Bore Snake

[Cellar Hound]

When it comes to cleaning, I guess I’m a little old school. I have used brass brushes and Hoppes #9 since I learned how to clean a gun. However, someone recently told me that using a Bore Snake is the way to go.

Can anyone share some feedback on using a Bore Snake for cleaning handguns? Also, the person told me that it’s easy to clean the Snake once it is dirty. Is that an accurate statement? Any feedback is always appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

I personally don't like them, I scratched a fine revolver cylinder face with one. It was my fault, but I threw it in the garbage. Will use my old stuff, takes a little longer, but it's harder for me to mess up.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

 

[824tsv]

I use a .22 bore snake in my .22LR rifles and my AR-15. Works great.

 

[Leonard]

Only used them when away hunting.

 

[rockquarry]

If you're serious about cleaning, get good equipment like Dewey rods, etc.
Bore snakes might have some limited usefulness in the field.

 

[prairieviper]

I have several BoreSnakes but their use was limited to range sessions and nowadays, they don't see much use at all. BoreSnakes do not replace rods, brushes and patches for proper cleaning, in my opinion.

I also removed the brushes from my BoreSnakes as there are too many horror stores about breaking a cord and getting one stuck in the barrel.

 

[Ray]

I think it´s best to run a rod/patch through the bore from the breach area not the muzzle for risk of tampering or damaging the crown. In an auto pistol that´s easy, just get the slide off and go, but in a revolver !?
In my 17 no dash and 1917 brazilian I have no intention to clean them from the muzzle´s end.
That´s when the proper sized bore snake comes in handy, at least for field basic cleaning.
Regards, Ray

 

[rubiranch]

I use them all the time and I like them.
They do a nice job for me.

 

[Rule3]

Do you use the same dirty patch(s) over and over again when cleaning a gun? Do you wear the same underwear everyday?


Bore Snakes may be fine for a quickie or a final pass when the barrel is clean But using them just rubs the same dirt and debris through the barrel. Yes you can clean them in a bucket of soap and water even put some simple Green in there. Then dry them out.. They are a lazy mans method of cleaning IMO

 

[BillBond]

I use them all the time and I like them.
They do a nice job for me.

Same here.
I have one in every caliber I own and use them regularly.
They may not get out every single molecule of cr@p, but I don't care.

ETA: About the time mine are dirty they are kinda worn out so I just replace them rather than wash them.

 

[mckenney99]

I use my BoreSnakes immediately after firing at the range. While they do nothing to remove copper jacket fouling, if used while everything is still warm and soft they do a decent job of loosening and stripping out some powder fouling. BoreSnakes also are great for running through 22rf firearms and shotguns immediately after firing and while the lead/powder and/or wad fouling is still warm and soft. I have used an Rem 870 and Ruger Red Label for an entire trap season while not doing anything other than a couple passes of the bore snake through the bores immediately upon completion of firing. BoreSnakes are NOT a substitute for a proper cleaning with rods, solvent and patches except for one firearm. Having run a gun shop for almost 10 years, I believe more damage is done to most 22LR firearms by pushing rods down their bores and by continued disassembly when it is a simple matter of a couple passes of the BoreSnake to clean the bore immediately after firing. I have one of the Colt/Umarex Branded AR15 type rifles that I used for practicing my CMP positions at home while shooting into a bullet trap. It probably has 3000 rounds through it and the only thing that has been done to it is brush off the bolt face with an old toothbrush, a spritz of remoil into the action every now and then and 2 passes of a BoreSnake down the bore immediately after firing. I fire nothing except CCI SV and it never malfunctions.
Yes they can and do get washed in a ziplock type baggie with HOT water and a little Dawn Dishwashing Liquid. I let them soak for a while, shake to agitate and repeat overnight. The next day I rinse them out in HOT water, strip as much water out of it as I can and then hang them up to dry. That can be repeated until the brushing bristles are worn out.

 

[H Richard]

I use bore snakes on my 12 ga and 20 ga shotguns, after a round of skeet or trap. Then every several months give the guns a good cleaning. I have infused the latter part of the snake with cleaning solvent to wipe and leave some protection in the barrels.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Rod and brush for me. I have 2 BS's that I was given. They are still in their wrappers.

 

[chief38]

I own a Bore Snake in only 12 gauge for the purposes of running it through my Shotgun barrel for a superficial cleaning after a Pheasant Hunt - typically less than 10 shots fired. When I go on a hunting trip, I usually go for 3 - 4 days and at the end of the trip I will THOROUGHLY clean the gun properly with a bore brush, patches and solvent.

A Bore Snake is only a superficial cleaning method used to get the major mess out of the bore IF THE GUN will be used the next day or so. It is IN NO WAY (IMHO) a proper cleaning!

I have proven this to some of my Hunting Bud's more than a few times. Some use the Bore Snake as their only cleaning tool and I say to them..... clean your Bore with your Snake - they give it to me. I clean it again with solvent, a bronze brush and patches and when they see what comes out they look stunned!

So as a 2 minute quick cleaning when the gun will be shot in the very near future, I see the purpose of a Bore Snake - but for a proper cleaning, stick to the traditional method.

 

[Rule3]

Take a used Bore Snake, now take a clean white rag with some solvent on it and pull the dirty snake through the rag holding it tightly. Now look at the rag.

 

[Sistema1927]

I guess that I am lazy.

I do, however, periodically toss my bore snakes in a mesh bag and run them through the washer and dryer. (Don't let the wife know. )

 

[Backlighting]

I use them all the time and I like them.
They do a nice job for me.

Same here.

 

[Doug627]

They are good to start with. They remove the big stuff so you can get down to real cleaning.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

When I was but a wee lad just starting my double digit years, I got a .22 rifle. A Marlin M1 carbine look a like. My dad took a small piece of ball chain and attached it to a length of 130 lb test dacron fishing line. He tied a loop in ne end and sowed me how to put a patch on and showed me how to snake it through the bore. Said that was all I really needed to clean the .22. I still use that set up today for my .22's (different line ). I use bore snakes for my shotguns. all I ever use for the bore. Centerfire rifles get the rods and brushes.

 

[Oracle]

I think it´s best to run a rod/patch through the bore from the breach area not the muzzle for risk of tampering or damaging the crown. In an auto pistol that´s easy, just get the slide off and go, but in a revolver !?
In my 17 no dash and 1917 brazilian I have no intention to clean them from the muzzle´s end.
That´s when the proper sized bore snake comes in handy, at least for field basic cleaning.
Regards, Ray

I use Dewey muzzle guides on my revolvers. If you need a muzzle guide in a caliber they don't stock they will make a guide for your caliber. They recently did a .44 caliber guide for me from a stock .45 caliber guide. You can order online with them and add instructions.

I have tried bore snakes, I guess they work but without a clean white patch run through who knows? If you are going to run through a clean white patch on a rod why not use the rod for everything?

 

[Cellar Hound]

Thanks for all of the feedback everyone. I’m sure I will try a Bore Snake at some point, but for now I’ll stick with the brush & patch method. Besides, I know my wife loves the smell of Hoppes #9, so I don’t want to disappoint her...

 

[rubiranch]

I'm sure everyone has different results regardless of what or how you clean your guns.

After a couple runs with the BoreSnake I've run clean white pads down the barrel and they come out clean, every time.

BoreSnakes work great for me.

 

[chief38]

I guess that I am lazy.

I do, however, periodically toss my bore snakes in a mesh bag and run them through the washer and dryer. (Don't let the wife know. )

NOT a good idea to put a Bore Snake into your clothes washing machine!!! You are introducing lead, chemicals & unhealthy toxins to your clothes!

Either soak and wash it by hand using a pair of thick rubber gloves or simply toss it and buy a new one when it's worn out! They should only run about $12 bucks , certainly not enough to contaminate your laundry over.

 

[Justin T]

I use a bore snake for shotguns, but don’t see a need for them with rifles and handguns.

 

[double-dipper]

No bore snakes for me. i use Tipton rods a bore brush and then patches when cleaning all of my firearms. It works just fine. no dirty snake hanging around in the gun room.

 

[robertrwalsh]

I use them primarily for field/expedient cleaning. I still like rods and brushes for at-home serious cleaning.

 

[PatriotX]

I’ve had decent results cleaning bore snakes soaking in Simple Green and club soda.

The bubbles really seem to loosen the crud inside the fabric.

 

[H Richard]

When I had a custom match barrel built by Falcon Machining for a High Standard Victor Lou returned the barrel to me along with a piece of (weed whip) plastic heavy line, with one end melted to just fit through the bore of the .22RF. The other end was sharpened to allow a patch to be speared and slid down to the enlarged end with instructions to run through the bore with just a patch and preferred cleaning solution, never a brush.

 

[cowboy4evr]

Where I use bore snakes is when I'm " fire lapping " a barrel . I shoot 3-4 fire lapped bullets , then run the bore snake through the barrel to clean it getting it ready for the next 4 rounds or so . Then it's the same process over again after those rounds are fired . It gives me the best efficiency of the fire lap bullets . Other than that , no . I just use a soft cotton patch . Regards Paul

 

[Walter Rego]

I only use a Bore Snake on a few .22 rimfire pistols that are a pain to field strip. I put a few drops of Hoppes No. 9 on the brush area with one of those pipettes and pull it through from the breech end and out the end of the barrel. Then I clean the breech face, barrel face and ramp area and extractor hook with a few cotton swabs and solvent and I'm good until next session.
As others have mentioned, the Bore Snake can be cleaned with some Simple Green. I soak mine in one of those food storage containers with a lid like you would use for leftovers.
I suppose they would be good as a field expedient for centerfires but I don't trust them to do as good of a job as a conventional rod with jags, brushes and patches.