you can make a ramrod out of a piece of dowel rod, make sure it only just fits down the bore that way you can use wood that is a bit softer. Ideally you should use hardwood. Make sure the grain is straight otherwise it can be a weak spot, hence the reason for getting a large diameter (it will not bend as much). If you slot the end you can also use it for cleaning. Dont forget to mark the rod when the gun is empty, that way when you use it you will be able to see that its loaded