Proper diameter for cleaning jags

[David R. Pennington]

What would be the proper diameter for .62 cal. jag? Anyone know a formula that works well, say .005 or .010 under bore size? Getting ready to turn some jags and wondered if anyone has figured out the optimum sizes. 

[Habu]

Smaller than bore size.  Seriously.  (Care to guess who's new .54 jag mic's out at .548"? )

It is all going to depend on what you are using as patches.  Try measuring your fabric, then turn the jag that size minus patch thickness, and see how it goes.  If you are like me, and have been known to use whatever fabric comes to hand, try bore diameter minus .025" to start.  My Bess had a bore around .753" or so, the jag I used most often measures about .725".  

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

This is a good question casue every jag I have bought is too big when trying to use the cleaning patches sold by the same supplier!!!
I end up chucking them up and filing a few .001 off. 

[mjm46@bellsouth.net]

I usually just order a cleaning jag from somewhere for the size of the bore I have, never had a problem.

[Eric Krewson]

A top shooter friend just back from Friendship said most competitors he saw were using jags .025 under bore size.

One trip down the bore, spin the jag to bunch up the fabric at the breech end and retract. Turn the patch over and repeat and you are good to go. He said the loose fit didn't force fowling to the breech and once bunched up the fabric would pull the fowling ahead of it on the way out.

He said guys using this jag size and method shot all day with out cleaning their rifles.

My friend didn't shoot much, spending all his time coaching his grandson. His grandson won the sub junior class and set a new scoring record.

[mattdog]

I make them .025" under bore size.  That will allow a .015" patch to work well, not too tight, not too loose.  Has worked on hundreds of jags over the years.  Of course there is always the fella' who'll try to use diaper flannel and get a dry one stuck from time to time.

[Acer Saccharum]

What you need to avoid is a tight fitting jag, because when you push the jag down the bore, it pushes all the crud to the bottom of the bore.

Better is to have loose, then it slides down the bore easily, but when you go to withdraw, the rag bunches up, pulling the crud out of the bore.

[T*O*F]

Use the next smaller size with 2 patches; ie, use a .45 jag for a .50 cal bore.  For a .62 use a .58 jag.
Two patches = 4 trips down the barrel using all the faces.

[cmac]

I cut up old socks for patches. They are very absorbant and the coarseness helps get the heavy fouling fast. Using these a 54 cal. requires a 50 jag. If that is too loose I just cut a large patch and fold it in half. I make my own jags and keep turning the size down until I think its about right(Poor mans lathe)

[Habu]

Cmac, that's exactly what I did when cleaning my .54 last night--right down to the source of cleaning patches.     It worked fine.  When I get a chance, I'll turn the oversize jag down to about .51-.52. 

[smylee grouch]

Well if you turn your own, make sure that the area behind the jag proper is small enough to allow the patch material to get caught when retreating the rod and as TOF says jag proper dia. should be around one bore size smaller. Keep a tighter one for removing the oil you use after cleaning before your next shooting sesion. I hope that made sense.   Smylee

[flehto]

Using cut up old hunting shirts for cleaning patches requires jags of varying dias...so the jags are spun in a drill press and filed smaller until a nice fit is achieved. Have a few in each cal and they're marked.....Fred

[David R. Pennington]

Thanks for the input. I plan to turn my own jags and figured you guys could sve me some trial and error.

[oldiemkr]

A long time ago someone had a story about making jags in Muzzle Blasts.

If I remember right he made a case for using about .050 to .060 below the bore size and necking down the jag just below the major dia. The claim was that it did not push everything down to the plug and did seem to pull the crud out on the removal.

If you use a fairly large patch it will bunch up behind the larger dia. of the jag and bring the residue  out. I made a set per his suggestion and I guess I'm happy with them as I have used them for years. They seem to clean the bore fine and it works the same way on the oiling or final patch.