sub caliber range/field rod

[The other DWS]

I just solved another .29 calibre problem that I thought worth sharing :  The need for a small diameter but stiff and strong ramrod.   I had found a nice long (48" I think) brass range & cleaning rod yesterday at a local shop and a selection of brass bore brushes, ball pullers and cleaning jags I can tunen down to a good fit.  (SW MI shooters; "On Target" in Kalamazoo has a very good selection of ML stuff that is not all in-line oriented including BP)
 However with a rod OD of .272 and a good bore fit it is still a noodley. Especially for a real tight patch to scrub the bore.  Plus it is heavy.  I could cut it to barrel length for field use but with a 1" across the flats 40" .29 bore barrel I don't really need more weight for stability.

Last night was one of those nights where you wake up way too early and can't go back to sleep so I was laying there letting my mind wander and,  eureka !!!!     I'm also into traditional archery and I have a LOT of carbon fibre arrow shafts in varying diameters and stiffness ratings.  Some are even finished in an attractive wood grain film coat.  Most are 32 inches long but they are hollow.  Two shafts butt-jointed with with a section of epoxied in drill-rod and then cut to any length desired.  The ones I use the most used an epoxied in metal insert that is threaded 8x32 for all the usual attachments.  Using them I can make range and field rods that'll be stiffer than brass and far stiffer than wood.
    So if you need a strong, light stiff synthetic range or field rod grab your mike and head for your local archery shop.  Most stock the carbon arrows and fittings and will be happy to sell a pair of shafts

[stuart cee dub]

How hard is the carbon shaft?
Would the shaft abrade the rifling?
Is this even really an issue with ramrods if you use a muzzle guide?

[The other DWS]

I don't know how hard the carbon fiber is.  The arrows I'll be using have a film dip so any wear will show up on the film dip pretty easily.  I'll put mine together later this morning after I dig out my arrow cut-off saw to get a precisely square cut for the butt joint.  I'll use 4 glued in inserts, 2 at the joint, and one at each end for accessories including a bore diameter brass loading tip
 I did mike a bunch of carbon arrows earlier this morning and most shafts run right at about .30 od.  The Beman/Easton H.I.T (Hidden Insert Technology) slim-shafts mike .272 od

Modern competition rifle shooters use hardened steel rods that are precision ground to a close to bore diameter. I use them on my offhand match 22 rf single shots. Of course they clean from the breech to avoid "wearing out" the critical muzzle crown.  Their theory is that softer rods that are smaller can flex, even with a bore guide, and they pick up grit that embeds in the rod.  The bore guide keeps the rod centered at the muzzle and it can't hurt, especially in cleaning when we are pumping the rod in and out a lot.

[cahil_2]

There is a guy who comes to the Grand Rapids gun show who can get you a SS range rod that will fit your .29.  I bought one from him for my .25.  I don't have the rifle anymore and will be at boiling waters shoot tomorrow in Kalamazoo and if you are interested I'll bring it along and we'll make some sort of deal.  Just send me a pm.

[Gene Carrell]

I use a 1/4" dia  SS range rod in both the 25 and 30 cal rifles, with a bore guide. They are available from MBS or Mike Eder  and  probably many others, (The 25cal  is a Rayl bbl so can use 1/4 rod.)