As far as soaking rods in kerosene, heating oil, diesel fuel, ATF or whatever other oil based solvent/fluid you come up with. One consideration. These all tend to be very “odorous” compounds. And if you hunt with your rifle, (particularly for deer) it will likely take forever and a day for the odor to naturally dissipate from a ramrod soaked in one of these fluids. Plain old Un-soaked hickory is probably the best for hunting use.