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From: crs@beta.lanl.gov (Charlie Sorsby)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: A comment about rifle/pistol cleaning
Message-ID: <34747@mimsy.umd.edu>
Date: 21 May 91 22:53:40 GMT
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Approved: gun-control@cs.umd.edu


The reason that stainless steel rods are recommended is that they
are hard enough that grit (from dust or other sources) is less
likely to imbed itself in the rod to act as a "lap" on the inside
of your barrel.

My understanding of the definition of lapping is the use of a
soft(er) metal tool and an abrasive to polish or otherwise abrade a
harder metal object.  An aluminum cleaning rod, for example, can
act as a lapping tool (or lap) together with grit from
unintentional sources acting as an abrasive and can lap (in this
case *wear*) the bore of your rifle or pistol.  My understanding is
that this also is true of other soft metal rods (e.g. brass) and of
the various *coated* rods (e.g. nylon, teflon).  I'm sorry, I don't
recall where I read this.

Anyway, for what it's worth, I bought a solid (i.e. no joints)
stainless rod on sale at a gun store.  I think it's made by
KleenBore but I don't recall with any certainty.  A company called
Belding & Mull used to make high quality stainless steel cleaning
rods and accessories years ago but it's been a long time since I've
seen one of their ad's.

Well, I don't know how much help this will be but maybe it will at
least point you to something to think about in choosing a cleaning
rod.

Incidentally, while the cleaning rod rarely if ever contacts the
interior of a *shotgun* bore, one should be very careful when the
jag or brush exits the muzzle.  As the rod brushes the muzzle,
lapping can occur and it doesn't take much of a change in the choke
area to screw up, not only the pattern, but the point of impact.
So, shotguns are not immune from such wear either.

Best,

Charlie Sorsby						"I'm the NRA!"
	crs@lanl.gov