A little lathe work this afternoon

[1BadDart]

While waiting on my stock and hardware for my .40 caliber build, I'm trying to gather everything needed to shoot it. I already have balls, powder is on order, haven't found caps yet, patch worm, jag, scraper and range rod arrived this last week. The rod is from Rice barrels, 5/16" X 48", was supposed to be 10-32, came 8-32, all my accessories are 10-32. The rod was chucked up in the lathe and drilled and tapped for 10-32. The jag was a .45 so I turned it to work with the cotton material I'll use. The rod came with a tapered plastic bore guide, I took some 3/4" aluminum round stock and turned a bore guide.

 

[ZUG]

Looks good but I think your patch will get bunched up between the base of the jag and the top of the steel ram rod. I make my jags a bit longer than yours and taper them from front to back by about 0.015" to 0.020" over about 1.000". My grooves are also much closer together and not as deep. I make the grooves with a 60 degree threading tool plunged into the jag about 0.020" - 0.030" deep. My steel cleaning/range rod is also not as large in diameter as yours look - depending on bore size I don't go over 0.281" (9/32") stainless steel rod. Maybe up to 5/16".

 

[flconch53]

I agree I would use a 1/4 inch rod and bot a 1/4 inch shank on the jag about 1/2 inch long. I don't go bigger than 1/4 inch until at least 45 caliber

 

[Rifleman1776]

Not a Kentucky, but 75 cal rifled! I made this in the 70s or early 80s. It has a Goetz tapered 1.25" to 1" barrel
LarryView attachment 122564View attachment 122565

I think your patch will get bunched up between the base of the jag and the top of the steel ram rod.

Zug, I agree. Good catch.
p.s. the post about the rifle just appeared on it's own. I didn't do it.

 

[1BadDart]

Zug, I have a longer jag with a tapered body on order. I have ran some tight patches with JB bore paste through the barrel and the jag I have has worked fine, even loose patches weren't an issue. The new one should be here in a few days, better safe than sorry.

With a 42" barrel the 5/16" rod is what was recommended.

Thanks guys, Justin