Two cleaning questions

[hexum77]

1) I just recently bought a bore snake as suggested by some members on here; it gets nice and dirty as well as soaked with bore solvent. I've washed it in the washing machine in a sock as some have suggested, but it still comes out smelling like solvent and discolored from the grime that it picked up during use. Is there another, more effective way to clean them? Maybe a technique by hand?

2) How do you guys feel about using bore foams such as Gunslick? I hear that it isn't very aggressive enough and to go with Outter's bore foam or Break Free's foam. Which do you guys thing is best? I get quite light headed cleaning my Mauser and even with proper ventilation!! That thing takes SOO much scrubbing so I was looking for a good, fast way to do it and I was thinking the foam.

 

[quartermaster]

I only use boresnakes on my .22 auto. It is the only semi auto I have with the exception of my stag. Honestly, I don't know if I like them or not.

When I clean my rifles which is quite often, around 25 shots give or take, I do a very thorough cleaning in most cases. I take my time, use bore guides and do everything possible not to damage the crown or the chamber area. When I am finished and feel that Ive done a good job, I will often spray the gunslick foam from the chamber to the muzzle. Sometimes I let it set for an hour, sometimes it's overnight. Often I flip the gun upside down and let it soak. No matter how clean I think I have gotten the barrel with solvents, patches, and brushes, I always see a bit of copper come out when patching the barrel after the foaming.

I feel that some of my rifles shoot better leaving a bit of copper in the barrel, so I treat them as such.

I would reccomend trying it. Sorry I can't be more definative. If you are looking for fast and aggresive, I think the Montana Extreme products will fit your bill. Just don't let them sit too long. The ammonia smell will take your breath away. I have a cabinet full of different solvents. If you follow the instructions, they all work. You might try Butch's Bore shine. It's kind of in the middle of the road strengthwise and pleasant to work with.

 

[hexum77]

DOes Montana extreme work better than the other bore foams I mentioned?

Also, are bore foams not good enough to do a full cleaning of the bore?

 

[hoghunting]

If you want to use a foaming cleaner that works, try Wipe-Out. I started using it 6 years ago when I began using the WSMs as they seemed to foul extremely well until the bore became seasoned. Wipe-Out doesn't contain ammonia so it is safe to leave it in the bore overnight, and there isn't any odor. I put my rifle in a horizontal rest, spray Wipe-Out in the muzzle while my other hand has a finger plugging the chamber. As soon as I feel the foam on my finger plugging the chamber, I stop spraying. Any excess that comes out of the muzzle, I use it to clean the bolt. Then leave it overnight to clean and just patch it out the next day, 2 or 3 patches is all it takes. Did I mention Wipe-Out works very well and doesn't have an odor?

If you do a search for the Bore snakes, you will find quite a few threads about the pull cords breaking and leaving the snakes stuck in the barrel as repeated washings weaken the cord.

 

[A-FIXER]

Just throw the snake in the dishwasher and water gets changed 3 times if you select pot/pan cyc.

 

[hexum77]

Ok I'm picking up a can of Wipe-Out. The reviews I've read are just too good to pass up. If this works well, I may just pitch the bore-snake!

Thanks, dog!

 

[hexum77]

Can break free powder blaster replace traditional cleaning with liquid solvents and patches? Or is it more for hand guns?

I am thinking about this for my yugo m48. I have some rem's de-greaser. Same thing?

 

[rcmodel]

Neither one is bore cleaner.

For a centerfire rifle you need real bore cleaner, brushes, and patches.
And probably Copper Solvent occasionally to remove jacket fouling.

rc

 

[hexum77]

Oh ok thanks, RC!

 

[oneounceload]

The best way to clean a boresnake is a large jar and lid (think big pickle jar or similar) and using scalding hot water and Dawn liquid dish soap

Dawn is the key as it has the best grease/oil surfactants. Swirl, agitate, shake, or whatever the snake inside the jar for a few minutes then rinse thoroughly with cold water and allow to air dry overnight

 

[hexum77]

Hey I tried this today and it worked great! I think Dawn was the key and now it's nice and clean and drying thanks for the tip!

 

[avan47]

M-Pro 7 bore cleaner. It's odorless, biodegradeable, and non toxic. It's also water soluable, so your bore snake will be easier to clean. It also works better than the stuff that makes you light headed. It's not a copper solvent, but it's supposed to get between the copper and the barrel to remove it.

 

[heeler]

Amazing what you can learn here.
Oneounce,since I use the Bore Snake only on my Marlin 336 I will give that Dawn cleaning method a try.
Thanks!!

 

[oneounceload]

I shoot more shotgun and use boresnakes and those TICO tools aka "fuzzy sticks" and use the same idea to clean them as well

 

[bikerdoc]

Old guy talking here so take it for what it is worth.

Some time I take an old shoe/boot lace, knot in the appropriate size patches in a row and have at it. YMMV

 

[hexum77]

I've decided to just go ahead and ditch the boresnake. I see it as pointless unless you soak every few inches of the snake in bore solvent; running dry boresnake cloth and a dry bore doesn't get much up. If you soak the front of the boresnake, that solvent left behind is quickly picked up by one of the dry spots on the snake and then it's just dry rubbing on dry.

it seems that you can also only use it once per cleaning since using it again in the same cleaning will be like running a dirty patch down the bore. Seems kind of pointless :/

 

[4v50 Gary]

Muy bueno hombres to those whose wives let them toss a bore-snake into a washing machine or dishwasher.