Bore Snake Advice Needed

[shlike]

I am meticulous about cleaning my handguns. I clean them after every range trip, regardless of how many rounds I fire.

I recently purchased Hoppes Viper Bore Snakes that I want to incorporate into my cleaning regimen. The rods, patch loops,patches, brushes and jags are getting to be tedious, and I'm looking for a simpler solution.

My question is, are these bore snakes intended to be used dry without any cleaning solvent, or would I spray down the bore with my cleaning solvent (I use mostly M-Pro 7) and then run the snake through?

I can't find this information in the instructions that came with the snakes.

I welcome advice.

 

[rcmodel]

Note the advertisement and package say 'Lubrication Zone'?

http://www.hoppes.com/boresnake/boresnake-viper

That would be the Orange part.

But you can put bore cleaner on the front part and oil on the orange part if you want too.


Rc

 

[Jim K]

Please use the bore snake for the proper caliber and in accordance with instructions.

I am darned tired of posts that start, "I got my boresnake stuck in the barrel and it broke and I tried to drive it out with a dowel rod and that broke and then I used a steel rod and that got stuck and I think it maybe messed up the barrel...."

Jim

 

[shlike]

Thanks for the head's up. I purchased 2 snakes- a 9mm version for my .380 and 9mm guns and a .45 version for my .45's. I'll be sure to check the caliber stamp on the brass part before using.

 

[joem1945]

I quit cleaning my handguns the usual way with solvent, brushes and patches. Got a sonic cleaner, take off the grips, drop it in and run it for about a hour. Let cool and wipe down. Cleaned way better than I could ever do.

 

[AKElroy]

I am meticulous about cleaning my handguns. I clean them after every range trip, regardless of how many rounds I fire.

I recently purchased Hoppes Viper Bore Snakes that I want to incorporate into my cleaning regimen. The rods, patch loops,patches, brushes and jags are getting to be tedious, and I'm looking for a simpler solution.

My question is, are these bore snakes intended to be used dry without any cleaning solvent, or would I spray down the bore with my cleaning solvent (I use mostly M-Pro 7) and then run the snake through?

I can't find this information in the instructions that came with the snakes.

I welcome advice.

If I'm at the range, I will dip the leading edge of the snake in a bottle of Hoppe's and run it through. Once I get home, I generally "mop" the bore with a #9- soaked patch, let it sit while I clean all the usual powder-catching surfaces, and then run a dry snake through the bore twice.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Just as a tip, I buy rifle bore snakes for my handguns. That way they are long enough that if the string breaks, there is still some of the snake hanging out to grab onto and pull out.

I only use mine to take the "preservation oil" out of the barrel that I put it when I put them in storage. I have read too many threads of folks using them all the time and breaking them off in the barrel like was posted above.

 

[fguffey]

I do not have a bore snake, it is very unusual for me to use a cleaning rod type cleaning kit. I make bore cleaning set-ups, I find them impossible to lock up and or jam. I have a choice of throwing the used material away or washing it. I use it to wipe oil or remove dirt, grit and grime.

F. Guffey

 

[MilsurpShooter]

I usually buy one for each caliber a year. After awhile the bronze brush built in tends to wear down so the older ones I tend to soak with the solvent, while the not so newer one is for cleaning passes. But i also have far more then I need.

Some are corrosive only, some are oil only, some are dry pass cleaning only. Is it a bad thing when you've got more snakes then guns?

To date I've never had a string break on me *Knock on wood* guess I've just been really lucky lol.

 

[eastbank]

i only use them on my shotguns in the field or at the clay games ranges after shooting and finish up at home with the old time rods. eastbank.

 

[boom boom]

I admit to using boresnakes but primarily for semi auto handguns. I also use them to occasionally lightly oil and clean dust out of barrels on a semi annual basis for cleaned rifles in storage.

I normally use bore brushes with jags and patches using one piece rods after therange--with the solvent used depending on the bore condition ( I fire old milsurps with varying bore quality).

For badly fouled barrels cleaning comes from JB Bore Paste (and/or Bore Bright) after using a home-made Foul-out type electrolysis cleaner. Very occasionally, such as an old Krag barrel, I have repeated the above chore--fortunately, I got it as a barreled receiver cheap so I did not have to disassemble it. Turned out to have a decent bore after doing this.

 

[loose noose]

I only use the bore snake on my .223/556 rifles while at the range, in order to swab the barrels after repeated usage in developing an accuracy load. After getting the rifles home I generally disassemble them and use a one piece rod, and a bore brush, jag, and slotted tip to further clean the arms. Once home I use Remington bore cleaner or hopes #9, followed by CLP. I usually use CLP at the range, on the bore snake, in two places where it enters the chamber, and on the end of the snake, initially. Then I'll run it thru the bore about 2-3 times thereafter.

 

[Bill4282]

I swab the barrel with bore mop soaked with bore cleaner and let sit while cleaning the rest with rags and q-tips. Then use a rod and brush to scrub the barrel. Last step is bore snake to drag out any leftover residue.

 

[fguffey]

Last step is bore snake to drag out any leftover residue.

I want to know how dirty the barrel is so I start with the home made tool. I want to know how dirty the barrel is, I always use white material/

F. Guffey

 

[Jim Watson]

I use Bore Snakes with this or that chemical on the leading section.
They are handy for a hasty clean of an auto-pistol, pull the snake up through the magazine well and drag it across the feed ramp to get that clean, too.

I added a .22 Bore Snake recently. I have used it on two .22 LRs and it took a scary amount of effort to drag it through the barrel, I really worried about breaking the cord. I may not use it again.

 

[jcwit]

I now shoot only powder coated bullets, only thing to clean out of the barrel is a little gun powder residue.

I do my own powder coating, simple as ABC.

 

[fireman 9731]

I dip the front couple of inches in Hoppes then pull it through. I might make a couple passes. Don't over complicate it, its the simplest cleaning system out there. When it gets dirty I wash it in the sink with some dawn.