Bore Cleaning Snakes?

[Brubz]

Bore Snakes.Good, Bad or Ugly? What do you guys think?

 

[AK Hunter]

I do use them but they are not a do all. It takes much more to properly clean & care for the bore of your rifle or pistol.

 

[gwpercle]

Since they are so compact they are easy to take out in the field .
Since they are cheap I buy two ... keep one soaked in bore cleaner and the other in Gun Oil , in a zip lock , for a quick pull through ...clean and lube .
They won't take the place of a good rod but are good for a "quickie clean" when you are away from your bench .
I like them and use them but also have proper rods and attachments .
Gary

 

[.38 Special]

They remove powder fouling very well. When that is all that I need to accomplish, I use them happily. They are essentially useless for metal fouling.

The string apparently can break, leaving them hopelessly stuck. I have not had that happen myself.

 

[doubleh]

I have never used one and don't plan to. They should work I suppose but I have never felt a need for one.

 

[JTQ]

I haven't used them. Several years ago I got on board with the Schuemann Barrels cleaning method of just running patches through the barrels and not brushes, so I never found the need for a bore snake.

 

[steveus101]

I like 'em.

 

[Mark 40]

They won't take the place of a good rod but are good for a "quickie clean" when you are away from your bench .

That how I look at it as well, have them in the range bag for that purpose.

 

[Riomouse911]

I have started using them for quicker cleaning, especially when I bring 7-8 revolvers to the range and want to get them back into the safe in a reasonable time after a cleaning.

I do wrap some strands of all copper chore boy around the bristle part to give them a little bit more scrubbing.

Every 4th outing or so, sooner if the chambers start to get sticky, all the guns get a real cleaning with solvent, bore brush, etc.

Not a perfect solution, but it’s been working for me.

Stay safe.

 

[WheelGunMan]

I usually clean my guns with solvent.. then run a bore snake thru last just to polish things up.

 

[Targa]

I like them and use them often.

 

[cc-hangfire]

For handguns- especially modern steel & polymer ones used as tools - bore snakes are great. That’s the only cleaning those barrels get with me.
(rifles, safe queens, and heirloom quality firearms are another matter)

 

[tominboise]

They are one tool in the tool box. I use them occasionally, to knock the bulk of the fouling out before I really clean. I do use the .22 rimfire version on 22 pistols more frequently.

 

[FL-NC]

I use them alone for shotgun barrels. For rifles, they are something good to saturate your bore with solvent before you swab with patches, but swabbing is still needed if you want to truly clean your bore, esp. after heavy use.

 

[Rule3]

Useless if that is all you use. Like cleaning the bore with a dirty diaper!

If you wash it after every use then it would be OK but who wants to do that?

 

[drband]

Great for the range for cleaning up pistols a bit w/o disassembling.

 

[anothernewb]

I use them. they have their place. just remember to clean them from time to time. They do a great job on rimfire autoloaders.

 

[Brubz]

I use them. they have their place. just remember to clean them from time to time. They do a great job on rimfire autoloaders.

How do you clean them. just run them under tap water and let them air dry?

 

[drband]

How do you clean them. just run them under tap water and let them air dry?

Hand wash in a sink with detergent, rinse, drip dry.

OR put in a “delicates” mesh laundry bag and run through the washing machine. Drip dry.
Generally gets cleaner this way.

 

[sgt127]

Always have one handy and, a bottle of Ballistol. Quick clean up. Gun got rained on or sweated through. All I use on shotguns anymore. Though I don’t shoot them very often.

Ballistol and bore snakes go together. They are not “great” for cleaning guns..but, the are “good” at cleaning, oiling and preventing rust.

Like others, just a quick clean for regularly fired guns, they’re fine.

 

[Obturation]

I kinda use them, but not really. Length of paracord with a wad of copper chore boy tied on the end does the same thing and I don't buy anything special. Keep it simple and don't buy nonsense you've already got laying around the house.

 

[WrongHanded]

Every time I shoot a gun, I field strip it, brush out the crud, run a bore snake down the barrel a few times, and drop a little oil in critical places.

That does not address copper fouling or leading of a barrel, but it keeps my guns in good working order. And it is easy to do.

So yes, I like bore snakes.

 

[herrwalther]

Good to throw in a pack to do a quick pass or two down the barrel at the range. And as the first step in a thorough cleaning back home. Would never use them as my only means of cleaning a barrel.

 

[Brubz]

A guy on a YouTube video says he never uses a wire bore brush on the barrel of his Wrangler .22 because it might damage the bore of a .22.
He only uses bore snakes. What!? Is he referring to the tight fit of the .22?

 

[gwpercle]

How do you clean them. just run them under tap water and let them air dry?

Whenever the wife's out and I wash a load of shop towels and gun cleaning rags , I put them in the washer in a small mesh bag ... the mesh bag keeps the cords from wrapping around a rag .
Wash and dry and you done .
Gary