Boresnakes are worthless....

[ErnieDeBord]

No way would I even dream of putting on them things thru a barrel of mine

 

[VonFatman]

They work great for a quick swipe after shooting in bad weather...just to make sure the water is gone from the bore.
When we would finish quail/pheasant hunting...a quick swipe was always in order.
Bob

 

[Engineer1911]

Boresnakes work -- with limitations!

Everyone has an opinion. Gun cleaning is like a vasectomy -- once is enough.

 

[senecaap]

I love mine for moderate work. I use it every time I shoot. After about 200-300 rounds, I do a traditional clean. If you use the BoreSnake after each session the normal rod, brush and patch doesn't take nearly as long. It should not be the only thing you use to clean with, but it is an acceptable tool.

 

[senecaap]

One advantage of a people using only a BoreSnake is when they get a barrel moderately dirty and accuracy starts suffering they say "The barrels shot out" and you can pick a great gun up for a song and a good cleaning. Don't down the snake too loudly, you'll mess up a good thing.

 

[eclector]

You'll wear the damn gun out by cleaning too much. They shouldn't look like they have never been fired unless its for sale. Just clean them enough to prevent corrosion, and shoot them a lot!

 

[medic15al]

I like to use them at the very end of cleaning my handguns to remove as much solvent/oil as possible so I my load them back up without worrying about ammo contamination.

 

[jbouwens]

You'll wear the damn gun out by cleaning too much. They shouldn't look like they have never been fired unless its for sale. Just clean them enough to prevent corrosion, and shoot them a lot!

Amen!!!
As to a previous poster-- almost every M1 Garand, 1903, and M1 Carbine I have seen has muzzle damage mainly from having to clean them (especially the Garand) from the muzzle with the dreded steel multiple piece cleaning rods supplied with those rifles. I try to use the pull through method as much as I can or use an aluminum rod to clean from the muzzle. I have a couple of snakes, I mainly use them as the "oil" stage-- I keep them in a ziplock bag to keep the dirt off of them. A dirty snake will definitely damage the bore. That is why mine are for the oil stage, keep em dirt free.

I know some of my pals us them in there Rem 7600s, Win and Marlin lever guns for ease of cleaning, it's not much fun to break down those guns.

 

[Viss]

I admit I didn't read the entire thread. However I will never go praire doggin without one, they work great while shooting and trying to gain a little more accuracy.

 

[Moonman]

I've got a Camp Perry WINNER that uses a Rifle Snake to clean a pistol, 4 times the cleaning for about the price of 1 with 1 pull. You can completely do a tear-down when you have a few more moments.

 

[FlYFiShErMaN]

My .02,
I was issued a bore snake by the Army to use on our M4 and M9s. They are very useful in the dusty environs we are currently deploying our forces. A shaving cream brush, tooth brush and a bore snake go along way over there for the quick clean every night. Once carbon and led are applied, then I agree with most on here. Nothing beats a properly applied, rod cleaning with a brush and many patches. By "proper" I mean using a brass or nylon bore guide. Nothing else jacks up a barrel like a nicked or worn crown. I have even been known to use an expended shotgun shell, with the primer pocket drilled out to protect the crown when cleaning my M-14. When possible, I will always clean a barrel from the breech/chamber end. From the rear, you still have to worry about beating up the throat with a miss applied metal cleaning rod.

 

[JcMack]

I swallow one every six months then when the string shows itself, I give it a good pull...sure beats hydra-colon therapy...

Do you dunk it in a Martini first?

 

[pharmer]

I occasionally use a pull-through which is only .060 weedwhacker line with a knot on the end, which I keep in a small plastic zip-lock bag, and then only to pull a patch with bore cleaner or oil through the bore until I get home.

This is why I come here. A brilliant solution from a resourceful mind. As for the boresnakes, to me they are like the mops that come with a new S&W. Somewhat useful, but better alternatives abound. Joe

 

[SWID]

I only have about 20 of them. Since I can't run a patch through a revolver barrel from the breech end I use one when I think I'm finished.

They are also quite handy when you are changing from one load to another or you just want to go outside and have some fun without spending an hour smelling #9.

Bob Shelen has said that cleaning has worn out more barrels than shooting. I don't know if he's still around and too tired to Google it.

 

[cmort666]

I use nothing but Dewey coated rods, brass brushes, GI cotton patches and Shooter's Choice. I wouldn't waste my time on a boresnake.

 

[plattincreek]

I love them for when we are out in the field banging away at the P'dogs. I save the cleaning rods, brushes and solvents for when the day is done.

 

[chickenfried]

I won't comment on the boresnake since I've never used one. Some mentioned the otis kit. I don't think they're the same. I love the otis. Nice tight patch.

I wouldn't be adverse to trying a boresnake in a pinch. I'm not trying to eat off the dang thing. Just a little cleaning and wipe down, ready for the next trip.

 

[Wayne02]

The knockout system makes more sense to me than the boresnakes because it separates the brush and patch cleaning functions. One pull through brush and one pull through 'patch' snake. This lessons the potential cross-contamination from using a both a cleaning fluid and a protectant fluid on the same snake.

The boresnake has bristles at it's beginning and then the patch/rope. So you put solvent to help the bristles do its thing, then you put clp or other on the snake part to do its thing and you end up with a jacked up mess you are dragging through the bore.

I use my bore snakes dry for use after shooting and then actually clean the gun when I get time using either rods or the knockout system.