Cleaning Rod

[kflach]

I’m a complete newbie at shooting, so this is a newbie question.

I unexpectedly got a .44 Pietta 1858 NMA. I went to Cabela’s last weekend to pick up supplies. I saw a bunch of cleaning tools that I thought must be for rifles since they were rods with attachments. I bought a set of twist wire brushes. I’ve since found that people use those rods on revolvers, too.

Is there a specific sized rod I should use?

What attachments do I need (obviously a bore brush but what else)?

What is a “jag” and do I need one?

 

[mykeal]

Is there a specific sized rod I should use?

No. Other than a pistol, rather than a rifle, rod.

What attachments do I need (obviously a bore brush but what else)?

A patch holder. Looks like an elongated loop or a flat spatula with a slot cut in the middle.

What is a “jag” and do I need one?

A jag is a cylinder shaped tool with circumferential rings (or sometimes a knurled surface) that is used to hold cleaning patches in a rifle or single shot pistol. You do not need one for a revolver.

 

[arcticap]

If I want to get a patch to fit nice and tight in a pistol barrel, I use a piece of wooden dowel and a homemade patch that's cut to fit right.
The patch holders that come with pistol rods are useful, but the patches that fit in the loop may not always provide the tightest fit in the bore.
Every cleaning kit and brand of patch loop is different.
And for some cleaning tasks it helps to improvise.

 

[kflach]

Thanks for the Info. It sounds like I need to try various sizes of cleaning patches to see which has a good tight fit in my .44.

I've noticed there are round and square patches. Does the shape matter?

 

[mykeal]

Nope.