Pro-Shot Products, an American brand established in 1982, offers a line of cleaning kits designed to challenge traditional notions of firearm maintenance. The company asserts that its approach, particularly concerning cleaning rod materials and construction, provides superior care for precision firearms.
A central tenet of Pro-Shot’s design philosophy is the use of heat-treated stainless steel for its cleaning rods. This contradicts the traditional preference for softer materials like brass or plastic-coated steel, which are often chosen to prevent potential rifling damage. Pro-Shot posits that softer rods can, over time, embed hard abrasive particles, effectively turning them into damaging implements. In contrast, the company states that its hard, highly polished steel rods are designed to glide along the rifling without causing wear, even if contact occurs.
Furthermore, Pro-Shot addresses the long-standing advice against segmented cleaning rods, which historically raised concerns about damage from joint edges. The company's segmented cleaning rods are machined to exceptionally accurate tolerances, which Pro-Shot suggests renders them functionally equivalent to one-piece rods for modern use. The human touch, it is noted, can discern imperfections as small as three micrometers, implying the precision of these joints is below such a threshold. For barrels that cannot be cleaned from the breech, kits include a brass muzzle guide to prevent rod-to-bore contact.
Pro-Shot offers kits tailored for a range of firearms, from airguns to shotguns. Dedicated rifle kits, such as those for .308 and .223 caliber, feature specific rod diameters, patch jags, and brushes. The .30 caliber rod, for instance, is deliberately sized for increased rigidity over a .22 caliber rod, even though the latter could fit. The .30 caliber rifle rod measures approximately 32.5 inches, making it suitable for barrels up to 22-24 inches, though potentially short for some longer magnum target rifle barrels. Pistol kits, conversely, include a single-piece rod, handle, and multi-caliber jags covering .38, .40/10mm, and .45 calibers.
Each kit contains essential components such as patches, a clear fiber optic bore inspection tool, a lubricant/cleaning liquid with a needle dispenser, a sample of Pro-Shot Pro-Gold gun grease, and a ball bearing rod handle. Complementary items include a silicone cloth for moisture protection, a traditional slot patch holder, and a dual-headed nylon brush. Pro-Gold grease is highlighted for applications requiring a lubricant to remain in place, such as bolt action lugs or frame rails. The kits are housed in sturdy, stackable cases with a retractable hanging slot, identifiable by a clear plastic cover and label. Positioned with an MSRP in the $45-$55 range, Pro-Shot cleaning kits are presented as a quality investment built for longevity.
