the first to admit it. Thankfully auto correct picks up most of my typo's and misspelled words but sometimes they slip by. Sorry.

While I am at it, I am not the best at spelling either - however I am a wiz at mathematics - I can do more complicated math faster in my head than pretty much anyone I know can do with a calculator. My wife does the spelling - I do the math.

And my question is why do some people feel the need to be so critical?

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Metro Man

When I started out, same deal. Cheapo aluminum junk, then brass, now all stainless one piece. I think most started the exact same way. Hey, that's what happens before you get better educated on such matters!

Eye heat thy spill Czech on my confuser! Eye no a lit bitter then it dose whet eye went to sigh!
Froggie

Hired a guy to do inventory.

When handed a calculator, he said the same thing as you.

True to his word, he COULD do math in his head faster than the calculator!

Unfortunately, all his answers were WRONG!

But he WAS faster...

John

Sometimes a typo is funny, and it becomes fair game.
Sometimes petty pedants feel superior after making a big deal about an honest mistake.

If it weren't for my typos I would be prefect.

Least you are good at something chief. 👍
I can’t spell very well nor can I do math well. I am persistent though. 😁

using a Lyman Bore Cam, I have seen more damage from combustion heat and harsh chemicals than any cleaning rod could ever do.

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"Don't Give Up the Ship"

To only allow me only one choice for spelling a word would be far to restrictive for my creative nature! Like an artist only allowed one paint color, or, a shooter only one calibre.

73,
Rick

My peccadilloes get lots of exercise.

Are we being graded on spelling and grammar now? I hope the moderators don't start giving out points for it. I have a hard enough time not running afoul of the political rules, never mind my English skills.

What I don't understand is why Dewey is still selling coated cleaning rods if stainless is so superior?

I have a Dewey coated 1 piece cleaning rod for rifles and a coated AR15 chamber brush for ARs for about 20-25 years and they still work great.

Enough of this spelling ****! A lot of off-topic foolishness over too many posts.

And, this is coming from a spelling freak (yours truly).

I guess the same reason why Smith & Wesson sells so many variations of J Frames and the same reason Baskin Robins sells different flavor ice creams - everyone likes something else and what is disliked by some is loved by others. Different theories.

I was simply pointing out that Stainless Rods can easily and quickly be brought back to perfectly smooth and nick free in less than a minute so they won't catch and hold any abrasive debris whereas coated rods can't. When they are new, coated rods are great - but they are subject to small nicks and scratches that can negate the benefits down the road when they age - that's all.

everyone makes mistakes, etc

Most interesting!

I have a new Dewey's Nylon Coated Rod with a storage tube label which reads "One piece spring tempered steel, coated with a permanently bonded nylon surface. Coating will not peel or pick up abrasives."

Sounds like Sir Dewey is playing both sides of the issue. Damn that almighty dollar.

It is quite possible that since I spoke to Mr Dewey decades ago and bought the rods, there have been major improvements in coatings. I foolishly forgot about the length of time its been and modern chemistry and manufacturing improvements. If in fact the Nylon coatings have vastly improved than I guess the new versions maybe just the "ticket" for new buyers. That said, I will stick with my decades old rods and hand them down with the little maintenance hints as well.

It would be interesting to know if vast improvements actually have been made or like you suggested above, it's all about $$$$. Hmmmm.....

I am reminded of some automotive forums in which the participants argue over who makes the best engine oil and oil filters! For what it's worth, I like one-piece uncoated steel rods and wipe them frequently while using them.

Is that what they're talking about when someone says "I need to work on my pecs"?

For those who want to clean 'til the patch is spotless and never considered this.......don't forget to clean the rod once in awhile and to hose out the bore guide if you use one. Truly amazing what accumulates on/in those things.

I am truly "shocked". I've never had the extra money available to invest $40 plus dollars in a cleaning rod, let alone have multiple such devices for various firearms and barrel lengths.....and I'm so ignorant, I never realized my old three piece brass cleaning rod was "substandard" in some way.

I've had my old brass rod since the 1950's. (hand me down from my uncle) Just think of the damage I've inflicted over these many decades.

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

It's about the money.

As I mentioned, I've had Dewey rods for
20-25 years. No deteriation on the nylon coating.

Things have progressed since the golden days of single shot rifles when shooters were advised to use hardwood rods. Nowadays, I tend to straight, un coated stainless whenever available, especially for longer rifle barrels. I’m probably les fastidious with my pistol rods than I should be, but as others have said, it’s hard to beat Dewey’s rods!
Froggie

I once had mistaken grove for groove. So I wrote “The Apple grove had a groove in the road” 500 times.

Now, back to these roods……

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

We need to make one of these up for lose and loose

Back in the early 60's my father had a old wooden 12 Ga. wooded cleaning rod with Brass fittings, that we would use.
Never scratched the shotguns and never worked loose and long enough to get the brushes and patches, all the way through any barrel.

The newer three section aluminum rods are ok, except, some are too short
to get the brush, jag or patch, all the way through my rifles, if I use a special
unit in the bolt area, to guide the tip and solvents, into the chamber area.

I don't mind using a cleaning rod,
as long as it is larger, than a .17 Dia. one !!

Now that’s a classic for the high horsed folks.

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Sure you did

By the way, those are all very nice cleaning rods,

However, you have to try out the one that I got to use, when I was young and in my prime.

The barrel was just a little larger in size than your normal .45 ACP, barrel and YES, it had lands and groves, all the way back to muzzle !!

I am not saying that this cleaning rod was large in size, but at 215 pounds,
I needed a running start to get the copper bore brush all the way through
without it getting stuck !!

Meet my "Little friend"
that I did not look forward to cleaning.

Bought a Hoppes 3 piece stainless back in the 70s for rifles and never looked back.

As I always tell my wife......

if you spell a word wrong not many care. Give someone a wrong dollar accounting of a business - they care!

Elroy never cared for the three piece aluminum rods either and decided to form one of the sections into a pistol rod.

The lower example with the long tang, is an original Smith & Wesson rod from my early 50's K38. The upper rod is the home made substitute. Both work equally well.

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not shocked. I like Dewey's and have also used Parker Hale. My handgun rod is a Stainless steel Rig Rod set.

When I was much younger and didn't know better I used the jointed aluminum rods. When I started getting nice varmint / benchrest rifles I switched to one piece Dewy Rods.

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Sceva
OGCA SWCA NRA