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What bore guide do you use for cleaning and how do you rate it? I am going to look at making some bespoke ones for my rifles this weekend. Currently I use a proper AI one for my AI, a similar thing for my Barnard and a Stony Point for most of the others and there lies the problem, the SP is a great combination device but seldom fits an action properly, it wither rattles around or needs adjusting and can come unscrewed so I am looking for a reasonable design or idea so I can make one for each rifle.

So what do you use and how could it be improved if at all?

I don't use one; should I?

I use a selection turned plastic type bore guides that I've had for years they are turned for specific actions Enfield, Mauser etc in fact I think I may have seen them in Fultons lord alone knows where mine came from.

Anyway they are first rate simple, robust and accurate.

I have one for my smallbore - I got it when i bought the rifle...

I wanted one for my RPA, but fultons didnt have any in stock... apparently next time i go down i should be able to just get one, hopefully!

...but why should I have one?

Dave i use the stoney pint ones for factory actions and i use a custom turned ptfe one for my bat (when i get it)

I use a 'one-size-fits-all' wooden one.

Watcher wrote:I don't use one; should I?

They serve potentially 3 purposes:

1) They keep the rod aligned with the centre of the bore, preventing the rod from damaging/wearing the bore due to misalignment.

2) Longer & tight-fitting ones also help to reduce incidences of the rod bowing and potentially damaging the bore where the rod contacts.

3) Longer ones, especally those made for the specific action, help to prevent solvents from getting into places they shouldn't, such as the trigger, lug recesses etc.


My wooden guide one only achives item (1). The others have to be achieved by using enough care when cleaning.

Don't use one. Got one years ago when someone suggest it was a good idea. One of those generic plastic things, couldn't see the advantage.

I liked the Ninja Pheasant