vis-à-vis
Member
I used a Bore Snake to clean my pistole the other day. Found it to be tremendously better than the old rod and patch method. Are there any downsides that I need to be aware of?
Bore Snake vs. The rod and patch
- Thread starter vis-à-vis
- Start date
- Status
grizz
Member
Better? I use boresnakes only if I don't have enough time for a complete rod and patch cleaning. In my experience they actually do not get all of the grime out as well as the traditional rod and patch method.
Sunray
Member
There's a thread this forum about both metal ends of a boresnake breaking off with the rest of it stuck in the barrel. The question was how to get it out.
dfariswheel
Member
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2002
- Messages
- 6,658
Also, lately there have been several reports of people getting a boresnake in the barrel, and it breaking off.
One man tried to pull it back out from the other end, and that end broke off too.
Last I heard, he was asking people how to extract it.
This is why the military stopped using the old brush and cord thong. If the cord breaks the bore is plugged until a gunsmith can extract it.
Also as above, the boresnake just simply doesn't clean as good as a rod, brush, and patch does.
The boresnake seems to be a sort of "lick and a promise" for lazy people, or a quick field cleaner for when you don't have a rod.
One man tried to pull it back out from the other end, and that end broke off too.
Last I heard, he was asking people how to extract it.
This is why the military stopped using the old brush and cord thong. If the cord breaks the bore is plugged until a gunsmith can extract it.
Also as above, the boresnake just simply doesn't clean as good as a rod, brush, and patch does.
The boresnake seems to be a sort of "lick and a promise" for lazy people, or a quick field cleaner for when you don't have a rod.
ogree
Member
The problem with the bore snakes are that the hollow cord that encases the brush are made of nylon.
I once talked to an old timer that was very respected in the firearm industry (when he was still around) about the original bores snakes that were manufactured here in Idaho and he asked me if I had ever gone fishing utilizing the old lures that were made with the carbide eyes.
I responded yes.
He then stated "have you ever noticed how the fishing line wears a groove in the carbide ?".
The point was taken at that time.
Carbide is a lot harder that any type of barrel steel made.
Nylon is quite abrasive.
I have not used one of those things since.
They are marketed as the quick fix for your dirty gun for the population in the U.S. that require instant gratification.
When I asked the inventor of these things as to how these aid in cleaning the rest of the firearm, he said they won’t, but it will clean the bore fast.
I didn’t bother arguing with him.
Just my opinion.
I once talked to an old timer that was very respected in the firearm industry (when he was still around) about the original bores snakes that were manufactured here in Idaho and he asked me if I had ever gone fishing utilizing the old lures that were made with the carbide eyes.
I responded yes.
He then stated "have you ever noticed how the fishing line wears a groove in the carbide ?".
The point was taken at that time.
Carbide is a lot harder that any type of barrel steel made.
Nylon is quite abrasive.
I have not used one of those things since.
They are marketed as the quick fix for your dirty gun for the population in the U.S. that require instant gratification.
When I asked the inventor of these things as to how these aid in cleaning the rest of the firearm, he said they won’t, but it will clean the bore fast.
I didn’t bother arguing with him.
Just my opinion.
Lot of chatter going on about how bad Bore Snakes are and to me it seems like much of it is from people who make or sell conventional rods and brushes.
I have been using Bore Snakes since they were first introduced and haven't broke one nor have I worn a barrel bore into uselessness by repeated applications of a Bore Snake.
If the Bore Snake is used in conjunction with a Modern cleaner such as M-Pro 7 which is designed to sit in a barrel for a period of time,(enzimatic dwell time is what folks who are chemists call it), a Bore Snake will clean just as well as a conventional rod and patch EXCEPT when the shooter is trying to completely decopper a barrel bore.
Nothing works better than tight fitting patches and stab jags mounted to carbon fibre rods for this chore.
I have been using Bore Snakes since they were first introduced and haven't broke one nor have I worn a barrel bore into uselessness by repeated applications of a Bore Snake.
If the Bore Snake is used in conjunction with a Modern cleaner such as M-Pro 7 which is designed to sit in a barrel for a period of time,(enzimatic dwell time is what folks who are chemists call it), a Bore Snake will clean just as well as a conventional rod and patch EXCEPT when the shooter is trying to completely decopper a barrel bore.
Nothing works better than tight fitting patches and stab jags mounted to carbon fibre rods for this chore.
Can someone please elaborate as to why boresnakes don't clean "as well"? I've heard this a few times, but what's the reasoning? I have both rod and boresnake and I don't see the difference between the two. Also, for breaking, just check the top notch where the string attaches to the nylon for wear and tear before you put the thing in.
Peter M. Eick
Member
To me the bore snake is a great way to get the oil out of the barrel and cylinders after storage. Other then that I do not use them. I have not broken one either (yet).
1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
Snake in the Bore
Boresnakes are good things to pack afield, but...personally speaking, of course...I consider them to be a field expedient means to clean a rifle bore when bringing a rod along is impossible or impractical. A back-pack item, and nothing more.
Yes. They will break eventually. If you use one often enough, it's not "if" but "when" it breaks. Use it a few times when you can't use a rod, brush, and patches and toss it. They're cheap compared to the hassle they are to remove when they do break, because they're designed to be pulled, not pushed. Pushing one will swell it tightly in the bore...and then the real fun begins.
Disclaimer:
Snakes...like anything else mass-produced...will give varying results from one example to another. Some will last for years, while others will fail with only a few uses. They don't come with a warning light.
Boresnakes are good things to pack afield, but...personally speaking, of course...I consider them to be a field expedient means to clean a rifle bore when bringing a rod along is impossible or impractical. A back-pack item, and nothing more.
Yes. They will break eventually. If you use one often enough, it's not "if" but "when" it breaks. Use it a few times when you can't use a rod, brush, and patches and toss it. They're cheap compared to the hassle they are to remove when they do break, because they're designed to be pulled, not pushed. Pushing one will swell it tightly in the bore...and then the real fun begins.
Disclaimer:
Snakes...like anything else mass-produced...will give varying results from one example to another. Some will last for years, while others will fail with only a few uses. They don't come with a warning light.
OK, since everyone would like to interject the famous word "Yet" let me say that I have personally broke two aluminum one piece cleaning rods.
I now use Carbon Fibre one piece rods.
If I ever actually break a Bore Snake I will look for an improved version but I will continue to use them in the same way I continue to use one piece rods even though I actually broke two of these.
Nothing is infallible.
I want to add that the Military didn't replace pull throughs with hard sectional rods because the pull throughs broke.
They replaced the pull throughs with hard rods because you cannot effectively remove a bore obstruction with a pull through.
Another good reason to keep a selection of different products for different applications in your cleaning area.
I now use Carbon Fibre one piece rods.
If I ever actually break a Bore Snake I will look for an improved version but I will continue to use them in the same way I continue to use one piece rods even though I actually broke two of these.
Nothing is infallible.
I want to add that the Military didn't replace pull throughs with hard sectional rods because the pull throughs broke.
They replaced the pull throughs with hard rods because you cannot effectively remove a bore obstruction with a pull through.
Another good reason to keep a selection of different products for different applications in your cleaning area.
I've used a Bore Snake a few times. I just tossed it and went with the PatchWorm instead. Cleans just fine, smaller, lighter, cheaper, easier on the bore, and perfect for bore cleaning in the field or at the range. I still use rods at home, except for rimfires. They get the PatchWorm only, though I rarely clean rimfire bores.
"...the Military didn't replace pull throughs with hard sectional rods because the pull throughs broke..."
When I was in service, they still issued pull throughs with the buttstock cleaning kit (in the "oil and thong case"). I tried them just to see if they worked; I broke two in the barrel, with ordinary patches and bore cleaner. After that, no more pull-throughs of any kind for me. I can maybe see them as a back-pack item in a long hunt to clean water out of the barrel, but with non-corrosive ammo, cleaning a barrel is not an immediate necessity. Besides, leaving the barrel dirty won't put an end to your "dream hunt" but a broken snake stuck in the rifle barrel sure will.
Jim
When I was in service, they still issued pull throughs with the buttstock cleaning kit (in the "oil and thong case"). I tried them just to see if they worked; I broke two in the barrel, with ordinary patches and bore cleaner. After that, no more pull-throughs of any kind for me. I can maybe see them as a back-pack item in a long hunt to clean water out of the barrel, but with non-corrosive ammo, cleaning a barrel is not an immediate necessity. Besides, leaving the barrel dirty won't put an end to your "dream hunt" but a broken snake stuck in the rifle barrel sure will.
Jim
A simple test is to run the boresnake through a few times and then a patch and see how dirty the patch is.
I have found if I do that on my AR15 rifle which has shot a few hundred rounds, that the patch comes out pretty clean, which makes me feel like the boresnake does a decent job.
I spray the barrel and the snake with some M-PRO first, or sometimes drip bore-gel into the barrel, and let it sit a minute, I don't run the snake through dry.
I have found if I do that on my AR15 rifle which has shot a few hundred rounds, that the patch comes out pretty clean, which makes me feel like the boresnake does a decent job.
I spray the barrel and the snake with some M-PRO first, or sometimes drip bore-gel into the barrel, and let it sit a minute, I don't run the snake through dry.
lesjones
Member
I keep Bore Snakes in my range bag and clean my barrels and cylinders right after the range session while the gun is still warm from shooting. They haven't gotten stuck yet (knock on wood) and unlike sectional cleaning rods they won't damage the chamber, crown, or rifling.
For revolvers, the only way to clean the barrel from the breech end is to use a Bore Snake, Otis, or similar non-rigid system.
For revolvers, the only way to clean the barrel from the breech end is to use a Bore Snake, Otis, or similar non-rigid system.
Troutman
member
It would be nice. To make bore snakes disposable. Make them for one time use, then throwaway. The problem would be the cost. Make them cost effective. But not at the price of $15, and on up, for one.
GSPKurt
Member
I ran a BoreSnake through my .300 Win Mag. Several times. Then I ran a rod/patch through it. Filthy. 
Enough for me. It's laying in a cabinet in my reloading room. I won't throw it away, as I can't bear to throw $15 in the trash, but I can't think of when I'll use it again.
Enough for me. It's laying in a cabinet in my reloading room. I won't throw it away, as I can't bear to throw $15 in the trash, but I can't think of when I'll use it again.sm
member
Never owned or personally used a Boresnake. Never made sense to me, to keep pulling the dirt and all I wanted out - back in.
Clean patch each time, and only going one direction - makes sense to me. This is how I was taught.
Rods were used most times, even a 3 pc GI rod, with Muzzle guard taken afield by one of us, in case a shotgun wad got stuck, or squib load, or mud in barrel.
Before the Otis kits, Mentors made me a pull thru made of Rawhide lace. Clean patch each time, going one direction only with a pc of straw to protect muzzle, small glass bottle of oil that all fit in empty shoe polish tin.
Out in rain, snow, or coming inside from cold to "mud room" or "cold room" and not wanting condensation to occur in barrel , run a oiled patch from breech to muzzle.
Not trying to "clean" , instead remove moisture, and hold. Not a tight patch, and run another "not so tight" to remove anything that came out before shooting again.
I rarely clean a barrel anyway, I concern myself with chambers, extraction and feeding.
Just me, just feel too much time spent on what is not important and not enough on what is.
Seen pristine bores, and chambers so gritty with plasticized residue, the shotgun would not feed or extract. Seen extractors break from this, and have had to use a brass hull "knocker outer" or wooden dowel to get that hull out ...
you could have eaten off the bore it was so clean though.
Clean patch each time, and only going one direction - makes sense to me. This is how I was taught.
Rods were used most times, even a 3 pc GI rod, with Muzzle guard taken afield by one of us, in case a shotgun wad got stuck, or squib load, or mud in barrel.
Before the Otis kits, Mentors made me a pull thru made of Rawhide lace. Clean patch each time, going one direction only with a pc of straw to protect muzzle, small glass bottle of oil that all fit in empty shoe polish tin.
Out in rain, snow, or coming inside from cold to "mud room" or "cold room" and not wanting condensation to occur in barrel , run a oiled patch from breech to muzzle.
Not trying to "clean" , instead remove moisture, and hold. Not a tight patch, and run another "not so tight" to remove anything that came out before shooting again.
I rarely clean a barrel anyway, I concern myself with chambers, extraction and feeding.
Just me, just feel too much time spent on what is not important and not enough on what is.
Seen pristine bores, and chambers so gritty with plasticized residue, the shotgun would not feed or extract. Seen extractors break from this, and have had to use a brass hull "knocker outer" or wooden dowel to get that hull out ...
you could have eaten off the bore it was so clean though.
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
- Locked
- Locked