Bore snake

[D_Gunner]

Does anyone use a bore snake.Some thing a bout running one dry just doesn't sit well with me with the brass bristle's being dry.

Thank You

 

[DGW1949]

Does anyone use a bore snake.Some thing a bout running one dry just doesn't sit well with me with the brass bristle's being dry.

Thank You

That aspect don't sit well with me either.
Actualy... Hoppes, brass brushes, and cotton patches have always worked just fine for me, so I've never felt the need for any of today's new-fangled cleaning equipment.

Some guys swear by the Bore Snake though, and I know of quite a few match shooters that use them on their high-dollar match guns. Apparently, they work as advertized.

We pays our money and we takes our choices.

DGW

 

[foxtrapper]

I never put liquids in my bore. Bronze brush with a chore boy wrap :D I use a bore snake for my AR-15's. Again dry ,they work great.

 

[RugerHound]

Actualy... Hoppes, brass brushes, and cotton patches have always worked just fine for me, so I've never felt the need for any of today's new-fangled cleaning equipment.

DGW

Ditto... I've rescued some pretty scroungy guns over the years, and the old fashioned way seems to work just fine for me too. Wouldn't know what to do without the smell of Hoppes around! ;)

 

[RonEgg]

Pour your choice on the bore snake in front or behind the bristles and pull!

 

[contender]

I put Hoppes in front of my bore snakes. Works fine.

 

[bstrongTO]

I haven’t used a bore snake on any of the non shooters, but on the shooters I run a few times with Hoppes after say 50 rounds every few months? Is this acceptable or a better way?
A question is how often do you clean the snake and detergent to be used? Soaking in Dawn or throwing a few at time in a sock in the washing machine?

 

[XUSNORDIE]

I'm guilty of just yesterday replying to a reply of a thread a couple months old without checking the OP date that somebody revived......but holy smokes this is 14 years old!

But heck. I often use bore snakes and Otis cleaning kits in the field or at the range. But never dry. Usually a squirt of Rem Oil or CLP. If doing a deep thorough clean I do not use a bore snake.

 

[arfmel]

Breakfree CLP on my Boresnakes

 

[mirglip]

I didn't know there was anything wrong with running a brass brush dry. I've done it with Hoppe's, done it dry and done it with a bore snake dry only.
I figure a bore snake is for when you want to travel light. A rod takes up a lot of room and Hoppe's can leak in my vehicle or shooting bag. At home I don't use the bore snake.

 

[bstrongTO]

Sorry I’m a little to the party, it seems the proper post that I have a question on.
Im sure there is other post on this, say shooting about 50 rounds. After, run a snake thru with a drop or (2) of Hoppes or CLP on the beginning of snake a few times?
Let it sit a few months shoot again 50 rounds and then do a old fashioned clean without a complete tear down?

 

[bstrongTO]

This was passed down for my wife’s bed side and we get it out every few months at a range to stay on top of her game. The RO said that probably should stay inside, then my wife shot a solid grouping. He brought up how do clean it. So that’s why I’m asking the question. We never did a full cleaning just a snake.? Am I doing wrong?

 

[Neon Vernon]

Breakfree CLP on my Boresnakes

Same here. When it gets intolerably dirty I put it in an old Tupperware container with hot water and Dawn dish soap and shake the h3ll out of it, then let it soak for a while. Rinse it off outside with the garden hose and hang to dry. Don't put it in the washing machine or kitchen sink lest you incur the wrath of your better half.

 

[pyth0n]

Hoppes says put the cleaner/solvent ahead of the brush then pull it through. It's what I do & I pull it through 3 times.

 

[lipofsky]

I lightly spray hoppes Pour it into a simple (dollar store) spay bottle, spray it on the bore snake and it works great.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

Sorry I’m a little to the party, it seems the proper post that I have a question on.
Im sure there is other post on this, say shooting about 50 rounds. After, run a snake thru with a drop or (2) of Hoppes or CLP on the beginning of snake a few times?
Let it sit a few months shoot again 50 rounds and then do a old fashioned clean without a complete tear down?

All good buddy. At least you did research.

This was passed down for my wife’s bed side and we get it out every few months at a range to stay on top of her game. The RO said that probably should stay inside, then my wife shot a solid grouping. He brought up how do clean it. So that’s why I’m asking the question. We never did a full cleaning just a snake.? Am I doing wrong?

Snakes and pull throughs are fine for quick before and after shoots. Or even during if you really put rounds down range in a class or tournament. A full cleaning will be needed though at some point instead of just a pull through.

In the PI and Thailand it would be the difference between long time and short time services....;)

 

[Joe Shmoe]

I use the Snake for when I know I won't get to clean it for more than a day or 3. Atleast a good amount of the gunk is taken out, and some oil is applied.
I shot a .22 match once with my GSG 1911 and dirty, but cheap, ammo. The gun would have FTF a lot with that ammo. Between stages I ran the snake through and everything was fine.
Gun cleaner sprayed on before the brushes.

 

[peachhead]

I've used them and never had issues. I dunk it in hoppes first though. I have a couple in my go to box for emergencies.
I will say I know a lot of people that hate bore snakes, particularly when they break.
But I also have cleaning rods in my box so I don't see that as an issue.

 

[bstrongTO]

Thanks for all the info on a post started in 2014 Basically I found bore snakes from the 70s- 80s? for almost every caliber and wondered how to clean them.
I didn’t want to risk it and bought some new 2026 Hoppes snakes for particular shooters, due to the inexperience and the convenience.
I’m curious due to new technology since the creation of these snakes from 1980s? How much better they got or just stay old school and do it as back in the day.
Based on the age of the survey on the forum 60+% probably would say rod and cloth?

 

[Joe Shmoe]

Like I mentioned above, I use them for a quick clean/protect.
When I was trying new accessories for my AR, I would go the range with 100 rnds. After shooting, I ran the snake because I knew I'd be back the following week after adjustments or new accessories. I did the weekly thing for about 4 months. Accuracy turned to yugo. The pic below shows the inside of my bore after using ONLY the snake. The snake serves it's purpose, but I don't think it's purpose is a proper cleaning, IMO.

For your inexperienced shooter, give them the experience. TEACH THEM THE PROPER WAY OF OUR PEOPLE, AS OUR ANCESTERS HAVE TAUGHT US. ;)
Nothing beats a good, full cleaning with the right tools and right fluids.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

Thanks for all the info on a post started in 2014 Basically I found bore snakes from the 70s- 80s? for almost every caliber and wondered how to clean them.
I didn’t want to risk it and bought some new 2026 Hoppes snakes for particular shooters, due to the inexperience and the convenience.
I’m curious due to new technology since the creation of these snakes from 1980s? How much better they got or just stay old school and do it as back in the day.
Based on the age of the survey on the forum 60+% probably would say rod and cloth?

Although there were versions of pull through brushes/jags forever....(I saw guys make pull throughs with weed eater string in the military) they really were not marketed or become popular until Hoppes came out with the Bore Snake in the 90's. Now there are several types. I actually prefer to carry a small round OTIS kit in my range bag and hunting pack.

Like I said previously I only use them for a quick cleaning. For actual cleaning I use rods, brushes and patches.

 

[Mobuck]

i use a pull through if/when I suspect the bore may have caught a bit of snow or rain while hunting. A single pass with a 'snake' will remove whatever water/debris may have got into the bore w/o upsetting the bore condition.

 

[eveled]

It is nice to be pulling stuff away from the action instead of pushing it into the action. It is another tool in the box. I still like cleaning rods sometimes.

This thread shows how the same topics keep coming back around snd are still relevant.

 

[Jakeintexas]

Yes. Sometimes use a bore snake. Wet it down with slip 2000 EWL. Works great.