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Rocky’s Reloading Room |
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Bore-Tech Products
One of the things that bugs me the most is a poor-quality cleaning rod. I cannot abide a rod that does not turn freely as the brush or patch follows the rifling. Nor can I stand a rod that is so flimsy that even a moderately snug patch causes the rod to bend. I’ve thrown away more rods with permanent kinks in them for that last than anything else. Other abominations I refuse to use in any of my rifles are jointed rods – particularly those of soft aluminum.
So now that you know what I won’t use in my rifles, what DO I use? These days, it’s a superb cleaning rod by Bore-Tech Inc. I’ve been using one for a year now, and it is quite simply the best cleaning rod I’ve ever had the pleasure to stroke through a bore.
Mine is a 36” model (other lengths are available) for .22 through .270 caliber guns. The one-piece steel rod is coated with a black synthetic protective coat that is impervious to any cleaning solvent I’ve used, and also resists physical damage. Mine is still un-nicked after a full year of gun cleaning and haphazard treatment. Perhaps the most impressive thing about the rod, however, is the handle. Coated with a soft, comfortable foam rubber (also impervious to chemicals and slipshod treatment), it is large enough to grasp firmly and comfortable enough to apply significant pressure with no discomfort.
And does it spin! The literature says each handle contains a double ball-bearing raceway, but I’d swear it rides on some kind of anti-gravity thingie. There simply feels like there’s no friction at all, either when it is spun or when it is pushing a patch through the bore. That last is important. I’ve held rods before whose handles spun pretty freely with no load. But put pressure on them, and the rod binds to the handle, resisting free rotation as if it were one solid piece.
This Bore-Tech rod is the only one I’ve ever believed when trying to measure a twist rate by pushing a tight patch down the bore for one full revolution. The Bore-Tech people are so confident that their rod will freely rotate to follow the rifling that they put two dots, one on the handle and one on the rod, to allow you to do just that. Just mark the rod, or measure the distance it protrudes from the gun. Line up the two dots and push (or pull) the rod until the dots line up again. Re-measure and that’s is your “one turn in…” number. I’ve measured several guns this way, doing a double check by both pushing and pulling, and the measurement has always been right on the button. Damn good bearings.
But excellent rods are not the only product that Bore-Tech makes for the shooter. I also have one of their machined aluminum bore guides. This well-made unit replaces the bolt of a rifle so that you can insert the cleaning rod squarely through the breech without hitting the brush or jag on anything, or dripping solvents into the action. There’s a threaded rod that acts like the bolt handle and adjusts for different action lengths, a window through which you can apply solvent to the patch, and the whole shebang is color-anodized by bore /action size. Very well done.
There’s also a gizmo called a Patch Hog (which I didn’t get) that clamps onto your muzzle and (with the addition of an empty plastic soda bottle) catches dirty, drippy patches that you’ve just pushed through the bore on a jag. That’s the way I prefer to clean. No exposed metal patch loops for me. And no dragging a filthy patch back through the bore for me, either. The Patch Hog not only would catch those wet, filthy patches, but it’d help hold down solvent odors, too. When you’re done cleaning, just cap the bottle and throw away. Neatness itself.
Bore-Tech products come with a great warranty, and can be purchased directly or through many fine retail outlets. To contact them directly, visit their website: Bore-Tech or call them at 1-215-997-9689. |
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Note the two alignment dots on the handle and rod collar of this Bore-Tech rod. It’s the only rod in the author’s experience that turns freely enough to measure twist rate. Comfy foam handle, too! |
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Bore-Tech’s bore guide is a well-made device. Note the sliding, adjustable collar for varying actions, and the color-coded solvent portal. Gold is for .22-.243 bores. |