Need range rod recommendation

Looking for some recommendations for a range rod you guys may use.
Ive been looking around on the web. Just don't want to be toting one around that looks all out of place for being plastic.
Any help is appreciated.
The ones TOW has are nice

They kind of all look out of place to me. Get yourself one of those GI surplus cleaning rods. They have 4 steel sections, and when screwed together are about 48 inches long, the top most having a T handle,
like this one

I like the brass rods from ToTW or October Country. I prefer solid rods that are about 2 to 4 inches longer than the barrel with a T-handle.

The GI rod is good. They are getting hard to find in the military surplus stores.

With all range rods, a bore protector should be used to prevent wear at the muzzle.

On the range anything other than a pink tutu won't look out of place. That said, one of my failed enterprises was selling (trying to) white Delrin rods. Just no takers. Today black Delrin rods are quite popular. Take a look at the brass rod offerings by Ox-Yoke. Good choice and reasonable.

Rice Barrels makes the best range rod I have used.
Absolutely straight stainless steel, beautiful finish, muzzle guide and a round handle. Mine is 4 inches longer than the barrel.
They are a steal at $20.
Irish

I like wood, good old Hickory. I use a 48" length with the biggest diameter that will fit the caliber. I stop getting larger at 1/2". One end gets a 10/32 and the other gets a 8/32 brass RR end. With the 48" length one can (on most rifles) grip the rod on the sides for loading. I do not like tee or ball handles on an all purpose rod. Human tendency is to use the rod the same way loading as when cleaning. A loaded charge is Not suppose to go off, but if it does, I do not want my hand over the muzzle.
Flintlocklar :grin:

For a range rod I like a solid brass one with a "T" handle. It's a little heavier but when you have to pull a ball (AND you will have to pull a ball sooner or later) you'll like it's solid feel and the "T" handle.

I have a .54 and a .54/28ga. At the range I use a wonder rod I bought back in 1993. Still great service. I also use a wood dowel (Straight grained as can find) about 4 " longer than the bore length. The diameter is 9/16" and sanded and soaked in brake fluid. Works great. I have a 44" bbl and 4-6 grabs seats everything well. As any wood rod, short strokes. I fitted a 2 1/2 X 5" dowel over the end as a handle. Drilled to accept the rod. The soaking brake fluid helps take the brittleness from the wood. Works great and fellow shooters mad them also.

The October Country solid brass rods are super. They also look more period especially once they develop a nice patina. Also the brass is softer than barrel steel and won’t damage a crown if you slip and whack it. Keep it wiped down and clean and use a muzzle guide, I use the brass type also sold by OC. They’ll make the rod in any length you want and have T handles and other handles to chose from. Worth every penny. Get a ball screw and some cleaning jags and you’ll be all set.

Yes, the ones at TOW are very nice indeed! They are Creedmore stainless steel 5/16 rods with brass bore guides. Nice wood handles that fit my hand perfectly. The rod has just the right amount of weight to firmly and solidly seat the ball. Not flimsy at all. Very well constructed!

They come in 29”, 36”, and 44”. Either 8/32 or 10/32 for jags. They range from $25 to around $37 depending on length.

I use the 44” rod for my longrifle’s. Excellent for the range!

Respectfully, Cowboy

I have several range rods. Favorites are a ss rod I got years ago from TVM and another given to me by a friend.

Has anyone tried the phenolic rods offered by ToTW? They offer one with a single brass tip that is 48" long that I thought might serve for all of my barrel lengths and be a bit lighter than a SS rod. Are these resistant to common cleaning agents?

The material called phenolic is basically immune to just about any chemical that would ever be used around a muzzle loader.
It is a tough plastic that uses imbedded cloth in it to give it a lot of strength.

I have gotten to where I have a specific caliber range rod for each of my guns, the last I bought was a Creedmoor from TOW, very nice.

I would get one from Jason at Rice Barrel Co

After using SS rods of all diameters, I have decided to use the largest diameter rod that will fit the rifle. It is too hard to grip the little rods while loading/cleaning the larger calibers. I have a bout six SS rods and several wooden ones in the shop(maybe even a couple of delrin rods too). Due to having everything from a .36 to a .62, I have the various rods to avoid changing jags. They are always tight and need pliers or something to change them.

Smokey Plainsman said:

The October Country solid brass rods are super. They also look more period especially once they develop a nice patina. Also the brass is softer than barrel steel and won’t damage a crown if you slip and whack it. Keep it wiped down and clean and use a muzzle guide, I use the brass type also sold by OC. They’ll make the rod in any length you want and have T handles and other handles to chose from. Worth every penny. Get a ball screw and some cleaning jags and you’ll be all set.

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Something interesting that I came across reading on a modern shooting site was a statement to the effect that the rod should be as hard a substance as possible. The idea was that softer rods had grit more easily embedded in them and the grit would wear on the crown.

Don't remember the source so I can't reference it.

Larry Pletcher did experiments on this subject but I don't know where to look for it.

It's too easy to make a range rod for me to ever consider purchasing one.

Another vote here for October Country Solid Brass, AWESOME Range Rod! I use a Stiff Treso Range Rod From Buffalo Arms more than any Though, I have Delrin Flexible Rods in most of my Rifles.

I made mine. 5/16” length of cold rolled steel from Lowe’s. Drilled the end and tapped to 10-32. Chucked it in a drill and polished with some emery paper and drilled and tapped to 10-32. Added a wooden handle I made from a piece of scrap wood.

Cost about $10.

After trying to ram a a sharp piece of wooden ram rod through my right hand a few times I decided to to try making a steel rod with 3/8ths diameter rod. Using a tap and die set I was able to add threading on one end for jags and an olde time door knob on the other end to help giving me some added weight to run the rod down the bore. Thringe benefit of the door knob is that when you aim the rifle the knob gets in the way and you will not be firing the rod down range. There are brass fittings for gas operated equipment that go on the rod and serve as barrel protectors.. If you bend that steel rod you be be able to straighten it easily though I never had to do that. No further hands full of blood either.

Dutch

EC121 said:

After using SS rods of all diameters, I have decided to use the largest diameter rod that will fit the rifle. It is too hard to grip the little rods while loading/cleaning the larger calibers. I have a bout six SS rods and several wooden ones in the shop(maybe even a couple of delrin rods too). Due to having everything from a .36 to a .62, I have the various rods to avoid changing jags. They are always tight and need pliers or something to change them.

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