While I have read some posts about what to have or not to have..... and being as I am venturing into a style of shooting I have never been involved with before, I do have nearly half a century of shooting and weapons experience. I would like to have some comments and opinions on what sort of "Stuff" (brand names and where to purchase) some specific gear.

1) I believe in a cleaning rod vs pull throughs. What is a good rod to use, preferably one piece and carbon fibre.

2) Best Jags and brushes.

3) I have been using Hoppes No 9 since I began, and my father before me. Is this still an acceptable bore solvent? Or is there a more modern elixer that would be better suited for a high quality rimfire rifle.

4) I have never used a bore guide in the bore or one that will protect the muzzle. Although in reading I understand the need.

5) I suppose I will get a nice full length hard case to carry the and other long items in, as I already have enough range bags to carry a small house.

6) Any other Items of interest I should invest in. Scope Care item? How Many Magazines should I have? (Not the 20 something I have for my 1911's!!) I feel a log book of some sort to keep track of ammo performance, Scope adjustments based on range and wind speed. I have a Skeet shooting vest that I plan on using for now, until I become more comfortable with the sport.

7) Where is the best place to get this 'Stuff"?

Sorry to sound like such a dweeb, but, to quote the wise Ancient Mariner, "I yam what I yam"!

Thanks!! Steve

1) I only use Tipton carbon fiber rods now. I've given away my Dewey, Pro Shots, and other rods.

2) I like Pro Shot brass jags, but any high quality brass jag will do. Don't use anything harder than brass in case it rubs on the crown occasionally during cleaning. You don't have to worry about copper solvent eating the jag. You shouldn't be using a copper solvent in the bore due to not ever letting copper-washed bullets touch the inside of a quality 22lr barrel. If you absolutely must use a brush, get a copper core nylon brush. No steel core (same reason as jag) and nothing more than nylon bristles needed for cleaning up after match 22lr ammo.

3) Hoppes No. 9 still works as well as it always has. I tend to prefer Butch's Bore Shine "Rimfire Blend" if I have it handy, but Hoppes works in a pinch, too. There might be a little copper solvent in the BBS "Rimfire Blend" but I never leave it in the bore anyway. There are dozens of solvents on the market now that all do basically the same thing. No need to spend a lot.

4) Absolutely use a bore guide every time you push a rod into the bore and never do it from the muzzle if there's any other way to clean. I prefer the Possum Hollow bore guides for both my rimfire and centerfire match rifles.

5) I have an SKB hard case that I like for travel, but there are definitely better cases out there. I'll let those who travel by air to matches more than I do answer this one. If I'm going to a local match, I often just use a quality soft case with thick padding since the rifle just gets carried to the car and back in it.

6) Answers in order of the questions...

a) I have a Leupold lens pen with a brush on one end and a cleaning pad on the other that I keep in my range bag for scope cleanup.

b) I usually take at least three magazines to the range for 40-shot matches (two banks of each animal) or four for 60-shot matches (three banks of each animal), so that I have enough loaded for each relay and one more in a pocket than I can pull out and use if I have a problem with a round. I have occasionally taken enough magazines to shoot the entire match without having to load as it sounds like a good idea, but it didn't really make any difference.

c) I have a small (approx 3"x5") notebook that I keep scope settings and notes in. I note the date, location, temperature, light, and wind along with the settings for each of the four animals. Settings do vary by all of those conditions and having them all there handy for reference help me get better settings faster before matches so I can work on warming up and fixing any problems from not practicing between matches.

d) A skeet vest will be fine for carrying stuff but is no substitute for a real purpose-built silhouette vest. Don't worry about it for getting started, but if the opportunity to borrow one comes up before you purchase one, by all means take advantage of it.

7) There are various places to get all of the stuff. I usually go to Midway first, as their website seems to have good info and a nice feedback system to use when researching purchases. Their prices aren't always the best, so I often check with Optics Planet (often good prices and free shipping over $29.95) or Brownells (I get dealer discount with my C&R FFL) among others.

Steve... This is some very well informed advice from a True Master Shooter.

I still use my old Dewey cleaning rods while doing the odd job here and there simply cuz I got so many of them.

Jason..Great advice for someone starting out. Keep it up...

Jason, Thank you for taking the time to respond with such a detailed post. I have already placed an order for many of the items you recommended.

Steve,
Jason has a good list, really this is not the "equipment" that we carried as kids to the 4 and 3P matches. Much less stuff, a good spotting scope, if you work with a spotter, your OBI or ECI, ammo and 3 to 4 magazines(I have shot matches with only one, but that does tend to push your thought process). I agree with Jason on the cases, I use my Kalispell aluminum cases when flying, otherwise a good soft case for local matches. Small clipboards are handy (roughly 5X7 inches), but not a requirement, found some a the Dollar Tree last month. A stopwatch/clock, although I rarley use one anymore, but for beginners, learning how long 2.5 minutes really helps.

Mary

Steve,
I guess you are asking about smallbore shooting here.
I don't think many shooters are using good old #9 anymore.
You do need a good bore guide and I like to use "Shooters Choice" bore cleaner. You will also need to use something to remove the lead "donut" once in a while.

If you are talking about highpower you should get a good copper solvent and use another bore cleaner that is compatable with the copper solvent. I use Sweets 762 and Butche's Bore Shine.

Dont me a jarhead (marine) and wear your gun out cleaning it.

Innocent wrote:Steve, Much less stuff, a good spotting scope, if you work with a spotter, your OBI or ECI, ammo and 3 to 4 magazines(I have shot matches with only one, but that does tend to push your thought process). Mary

Heck, I have no idea if I will be working with a spotter or not! I have never done this before, ever!!! Most, of my shooting has been Skeet, Trap, Sporting Clays, 5-Stand, USPSA Pistol, USPSA Steel events, Whitetail hunting, Bear Hunting, Upland Game, Waterfowl, a myriad of military weapons from around the world......... But that is about it.

Anything to do with rimfire rifle has has been purely plinking.