I got a standard AKM cleaning rod from Desert Fox, since the Saiga came with a 20" smaller diameter rod. I have an AKM cleaning kit for the buttstock. The natural angle of the hole for the cleaning rod through the front handguard is at an upward towards the muzzle angle. This presses the muzzle end of the cleaning rod up against the barrel with some tension, and even under recoil, it hits the edge of the crush washer to keep it from moving any farther forward.