My cleaning rod lately is just a piece of 3/32"diam. stiff aluminum welding wire I had left over from a job. I squirt some Outers NitroSolvent Bore Cleaner (spray can from WalMart) in the bore from the chamber end, leave it a minute, then push a patch wet with solvent thru from the chamber end with the stiff wire. I rarely ever use a brush. Modern American Factory ammo I use is fairly clean for me. Then I follow with a patch wet with BreakFree CLP, and another one same way. If I plan to shoot again the next day, I don't clean at all, only when my gun is goin in the safe.
If I ever have to use a brush, I use the Otis System flexible cable to pull the brush thru. Don't use Hoppe's No. 9 much anymore. The Outers does good enough and doesn't stink.
Been looking at Hoppe's new "Elite" stuff, tried a sample they sent, don't really see any big improvement for the jacketed ammo I use. Maybe it will help those that use bare lead ammo or high velocity ammo in rifles.
I use the same patches that went thru the bore to clean off the slide/bolt/extractor end , etc.
For slide lub I use a very very small amount of Tetra grease in the grooves with a paper napkin twisted into a point, just enough that I can barely see it. Too much attracts dirt.
(I use the Otis System for rifles, but we're talking pistols here.)
og........who is too lazy to thread patches on old fashioned cleaning rod tips for short pistol barrels.