Is Bore Snake better than clean rod?

[efeng9622]

My friend told me that cleaning rod will hurt bore occasionally even it is softer than barrel. He suggests me to use Bore Snake. I think Bore Snake is more convenient to clean, but I don’t believe cleaning rod will hurt bore.

Thanks!

 

[Bazooka Joe71]

I've never had any issues with a cleaning rod, but I think a bore snake is definately way easier/convenient.


Just a question, do you have something against the word "a"?????



Edit: Obviously if you use a cleaning rod the wrong way you can hurt the barrel.

 

[usmarine0352_2005]

You can hurt your barrel with a rod, especially if you go down the wrong end....barrel first.

So yes, you can damage your gun with a cleaning rod.

I love the Bore Snakes and use them for all of my weapons.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Bore snakes get bores mostly clean. Brushes and properly handled rods get them clean.

 

[Babarsac]

Now I'm a little worried that I've been cleaning my rifles improperly. I've been putting a cleaning rod down the end of the barrel first! Should I switch over to a boresnake? But I've heard the the carbon fiber rods just I got don't hurt your barrel as much.

hmmmm

 

[Dusey]

I love my bore snake. Right now I only have one for 22 caliber firearms. I use it on my Armalite m15a4--couldn't be happier. I spray CLP on the snake and one time through the bore and she's clean as a whistle.

 

[gdvan01]

The bore snakes are good for one last swipe before shooting or after shooting a ton-o-bullets just to get the basic crud out. They absolutely do not replace a thorough cleaning.


...and use a cleaning rod from the breach to the muzzle, you'll be fine.

 

[Euclidean]

I do both. A few passes with the bore snake (I put just a little bore solvent on the far end where most of the "scrubbing" is done) just after shooting will clean up most of the crud and greatly cuts down time spent cleaning the bore. Finish with a rod. Check with a bore light and test patch until satisfied.

Couple of exceptions: frequently fired .22 caliber firearms get mostly bore snaked and cleaned with a rod once in a blue moon.

...and use a cleaning rod from the breach to the muzzle, you'll be fine.

While this is the pattern I prefer, it's not always practical depending on the design of the firearm and I must confess I sometimes give up and go muzzle to breach. I gave up on breach to muzzle on the 10/22 for instance after having difficulty.

But I do this with care and alarm, and not very often.

 

[kingpin008]

In response to the OP's post - I think that boresnakes are good, if you need to have something there for a quick cleaning at the range, or in-between more detailed cleanings. It is true, that even the softest cleaning rods can damage the gun if you aren't careful, but the risk of them doing any damage to your gun is minimal as long as you take your time.

 

[sm]

Is Bore Snake better than a cleaning rod?

No.

Personally I have never been interested in a bore snake, never used one, or ever care to have one.
I have removed two stuck in barrels/bore though.
I used a cleaning rod to do so.

It just never made sense to me to pull back through a dirty wad of material, still does not.

Now in the o-l-d days, we kept in a empty shoe polish tin a length of rawhide, with a slit in one end, a little glass vial of oil and some patches.
This was for when out in the field, if need, to pull a light patch of oil through the bore if wet, rain, snow or whatever dictated.

See, even back then, I, we, rarely cleaned bores.
Chambers , yes, bores no.

Otis pull through is a great "pull through" kit for field use, being portable.
Then again the key is "Field Use".

Patchworm is another great , small , portable idea, again, Field Use.

Cleaning rods with PROPER Technique has always been the best, and will continue to be.


Now, maintaining a cleaning rod, using bore guides and muzzle guards are Proper technique.

I've seen <enter expensive brand name rod here>, Coated in Space Age Coatings, Uncoated Steel of the highest Quality, blue printed and whatever else, do harm to bores.

I've seen nice guns, maintained , with Al, Brass, Steel , wooden dowels and even *gasp* sectioned rods , simply because the Proper Technique, bore guides, muzzle guards and the rod was inspected and maintained.

I'm a heathen.
I use round horsehair brushes that fit the chamber and that is what I concern myself with.

 

[tinygnat219]

No. Cleaning Rod is the best way to clean things. The Bore Snake is useful for getting some of the stuff out, like while the barrel is still warm, at the range. Other than that, If I want it clean, I do it the old fashioned way.

 

[whitetiger7654]

As stated a bore snake will never clean better than a rod. But yes you can damage a gun by missusing them. Get a good bore guide and you will be fine.

 

[MudPuppy]

Why is a cleaning rod better than a bore snake?

Not denying it, just trying to understand the mechanics of it.

 

[Firethorn]

I've bought snakes for all my calibers, and love them.

So far, I've found that with a pull through it cleans the bore about as well as running a dozen patches through. Sure, I might be able to get it cleaner with some more patches, but the snake is a real time saver for me.

As for getting dirty - they are washable, and have the surface area of quite a few patches.

 

[rdaines]

Don't like snakes

And what about the old saying, "Spare the rod, spoil the barrel..."
I use rods.

 

[The Deer Hunter]

Me Kong, you barrel...me clean you.

Jeezus Peetes on a pogo stick. I'm really trying not to go the "ignorant immigrant route" here but ***?

weird, I didn't notice that unitl you said that.

I recommend using a brush/rod. The snake is good if you plan to shoot it later that week or something, but the brush does a better job. Also you use solvent.

 

[kingpin008]

weird, I didn't notice that unitl you said that.

Nice, huh? I know I'm fairly new here, but it amazes me how much of that kinda crap we have on this board. And considering that the founder of THR is an immigrant, and the Admin is a Muslim, it's almost unbelieveable that those kind of comments even exist here.

 

[Dave R]

Bore snakes are just fine for powder fouling. They don't do anything for leading or copper fouling.

I use bore snakes for all my firearms, but I also use brush & patch on anything bigger than a .22. I'll use a 'snake after a short range session, or if I know I'm going to be shooting again tomorrow, or if I'm in the field and just want to reduce fouling. I especially do that when shooting whistle pigs (like prairie dogs) with my .17 centerfire. Every 20 rounds or so I'll run the 'snake through to keep those teeny lands clean. Then, after a longer session, I'll do the brush & patch thing to take care of copper fouling, etc.

 

[XD Fan]

WHere does one find a bore guide or a muzzle gaurd?

 

[LarryS.]

Mr. Google LOVES you.........

http://www.google.com/products?q=bore+guide&btnG=Search+Products

 

[Black Adder LXX]

I use and like both. I still consider myself a cleaning rod kinda guy, but I use the bore snake after an initial brushing because as somebody else already said, they have the surface area of many patches. Then I finish with patches. I look at is as a timesaver when I would usually run a bunch of patches through. I have one for each of my calibers.

 

[Cannonball888]

Bore snakes are just fine for powder fouling. They don't do anything for leading or copper fouling.

+1

 

[alucard0822]

I have only used a boresnake to clean my shotguns barrel, and about 10k trap/buck/slug loads later it is still spotless. Rimfires get a CLP patch, soak 15 min then a couple passes with the snake (I use plated bullets). Most of my centerfires get the mop then brush, then patches, finished by a light coat of CLP, but prior to shooting a pass with the snake, and copper/lead solvent every few range trips, chrome lined ones get a patch soaked in CLP and a couple passes of the snake and that's it.

 

[VARifleman]

I use phosphor bronze brushes with brass shanks with a brass one piece rod for my rifles. For pistols and shotguns, I just use a 3 piece brass rod from walmart.

 

[TX1911fan]

I found where a bore snake is definitely better--when shooting semi auto rifles. I have a Benelli R1, and when shooting at the range my choice if I want to swab the barrel is to use a bore snake and go from breech to muzzle, or to use a rod and go from the muzzle end. I use the snake. However, when I get home, I break the rifle down, soak the barrel and use a cleaning rod with patches (actually I use an Otis kit with a flexible rod, but same difference). The bore snake has its uses.