rraisley
Member
Yeah, probably, but it takes 10 seconds, and makes me feel better that it's clean(er).
Hoppes Bore Snake
- Thread starter dan01
- Start date
I have bore snakes in several calibers and like them for a quick, superficial cleaning at the range or in the field. The bores always look great after using the snake, but they are never really cleaned, no matter how many passes are made with the snake (yes, solvent on the front portion, light oil on the rear). Try it, use the snake, then clean it again with traditional methods, you will be surprised at how dirty that shiny post-snake bore really is. Doesn't matter if it is a 22 or a 500, the results are always the same. Bore Snakes are great for quick cleaning on an interim basis, but cannot replace proper equipment and technique. Also, I highly recommend using a high quality one-piece cleaning rod instead of a sectional rod, far less chance of damaging the bore.
Majorlk
Member
Majorlk
Member
Having use the traditional methods for 40 years and then switching to BoreSnakes, I can find little significant difference between the two in 99 percent of my firearms and shooting.
I do agree that several thousand (or even hundred) rounds (between cleanings) of jacketed ammo at blistering velocities can leave copper fouling that needs something more aggressive than a BoreSnake. Same deal with with lead bullets at velocities that melt the lead. However, for the vast majority of shooters, those situations do not apply.
With the exception of bench-rest match guns, there is no functional difference between a clean bore from five minutes with a BoreSnake and a "spotless" bore from 30 minutes with a cleaning rod and patches.
I also agree that sectional rods are a bad idea - one-piece only, if you are using cleaning rods.
TacoDaTugBoat
Member
I used my brand new bore snake in my 15-22 last night no problem. Little solvent by the brushes.
Held it barrel down while dropping the weight through. Then flipped it for pulling. If you hold it straight up, the tail doesn't snag. Worked good on a fairly clean barrel.
Held it barrel down while dropping the weight through. Then flipped it for pulling. If you hold it straight up, the tail doesn't snag. Worked good on a fairly clean barrel.
Majorlk
Member
In the "cleaning my gun" vein, I finally found a good tool to clean the inside of the upper - a baby bottle brush. It has a big fold of plastic foam on the end that I spray with CLP and then run it back and forth inside the upper, using the bristle part of the brush to scrub with. Between the foam and the bristles, it takes a dozen or so strokes to get back to bare, clean polymer. I then run a rag through the upper to remove leftover CLP. It hangs next to the snakes. 
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2735046
$4.49 at CVS.
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2735046
$4.49 at CVS.
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Majorlk, that is a awesome way to clean the upper. I will definitely stop by cvs and get a couple. It'll make cleaning the upper in the 15-22 and AR so much easier. I won't have to stick my fingers all up into the upper.
I sometimes use a bore snake. But I recently purchased a Otis memory-flex cleaning rod and I use that more often now.
Jelly Bean
I sometimes use a bore snake. But I recently purchased a Otis memory-flex cleaning rod and I use that more often now.
Jelly Bean
rraisley
Member
Okay, so I was cleaning (pretty much all) my guns today, and after struggling to get the last part of the Bore Snake through my Buck Mark's barrel, I thought I'd take my own advice (to someone here): Cut the last half inch off the end. I was tearing my guts out getting the snake through the Buck Mark (the end always wants to knot just a bit), but after cutting the end, it went through like slicing through butter, even through my 15-22. It eliminates the loop at the end, for hanging the snake up, but I never used that anyhow. And I'm sure it wasn't just that last half inch that did the cleaning.
So, now my Bore Snakes are easily pulled through any of my guns; no effort at all. What an improvement!
So, now my Bore Snakes are easily pulled through any of my guns; no effort at all. What an improvement!
Majorlk
Member
Whatever works!
DelFuego
Member
Okay, so I was cleaning (pretty much all) my guns today, and after struggling to get the last part of the Bore Snake through my Buck Mark's barrel, I thought I'd take my own advice (to someone here): Cut the last half inch off the end. I was tearing my guts out getting the snake through the Buck Mark (the end always wants to knot just a bit), but after cutting the end, it went through like slicing through butter, even through my 15-22. It eliminates the loop at the end, for hanging the snake up, but I never used that anyhow. And I'm sure it wasn't just that last half inch that did the cleaning.
So, now my Bore Snakes are easily pulled through any of my guns; no effort at all. What an improvement!
I have no issues pulling my BS through my barrel. It must be because I am bean-fed and strong as a mule. As for cutting through the BS, and the boresnake, I could foresee the BS leaving pieces of material in the barrel after it frays a bit.
Sent from my Kindle Fire
Majorlk
Member
Raw ends of most poly-whatever plastics can be sealed by holding it over the end of a match for a few seconds.
I've never had a problem with the loop end, just the beginning scrubbing section. FWIW, I have ZERO problems pulling the .22 pistol version through the 15-22's barrel.
rraisley
Member
Yup. You're happy, I'm happy, everyone's happy!Whatever works!
Hohopelli
Member
I love the boresnake, but the leader worries me.. 8) Ron
Vision Remodeling
Member
I have never had a problem with mine, a few drops of solvent before the brushes and another a few inches after, be careful with the ejector and pull it through. One pull and mine is clean. I am no beast and I did not find it difficult at all, I wonder if they have any quality control, mabey some are thicker than others. I love mine, much better than patches
Majorlk
Member
I've wondered the same thing. The rifle version I have is a dog to get through the bore, but the pistol version offers what seems to me to be the proper amount of resistance. My LGS sells them for $12, so I may just get another one to see if there's a difference.
Unless I am dealing with heavy copper fouling, I'll never go back to a rod and patches for routine maintenance.
Bore Snake Blues
Read of your experience with the Bore Snake and I had the same problem first time. I grabbed my trusty WD40 and gave the snake a spray. Slides through with little effort--for the work it's doing. I find that when alone or out in the field I wrap the metal tip end around a stick or other handy object to stand on and pull while feeding the Snake in. The WD40 washes out when the Snake gets dirty. When I shoot the guns I add a small tag of cloth to the loop end and pull through for a dry finish before firing.
Read of your experience with the Bore Snake and I had the same problem first time. I grabbed my trusty WD40 and gave the snake a spray. Slides through with little effort--for the work it's doing. I find that when alone or out in the field I wrap the metal tip end around a stick or other handy object to stand on and pull while feeding the Snake in. The WD40 washes out when the Snake gets dirty. When I shoot the guns I add a small tag of cloth to the loop end and pull through for a dry finish before firing.
LWilson
Member
Bore Snake
Have three 22, 38/357 and 12 ga. The 12 ga is harder than the other two for some reason but sure do like them.
Have three 22, 38/357 and 12 ga. The 12 ga is harder than the other two for some reason but sure do like them.
