Bore Snake for cleaning barrel on Auto-Loader

[martybee]

I am new at this gun shooting and field breakdown for cleaning. I have been told to use a "Bore-Snake "
to clean the muzzle, breech and barrel in one quick operation. Please enlighten me?
Also, what is a good grease to use on the barrel lug and Slide rails? I am going to use it on my MP9FS.
martybee

 

[fat tom]

Consider yourself enlightened.



I use BreakFree CLP for an all purpose cleaner/lubricant. YMMV.
f.t.

 

[davekp]

I wouldn't own one. First of all, auto barrels seldom really need cleaning. If they do, a bore snake isn't going to do it. More good barrels are ruined by overcleaning than anything else. The residue you see in a fired barrel is pushed out by the air in the barrel ahead of the next round fired. Not a problem!

 

[OKFC05]

Since it so easy to remove a semi auto barrel for cleaning, I use the convention brass brush and JAG patch. A bore snake does a rather superficial cleaning job, which often is all that is needed. However, sometimes you really need to clean out copper or lead (or both) residue, and a bore snake won't get it.

I use Brownells action lube on the rails of my M&Ps. Most anything works; don't overlube it.

 

[speedyquad]

i use a boresnake for the more often general cleanings and then the old fashioned brass brush and patch for the super dirty stuff...

having said that, the snake is nice and simple to use, quick and less mess to clean up...

 

[chief38]

Bore Snakes (and their clones) are OK for a quick Field Cleaning, but IMHO are NO SUBSTITUTE for a proper traditional cleaning job. In short order, the Bore Snake that has been used a few times is filthy and becomes less effective with each pass. I do have a couple of them in my Range Bag that I use while Hunting when there are only a few shots fired from my Shotgun, but the gun gets cleaned properly at the end of the Hunt. I truly see no real advantage or purpose in a Pistol or Revolver as they are too cumbersome and actually harder to use than a Rod, Brush and Patch.

I like to use a patch once and throw it away, not use it over and over as a BS is used. Apparently I am in the minority here because the BS business seems to be thriving in the LGS - but one way to prove my point is after you THINK your gun is clean, run a regular Bronze Bore Brush with some solvent on it through your barrel followed with a clean patch - you will SEE the difference!

 

[Neumann]

A bore snake is useful for removing combustion products, but has little effect on lead or bronze residues. On the other hand, metal streaks are hard to remove by any method, including solvent and patches.

The advantage of a bore snake is that you can clean from the receiver rather than the muzzle, often without disassembly. Most bore damage can be attributed to muzzle wear, which is much less likely to occur by using a bore snake. It's by far the best option when cleaning a revolver, semi-automatic rifles and most lever guns.

When I want to clean down to the steel, I use J-B Bore Cleaner and Bore Polish. It takes two applications, using about 30 strokes each, to remove all lead and bronze - anything softer than steel. I use bore guides, especially when cleaning from the muzzle. They're cheap and effective insurance.

When the bore snake gets dirty, put it in a lingerie bag and run it through the washing machine. Don't run it with other laundry, and never put it in a dish washer (Lead poisoning! We have enough people voting Democratic as it is.)

 

[gwpercle]

Get both a B-snake and rod with brush and jag for patches. The snake is good for a quickie clean and easy to roll up and put in a bag. Use the rod when doing a serious cleaning session.
Asking which cleaner, lube, grease, is best will get a flood of different answers...each claiming their's to be "the best". Pick one and give it a try...they are pretty much all good for the intended purpose for which they are made.
Gary

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I use bore snakes to clean the preservation oil out of the barrel and make sure it is clear when I pull a gun from the safe. I cleaned them conventionally, I just use the boresnake for a quick check prior to shooting.

 

[jepp2]

I am new at this gun shooting and field breakdown for cleaning.

I admit I have never used a bore snake. So I may be missing the boat. But to me the best suggestion listed for using a bore snake is:

I use bore snakes to clean the preservation oil out of the barrel and make sure it is clear when I pull a gun from the safe. I cleaned them conventionally, I just use the boresnake for a quick check prior to shooting.

The pistols are so easy to field strip, I just don't see the advantage to cleaning with the barrel in place. Also there is no good way to clean and lube rails and the barrel lug unless you break it down. I also like to clean, inspect, and in some cases lube places you cannot access with the slide and barrel in place.

Solvents that best remove copper, may not be best for lead. If you use the color of the patch to determine when your bore is clean, how do you tell with a bore snake? I see the value of them in convenience but low in merit. Just another opinion for you to consider.

 

[robertrwalsh]

I have been very happy with Tetra gun grease for the guns that I use grease on.

 

[DCW]

Surprised as all get-out when I first deployed a snake, my enthusiasm was contained after running a cloth through afterward and found was remaining residue.

Speaking of surprised: Never before have I encountered "the air will push it out." While such does sound practicable and all, one wonders why cholesterol builds in arteries or human waste in sewer pipes?

Still, put me with those who favor the bore snake for quickies; changing to standard, long-used and trusty rods, brushes, jags and cloths for the heavy lifting.

However, don't overlook or be dismissive of the need to be careful when using a rod of any type when cleaning. Some manufacturers offer carbon-fiber, fiberglass or other "soft" rods so as to not foul a bore, but they cost far more and people all too often shop price - and thus buy cheaper-to-make metal products that can do more harm in one swipe than hundreds of discharged rounds.

As noted above, a bore guide is a reasonable solution if one is really interested in preventing unneeded and undesirable wear at a barrel's extremes, especially should one be interested in reaching and staying at a refined shooting level.

Please always remember that the stupid question is the one not posed.

 

[fdw]

I use a bore snake and more traditional methods. When using bore snake I drop some Hoppe's on it and run it through a few times.

 

[arjay]

I usually use a bore brush on handguns.Seems to work better for me.

 

[Marine Corps Air]

I'll say this up front, I have always used a bore brush and jag with a cleaning rod. Hoppe's No 9 for blue finishes, Hoppe's "Elite" (no ammonia) for stainless steel and nickel.

I am now having to use a bore snake to clean my M1A which also has a Redfield scope. It does have quick release scope mounts but boresighting that rifle with the scope mount bracket was a royal PITA! I'm not going to risk losing the setup.

I used my Hoppe bore snake for the first time yesterday. I also have bore snake venom (Amazon.com : Hoppe's BoreSnake Venom Gun Cleaner, 4-Ounce Bottle : Hunting Cleaning And Maintenance Products : Sports & Outdoors@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41NgO8M1S8L.@@AMEPARAM@@41NgO8M1S8L ) to liberally apply at both ends of the bore snake as the instructions recommend.

After only one pass through the barrel with the bore snake I ran a jag with a clean patch through the barrel and there was still some carbon remaining. I had only fired 25 rounds that day at the range. The jury is still out for me, but I plan to try up to three passes with the bore snake next time to try to achieve better (more effective) results.

As of this point in time I'm going with the "it's a quick-and-dirty solution" assessment. The traditional methods still are the best.

I also have a bore snake for my 1911s. However, take down is not a problem for a 1911 so I'll run the snake after disassembly.

 

[Walter Rego]

I use Bore Snakes on .22 pistols only, the ones that are a bear to field strip like a Ruger and Colt Woodman. There won't be copper fouling to worry about and any light leading comes out with the brush built into the Bore Snake. I then use a cotton swab and solvent to clean the breech face and feed ramp, barrel rear face and especially around the extractor cut area. The Bore Snake doesn't touch those critical areas where gunk and lube from the .22 bullet builds up. That will do it unless many thousands of rounds are fired and i want to take the gun apart for a more thorough cleaning. I wouldn't use one on any centerfire gun except for a quick expedient cleaning.

 

[martybee]

Thanks for all the replies and info. I have been enlightened!

 

[Florida J Frame]

I use Bore Snakes on .22 pistols only, the ones that are a bear to field strip like a Ruger and Colt Woodman. There won't be copper fouling to worry about and any light leading comes out with the brush built into the Bore Snake. I then use a cotton swab and solvent to clean the breech face and feed ramp, barrel rear face and especially around the extractor cut area. The Bore Snake doesn't touch those critical areas where gunk and lube from the .22 bullet builds up. That will do it unless many thousands of rounds are fired and i want to take the gun apart for a more thorough cleaning. I wouldn't use one on any centerfire gun except for a quick expedient cleaning.

I agree. It's a big help on my Browning Buckmark which is a pain to field strip. A can of CLP, an air compressor and the Bore Snake.