Bore Snakes

[Jim K]

Hi, Onmilo,

I don't "hate" boresnakes. They are a fine idea. But I have gotten a bit tired of the same old complaint on these sites (and a couple in real life) "...my bore snake broke off in the barrel, and I tried to drive it out with a wood dowel and it splintered so I used a lot of oil and then a long piece of wire now the wire is stuck and I won't use a steel or brass rod because it might damage the bore ......" And on, and on, and on, time after time.

If you use a bore snake and it works for you, fine. But if you have the above problem, don't bother to tell us about it; shut the heck up and get the darned thing out the best way you can. ;>)

Jim

 

[CZguy]

Hi, Onmilo,

I don't "hate" boresnakes. They are a fine idea. But I have gotten a bit tired of the same old complaint on these sites (and a couple in real life) "...my bore snake broke off in the barrel, and I tried to drive it out with a wood dowel and it splintered so I used a lot of oil and then a long piece of wire now the wire is stuck and I won't use a steel or brass rod because it might damage the bore ......" And on, and on, and on, time after time.

If you use a bore snake and it works for you, fine. But if you have the above problem, don't bother to tell us about it; shut the heck up and get the darned thing out the best way you can. ;>)

Jim

That was particularity well said. I agree completely.

I don't know why I read cleaning threads. I guess it's kind of like a bad car wreck, you just have to look.

 

[DMK]

I use them mainly for guns that can't be cleaned from the breach (Revolvers, M1 Garand, M1 carbine, Marlin 60, Marlin Camp Carbine, etc). I still use a cleaning rod on them, just not every time. I'd rather the gun not get as clean than wear out the muzzle.

I actually prefer using a cleaning rod whenever possible. I think the boresnake is actually less convenient to use, although it is much more convenient to pack a boresnake and small bottle of CLP in a buttstock compartment or range kit.

As far as breaking them... replace the darn thing every once in a while. I doubt that they are made to go a thousand cleanings or some nonsense.

 

[sm]

You folks think I am kidding, those that do know me, know I am not.

It is rare I clean a bore.

Chambers I do, bores are rare.
Charge holes in a revolver I do, again, bores are rare.

Shotguns, well I have some trigger time with a shotgun. No. 1 problem we saw/see , and it did not matter what kind of shotgun [Semi, pump, O/U, SxS or Single Shot] was a dirty, gritty chamber from the "plastic build up".
Paper shells with wax coating did not give us problems.

We simply stuck wisps of 0000 steel wool on a Brush and twisted and turned to clean chamber.
On a Pump or Semi, we bent the rod to access while the barrel still on the gun , or for guns like JC Higgins the barrel does not come off.

Battery Operated Drills come to be and oh boy this was great!

Chuck that cleaning rod, with 0000 steel wool and clean that chamber and bore - fast!

Now I was running barrel sets, so when I finished one event, and had 20, 30 minutes before the next one to take a leak, eat a piece of fruit, get my gear ready, I just changed barrels.

Some changed Guns.

Tube Sets come out, and run this rod, with 0000 steel wool with a drill and clean that 12 bore, and stick in 20, 28 or .410 tubes.

Now we saw folks using all sorts of chemicals, and some touted "this" and some were Expen$ive and dang ammo was spec'd right, ammo worked in any one else's shotgun.

Stick your finger in that chamber and it was Still gritty and dirty and the chemicals did not do much.
Boresnakes come out and same thing.
Tube set folks tried them, and tubes would not always fit right.

Snag a batter drill, run that puppy and these problems solved.

20-30 minutes b/t events and ME, and those like me, wanted to free our minds of the even finished, and get Mental ready for next event.

Being rattled with a gun and time running out is a sure way to blow targets on the first box, and often at Station 1.

More tourneys have been lost, and folks not get to a shoot off, in the first box, and before they get to station 4.

I've seen too many folks not get two shots off, at Stations 1, 2, or 3, and hold up a squad, missed birds and their mental game is totally blown.

Don't watch them shoot, it can affect your mental game. They have 4 boxes to shoot and they just - shoot. It does not matter, they lose any will to do better, they dropped a bird, or two, or 3 and they are out, no matter if they do shoot a 97.

Easier part was shooting 100/100. The real competition was the shoot off.

I'm a heathen.
I use often these brushes I get from Auto Parts and Mom&Pop hardware store for handguns.
Looks like a "bottle" or "test tube" brush, on twisted wire with a loop on the end.

1911 barrel, well Wil Shuemann I happen to agree with. I don't clean bores.
Still I clean chambers.
So I take one of these "acid brushes" and twist and turn to clean chamber.
I have "scrunched" the loop a bit to fit through bore.
So I stick a patch ( pc of T shirt most times) and after I twist and turn to clean chamber, I just poke it on through, and pull it out.

No damage to crown or nothing. I'm done taking care of a 1911 barrel.

I can bend one of these brushes and do a revolver chamber.
Use the one still straight for charge holes.

Mentors did this when I was a brat in the 50's...worked then, still seems to for me...

 

[.41 magnum man]

QUOTE from CZguy: "I don't know why I read cleaning threads. I guess it's kind of like a bad car wreck, you just have to look."

I don't know why, but that just tickled the crap out of me!

 

[Samuraigg]

Figure its better to bump this thread up to ask my question rather than start a new one.

Whats the best way to clean a boresnake without putting it into the washing machine? Will just hand washing with soap and warm water do the trick?

 

[CZguy]

Washing machine

Nope, you have to sneak it past your wife, and throw it in the washing machine.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I use bore snakes for basically one purpose only. I use them to clean the oil out of the bore after storage. They do this job quite well and it helps to only buy rifle ones even for handguns. One pass and you are good to go.

 

[Kruzr]

Whats the best way to clean a boresnake without putting it into the washing machine? Will just hand washing with soup and warm water do the trick?

I clean mine by putting them in a jar with warm water and detergent. Shake it up. Then rinse by doing the same thing in a jar of clean water. Wring and hang to dry.

We're in our 5th year of using bore snakes at the range. That's thousands and thousands of pulls through bores and cylinders. Not one has ever broken in the barrel or anywhere else. We clean them once or twice and then toss them when they get so used that there is no resistence on the pull. I still can't imagine how it can break unless it is already halfway cut through in the first place.

The only time I've had a stuck one was when one of my fellow workers pulled a .40 cal through a 9MM. The big complicated process of unsticking it consisted of putting one end in the vise and pulling the barrel off the snake.

They will never replace rods and patches but they do a good quick job of keeping the bore unobstructed and reasonably clean.

 

[Car Knocker]

I put mine in a plastic container about half full of water and a good detergent then put it in the Jeep for a couple of days worth of driving. The sloshing and vibration seem to do a very good job of removing the crud. A quick rinse with warm water completes the job.

 

[mballai]

I sold off two unused Bore Snakes recently. I don't know if they break or not, but the one snake I have used didn't seem to do anything great.

I've switched over to Bore Tech solvents (Eliminator and Rimfire Blend) and they seem to get the bores very clean with just patches and a nylon brush. I don't even bother with a brush on the rimfire guns.

 

[Noxx]

Whats the best way to clean a boresnake without putting it into the washing machine? Will just hand washing with soup and warm water do the trick?

Depends on the soup. I can't imagine clam chowder being good for the bore.

 

[MaterDei]

I love them. Every time I get a new caliber I get a new snake.

 

[Coltdriver]

I really like them for running through the barrel at the range after every five shots or so.

I have used them to break in thompson center barrels with great success.

If you ever break one off all you have to do it apply a compressed air nozzel to the muzzel and blow it out.

I still patch and brush, but for keeping a barrel clear at the range they are wonderful.

 

[mrmeval]

I not yet tried clam chowder.

In a different kind of tech forum someone compared various heat sink greases used on processors and tooth paste came out pretty high. Vegemite did as well as some excessively priced silver bearing paste.
http://www.dansdata.com/goop.htm

It all comes down to testing.

 

[1911 guy]

They have their place.

Bore snakes have a use, but they are not the complete answer to all your cleaning needs.

I use two, one in .30 and one in .22 for my rifles. On humid days, or rainy, it's more imprtant to get fouling out as soon as possible. Snakes let me do that before I leave the range or field without carrying a rod I might bend or break. When I get home, a proper cleaning with solvent and patches is in order. Using a one piece rod, by the way. I no longer will use a jointed rod. I've bent aluminum rods, brass rods, give me a jointed rod made of unobtainium and I'll bend it.

 

[Jeff F]

I know of a couple of bore snakes that got broken off in the bore. One guy that broke one off went to a welding supply outfit and bought some 3 ft lengths of 1/4 inch brass brazing rod then ground one end to a sharp edge and was able to chuck it in a variable speed drill and go after it from the receiver. Took a little over an hour but was able to chew it up enough to finely get it out and with no damage to the rifle.

 

[kir_kenix]

i use bore snakes amost exclusively at the range. especially w/ break open rifles, because it is so convenient. one pass ever 15-20 shots keeps my bore shooting good long after it would have fouled out w/o any cleaning at all. they have their place, but they are by no means the be all end all of bore cleaning.

 

[U.S.SFC_RET]

Some of you are right, for the lazy man.. mmm letme see how many do I have..? There is a couple I confess but for the quick and hasty. I have a Mosin-Nagant that will take on any boresnake and leave it whimpering..