What I use for a rod guide is a fired partial sized case, remove primer and lathe drill through primer hole with a drill bit that is just slightly larger than the cleaning rod. If I really want to get fancy, I size the neck of the case neck down to inside diameter just slightly larger than the guide rod. That way, the rod is center to the bore, and held in good alignment to center at the chamber throat. Slide the case onto the rod, then attach brush or jag...start patched jag into throat and slide the case on the rod up behind....centering the rod to the bore and throat. No damage that way and the rod is held at two points. I like it better than the sloppy guide rods but, I don't pore solvent down the bore....I use bore foam with plastic tube larger than bore diameter...insert up to chamber neck, hold it there and fill the barrel....stand barrel on end and let the foam work itself down the rifling and out the muzzle. No pouring, simple and very effective.
