I noticed my old Knight Disc rifle (which I sold a couple of years ago) would shoot a little higher with the rod in the stock than without. None of my T/C guns show any difference in point of impact, though. Another thing I do when hunting is put a couple of rubber bands made of a 1/4" wide strips of bicycle inner tube around the barrel and ramrod. Keeps it from rattling and holds it in better than the internal spring.