Bore Snakes

[Danield]

I've never used them but bought some at Turners for $12.99 each. What is your experience with them? Do they work well? Whats the best way to use them? Soak them in cleaner first?

[realmswalker]

Bore snakes work very well, do not soak them in anything. I use the bore snake on all my guns, i run the snake through for a couple passes, then I run a patch or two soaked with hoppes down the barrel. then i run the snake through one more time. the barrel will be very clean by then.

If you have some serious copper fouling or lead fouling, you may want to use a strong chemical cleaner for guns. I use gunslick foaming bore cleaner, that works great in conjunction with a bore snake.

[DeeL2003]

Bore snakes work very well, do not soak them in anything. I use the bore snake on all my guns, i run the snake through for a couple passes, then I run a patch or two soaked with hoppes down the barrel. then i run the snake through one more time. the barrel will be very clean by then.

If you have some serious copper fouling or lead fouling, you may want to use a strong chemical cleaner for guns. I use gunslick foaming bore cleaner, that works great in conjunction with a bore snake.

So basically just soak or spray the bore with CLP(or your cleaner of choice) then run the snake through it til it's clean?

[ocabj]

Running a Bore Snake through a bore and then running it through again without washing it is like reusing a dirty patch on a cleaning rod through a bore.

[realmswalker]

Running a Bore Snake through a bore and then running it through again without washing it is like reusing a dirty patch on a cleaning rod through a bore.

I haven't washed my boresnakes in probably two years, they look dirty but they work just fine, bore snakes get dirty with one pass, washing them every time is pointless.

Deel, when you get your gun home from shooting, first thing run a brore snake throught it a couple times, the copper bristles will break up and removed a lot of the dirt and crud in the barrel.

Then, take a bore patch, completely wet it with bore cleaner liquid of your choice, run that down the bore with a cleaning rod, that will help remove some copper or lead fouling. Then run the bore snake through one more time, your bore will be very clean.

No bore will fully ever be totally clean. You could go crazy trying to get a bore 100% clean.

If you feel like you have loads of fouling, The gunslick foaming bore cleaner works great, you get get it here at midway usa, and it has great reviews.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=474487&t=11082005

[ohsmily]

I see the bore snake as a quick fix in the field or at the range. I don't use them as part of my primary gun cleaning regimen except on my 10/22s and other rimfire guns.

[Prowler]

I see the bore snake as a quick fix in the field or at the range. I don't use them as part of my primary gun cleaning regimen except on my 10/22s and other rimfire guns.

I use one everytime I'm at the range. I keep it in my range bag. Works great and I have never washed it.

[Kelvrick]

I run a boresnake through my stuff at the range after I'm finished with them. I throw them in a sock for the next laundry load. Keeps them clean and me happy that I'm not rubbing stuff through my barrels over and over.

At home, I clean with the otis flexible rods, patches, qtips and weaponshield. Sweet's 7.62 when needed and slideglide lite for the rails.

[jazman]

Love the snakes, hate the patches. I put a little CLP right in front of the bristles and pull it through a few times until clean, they work great. Washing them in a sock works well, just make sure not to include them with clothes...trust me on that one. As stated, for really dirty bores do a foaming cleaner, wipe with patch or two, than snake. They also work great for revolver cylinders.

[Kelvrick]

Love the snakes, hate the patches. I put a little CLP right in front of the bristles and pull it through a few times until clean, they work great. Washing them in a sock works well, just make sure not to include them with clothes...trust me on that one. As stated, for really dirty bores do a foaming cleaner, wipe with patch or two, than snake. They also work great for revolver cylinders.

I've just been doing them with my regular laundry. What happened to yours that I should expect will happen to mine?

[bobfried]

I only use a bore snake on everything I own, I might run a rod and brush/patch once a year with some copper remover but that's about as more detailed as i will get. All my stuff is chrome-lined and are not geared towards super-duper sniper accuracy. That said, I have yet to see any of my sub-MOA AR uppers open up at all even after years of only using a bore snake. In my experience I have seen more rifles damaged with improper use of a cleaning rod than any problem using a dirty bore snake no a chrome-lined barrel.

The last time I use a jig and Dewey rod was on my SPR and that's well over 2 years ago. Bore snakes are nothing more than a barely acceptable solution, but that's all I need and have not seen any side effects of using them almost exclusively. Note that running a copper brush and patch through your bore will barely make it any cleaner, you really need some harsh copper solvent to really get in there and make a real difference.

[Citadelgrad87]

I flood the bristle area with Hoppes, and after 3 passes, I spray some CLP on the extreme tail, and run it one last time.

They shine like a mirror.

[jazman]

I've just been doing them with my regular laundry. What happened to yours that I should expect will happen to mine?

I must have had too much left over CLP on them, the oil leaked from the sock and ruined some clothes so I got a little heat about that...

[Kelvrick]

I must have had too much left over CLP on them, the oil leaked from the sock and ruined some clothes so I got a little heat about that...

Phew. Probably why I didn't have any problems. I just run them dry at the range, so I'd only get powder/copper residue over the clothes. :43:

[cactuspete]

I use them on my revolvers after shooting at the range. Give a couple passes to the bore and cylinder chambers. Takes a lot of residue out - makes cleaning, once I get home, much easier. Though I've only been using them for a few months, haven't cleaned my snakes yet - everything still fine.

[bruceflinch]

I've just been doing them with my regular laundry. What happened to yours that I should expect will happen to mine?

You must not have a wife!!! :D

[SuperSet]

If the bore snake gets dirty, toss it in one of your laundry bags and voila.. good as new. I've found the snake to be incredibly handy as it saves me from having to carry around a bore guide, dewey rod, patches, etc...

[AK4me]

I just use them on my .22's since I only shoot lead .22 ammo, no fmj's, I havent tried them on my others guns.

[Danield]

Ok, another question. I was going to get one for a 7.62, would that be the .303/.308 bore snake?

[ohsmily]

Ok, another question. I was going to get one for a 7.62, would that be the .303/.308 bore snake?

Yes.

[Danield]

Yes.

Thank you.

[elsolo]

They are fine for knocking the loose crud out when you don't have time to clean the barrel.
I prefer traditional cleaning with copper solvents and such on my rifles, handgun barrels I don't really clean, just remove the powder fouling.

Boresnakes are great for stripping the loose debris and wax from rimfire chambers, expecially on .22's you run lots of rounds through per range session.

I also like them for shotgun, I just hose the barrel out with brake cleaner, drag the boresnake through a couple times, then a quick squirt of Hornady one-shot case lube to lightly coat the inside of the bbl.

[ocbruin]

I've just been doing them with my regular laundry. What happened to yours that I should expect will happen to mine?

I'll be the first to admit that I'm not sure how much of it is FUD, but I would be careful about putting a used bore snake in with regular laundry, especially if you have kids and run mixed loads.

A used bore snake will probably have plenty of solvent and other chemicals on it, as well as a fair amount of lead. Running the rest of your laundry with that is needlessly increasing exposure to these toxic substances.

There are some who even suggest running shooting clothing separately from for other clothes to avoid lead cross contamination.

This is a big reason why we wash our hands after shooting/cleaning our guns.

[SoberLadyShoots]

I've never used them before either, but hubby and I just met the people from "Project BoreSnake" this weekend. Project takes contributions to send 8-packs of BoreSnakes to our guys in Iraq and Afghanistan. 100% of contributions go to the project. Way to cool. The guys can really use these to clean their weapons much more often and successfully than what the good ol gov gives um, considering they may have to clean their weapons multiple times each day.

We will be buying them for our own cleaning kits and sending the project some bucks as well.

[PressCheck]

I have one for each caliber that I own. Put them in the washing in a laundry bag every few years. I swear by them!

[aplinker]

This sounds like me and my views. I haven't had any issues.

I only use a bore snake on everything I own, I might run a rod and brush/patch once a year with some copper remover but that's about as more detailed as i will get. All my stuff is chrome-lined and are not geared towards super-duper sniper accuracy. That said, I have yet to see any of my sub-MOA AR uppers open up at all even after years of only using a bore snake. In my experience I have seen more rifles damaged with improper use of a cleaning rod than any problem using a dirty bore snake no a chrome-lined barrel.

The last time I use a jig and Dewey rod was on my SPR and that's well over 2 years ago. Bore snakes are nothing more than a barely acceptable solution, but that's all I need and have not seen any side effects of using them almost exclusively. Note that running a copper brush and patch through your bore will barely make it any cleaner, you really need some harsh copper solvent to really get in there and make a real difference.

[M. Sage]

I put a little Hoppes down the bore and run a Boresnake through. No problems so far, the tail ends of my Boresnakes have yet to feel oily like they're loading up with solvent. Seems to work just fine for me.

My AK is chrome-lined, and doesn't really seem to need the bore cleaned at any rate... ?

[Vectrexer]

works well. Initially I double soaked the snake. Cleaner at one end and oil at the other after cleaning. After the first wash I stepped back and stared applying the cleaners and lubricants separate from the snaking.

In either usage method the bore cleaned up very nicely. Final passed with the standard patches on my initial cleanings with the boresnake proved their usefulness as a product.

I now use boresnakes all of the time for the bore. Regular cleaning for the rest of the pistol/rifle.

But yes,,, get a net bag for the boresnake for laundry day. And definitely wash your boresnake in a separate load from your clothes. I suggest saving your garage rag washes up and doing them the same time as the boresnake wash load.

[JagerTroop]

Love the snakes, hate the patches. I put a little CLP right in front of the bristles and pull it through a few times until clean, they work great...

I agree. I do exactly the same thing. Works like a charm.

[Bowser]

How long to bore snakes usually last you guys? Do you wash them somehow? I had one go bad after about 20 uses in my 10/22 barrel. I didn't expect it to be so tough to pull through. I thought it was going to slide all the way nicely lol.

[Andruski]

A used bore snake will probably have plenty of solvent and other chemicals on it, as well as a fair amount of lead. Running the rest of your laundry with that is needlessly increasing exposure to these toxic substances.

That's why I have not jumped on the bore snake train, as I am kind of paranoid about this. If you wash your clothes and a bore snake together, how much lead will you be wearing the next day? Or even if you do it separately, how much lead will be left in your washing machine? I think this is an issue worth considering. Then again, maybe I am over thinking it. :shrug:

[.22guy]

I get a plastic bottle, fill up about halfway with hot water and a little dishsoap, let it sit for a while, then shake the crap out of it. Then I rinse it really well (maybe do the shake thing a few times with fresh water) and then hang them out to dry. It works well for me.

PS don't wash multiple snakes this way. They will get all stuck together on the brushes.

[Vectrexer]

I get a plastic bottle, fill up about halfway with hot water and a little dishsoap, let it sit for a while, then shake the crap out of it. Then I rinse it really well (maybe do the shake thing a few times with fresh water) and then hang them out to dry. It works well for me.



Cool! I think I will try this next time.

[ocbruin]

I get a plastic bottle, fill up about halfway with hot water and a little dishsoap, let it sit for a while, then shake the crap out of it. Then I rinse it really well (maybe do the shake thing a few times with fresh water) and then hang them out to dry. It works well for me.

PS don't wash multiple snakes this way. They will get all stuck together on the brushes.

What size bottle do you use?

[trinydex]

that sounds basically like a boresnake washing machine.

[MudCamper]

I just picked up my first Bore Snake. Here is a pick:

http://www.paul.net/guns/temp/boresnake.jpg

Sorry for the blurry image. I used a crappy cell phone camera.

I assume that this is a manufacturing defect? Should I try to stick that jagged piece of metal inside the cord, or remove it? There are already 2 other pieces of brass brush inside it. This is a third that is half sticking out.

[SchooBaka]

take it back and get a new one.

[gotsig]

How long to bore snakes usually last you guys? Do you wash them somehow? I had one go bad after about 20 uses in my 10/22 barrel. I didn't expect it to be so tough to pull through. I thought it was going to slide all the way nicely lol.

Do you have the right size? You should be able to pull through with 1 finger and you're thumb.

[Bowser]

Yeah I bought a rimfire bore snake for a rifle. So you're saying it shouldn't give me trouble?

[gotsig]

Yeah I bought a rimfire bore snake for a rifle. So you're saying it shouldn't give me trouble?

If it was the proper bore size, I would take it back!Hundreds of passes thru the bore w/my first and still in great shape!

[theneko]

...hubby and I just met the people from "Project BoreSnake" this weekend. Project takes contributions to send 8-packs of BoreSnakes to our guys in Iraq and Afghanistan. 100% of contributions go to the project. Way too cool. The guys can really use these to clean their weapons much more often and successfully than what the good ol gov gives um, considering they may have to clean their weapons multiple times each day.

That's a great cause - here is the link in case anyone else wanted to contribute:
Project BoreSnake (http://http://projectboresnake.org/)

[ZombieKiller]

No bore will fully ever be totally clean. You could go crazy trying to get a bore 100% clean.



Is this true?

[tattooed_freak]

bore snakes rock :punk:

[.22guy]

What size bottle do you use?

Most often I have used the 32 oz Powerade bottles. We seem to have lots of those. I also have used one of those "shake and pour" premade pancake mix bottles. Those worked really well. I think the next time we eat those I will keep the bottle for more than one use, it worked very well. But pretty much any plastic bottle will do.

[11Z50]

I use my bore snakes for routine cleanings after shoots. When I think it's needed, I do a "conventional" detail cleaning of the guns I shoot a lot. Generally though, it's a bore snake, air compressor BJ and a Break-Free wipe down. Takes me about 5 minutes and the gun is good to go.

As discussed in previous posts, I think some shooters get freaky about cleaning their guns. I believe one can damage a weapon by cleaning it too much.