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#4496189 - 11/06/19 01:50 PM Bore Snake for Cleaning Firearms  
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How many of you use a Boresnake? I have one but I'm not entirely convinced it is cleaning as advertised. Or maybe it is and I can't tell. People who have one have ranted and raved about it or sworn by it. So, those of you who have one:

1) Do you use solvent on it at all? If so, where on the Boresnake do you put it? On the plain braided part? On the braided part that has the copper bristles?

2) How many passes do you take with the Boresnake?

3) How do you know that the bore is now clean? Do you run a patch through it? Is the patch supposed to be completely white afterwards, or is a little grey on it OK?

v6,
boNes


"Also, I would prefer a back seater over the extra gas any day. I would have 80 pounds of flesh to eat and a pair of glasses to start a fire." --F/A-18 Hornet pilot
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#4496191 - 11/06/19 02:01 PM Re: Bore Snake [Re: bones]  
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PanzerMeyer Online centaurian
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I admit that I had no clue what your thread title was referring to until I read your post. I was guessing it was maybe the name of a new missile being developed by the USAF? biggrin


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#4496208 - 11/06/19 03:28 PM Re: Bore Snake [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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Originally Posted by PanzerMeyer
I admit that I had no clue what your thread title was referring to until I read your post. I was guessing it was maybe the name of a new missile being developed by the USAF? biggrin


I guess I should clarify, huh?

v6,
boNes


"Also, I would prefer a back seater over the extra gas any day. I would have 80 pounds of flesh to eat and a pair of glasses to start a fire." --F/A-18 Hornet pilot
#4496210 - 11/06/19 03:32 PM Re: Bore Snake [Re: bones]  
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I always put a few drops of fluid on the part preceding the copper bristles, and typically run it through the barrel 3 or 4 times. Enough that when I hold the barrel up to a light source and look through it I can see a nice shine. Having a easily removable barrel helps. I only have to flip a lever to remove mine.

Snakes are nice but can't replace a good, thorough patch cleaning, but I have heard and found if you snake after every firing session they do a pretty good job. It's when you don't and layers build that cleaning becomes an issue.

#4496222 - 11/06/19 06:13 PM Re: Bore Snake [Re: bones]  
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Bore cleaning gel left to sit overnight followed by a quick brush and patch FTW.

#4496228 - 11/06/19 06:39 PM Re: Bore Snake [Re: bones]  
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I use the snake for the 22LR and 17M2. #9 cleaner on the braided part and pull through a couple of times. Check the bore for powder residue and repeat as necessary. I also removed the copper bristles from the 22lr one.

Can't speak to their effective use on center fire cleaning though (jacket residue).


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#4496289 - 11/07/19 04:15 AM Re: Bore Snake [Re: bones]  
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Poor snakes are great for cleaning after the range visit I do it a couple times
you will never run a pass through and become completely clean.
you can always do a good job with a bore snake but it doesn't beat the brass rod


~Bill

In my defense, I was left unsupervised...
#4496313 - 11/07/19 11:09 AM Re: Bore Snake [Re: bones]  
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I’m like Bill. Snakes are good in that they are small and easily carried in a range box. Do a couple pulls after every range day. But they don’t beat a rod and brush for doing a real good bore cleaning.


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Someday your life will flash in front of your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.
#4496321 - 11/07/19 11:35 AM Re: Bore Snake [Re: bones]  
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Only on my .12 pipe and I use cleaner and run an oil patch down the bore.


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#4496334 - 11/07/19 01:42 PM Re: Bore Snake [Re: bones]  
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Thanks for your thoughts, guys.

So, BoreSnake aside, if you say use a brush and patch, do you ever have an instance when you run a patch through and comes out white? Or is there always some kind of grey on it? ie, it's pretty much impossible to pull a completely white patch through unless the barrel is brand new, right?

oldgrognard,

What is your personal technique for using the rod and brush?

v6,
boNes


"Also, I would prefer a back seater over the extra gas any day. I would have 80 pounds of flesh to eat and a pair of glasses to start a fire." --F/A-18 Hornet pilot
#4496372 - 11/07/19 07:09 PM Re: Bore Snake [Re: bones]  
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Bones, ain't gonna happen. I have tried but best you can get is grey hahah
Use the Hoppes #9 with brush, several times, dry patch, repeat
Run patch with #9, repeat, dry patch x2
Finish with patch DAMP with CLP


~Bill

In my defense, I was left unsupervised...
#4496373 - 11/07/19 07:10 PM Re: Bore Snake [Re: bones]  
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Hoppes strips all the oil so use CLP damp patch on all outside surfaces


~Bill

In my defense, I was left unsupervised...
#4496393 - 11/07/19 09:16 PM Re: Bore Snake [Re: bones]  
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You can get a white patch with little effort if you're using a bore cleaner that is safe to leave on for long enough {overnight if possible} that all the deposits will be liquified.

I prefer gel to liquid cleaners as they stay put.

Another thing is, do a proper cleaning on a regular basis, don't put it off, as the effort needed to do a thorough clean seems to increase exponentially.

#4496470 - 11/08/19 01:07 PM Re: Bore Snake [Re: bones]  
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Bones, there are a lot of opinions on cleaning. Seems everyone has their favorite products and methods.

Here is my take.


I clean differently based on what I’m cleaning. I clean my accuracy guns differently than my standard guns. My accuracy guns I use a rod with a barrel crown protector and guide. I feed the rod through and then attach my patch which I then pull through the barrel. I patch clean every time with last patch being an oiled patch. I brush clean every third or fourth time the same way and then patch clean. This is similar to a snake which cleans with a pull through rather than push. Old habit I developed when some real accuracy shooters said it is better to clean on the pull.

My standard guns also get a cleaning every time but I don’t use my good rod with crown protector and I patch on the push through as well as the pull. That is because I’m not as fussy about perfection. I brush clean every other shooting and am not really concerned if I miss one cause I’ll get it next time. Anything semiauto I will do a chamber brush when I barrel brush. Most people don’t chamber clean, and that is where a lot of fouling occurs. Many people don’t even have correct chamber brushes.

Everyone talks about barrel cleaning and forget about trigger group and other working parts. I am more particular about cleaning working parts than the barrel. As a minimum I will use a good spray of cleaner to wash out residue if I don’t do some disassembly and cleaning. A bit of spray oil and good wiping. Too much oil left becomes sludge as it will collect residue and debris. I have a good set of dentist style picks and hooks to get stubborn buildup out of collecting areas.

I watch people scour their barrels with excessive brushing and always think “why”. I don’t try to get white patches when I clean. I clean thoroughly but don’t rly to over clean. You can easily get carried away.

I am liking a new product called RamRodz for cleaning pistol barrels.

edit : https://ramrodz.com/

Last edited by oldgrognard; 11/08/19 01:22 PM.

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#4496563 - 11/08/19 08:12 PM Re: Bore Snake [Re: oldgrognard]  
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Originally Posted by oldgrognard
Bones, there are a lot of opinions on cleaning. Seems everyone has their favorite products and methods.

I clean differently based on what I’m cleaning. I clean my accuracy guns differently than my standard guns. My accuracy guns I use a rod with a barrel crown protector and guide. I feed the rod through and then attach my patch which I then pull through the barrel. I patch clean every time with last patch being an oiled patch. I brush clean every third or fourth time the same way and then patch clean. This is similar to a snake which cleans with a pull through rather than push. Old habit I developed when some real accuracy shooters said it is better to clean on the pull.


Can you show me a pic of your rod with barrel crown protector and guide? So you feed it with the barrel crown protector end first through the chamber until it is sticking out the muzzle, then you attach the patch on the end sticking out of the chamber, and pull it through in the direction of the muzzle? Same with the brush, but instead of a patch at the chamber end it is the brush, and then you pull it through out the muzzle?

Quote
My standard guns also get a cleaning every time but I don’t use my good rod with crown protector and I patch on the push through as well as the pull. That is because I’m not as fussy about perfection. I brush clean every other shooting and am not really concerned if I miss one cause I’ll get it next time. Anything semiauto I will do a chamber brush when I barrel brush. Most people don’t chamber clean, and that is where a lot of fouling occurs. Many people don’t even have correct chamber brushes.


Got a pic of your chamber brush? Do you only clean your regular guns with the chamber brush?

Thanks!

v6,
boNes


"Also, I would prefer a back seater over the extra gas any day. I would have 80 pounds of flesh to eat and a pair of glasses to start a fire." --F/A-18 Hornet pilot
#4496564 - 11/08/19 08:25 PM Re: Bore Snake [Re: bones]  
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Mine is similar to this. You slide the cone down to the end into the crown opening of the barrel. Then you can push the rod in without making any “ding” in the crown. Only necessary on accuracy rifles.



https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/images/product_images/097-35004/097-35004.jpg

Chamber brush. This is for an AR15. The threading makes you think it just goes into the cleaning rod as normal. But you need something that can torque it with. Like a stationary T handle. The regular AR15 cleaning kit usually has a chamber brush and the necessary handle to torque the rod.


https://www.cabelas.com/product/HOPPES-AR-CHAMBER-BRUSH/2071738.uts

Here is the standard issue cleaning kit. You can see it has the chamber brush. The top section of rod can be seen to have the folding portion that creates a T to torque the cleaning rod holding the chamber brush.

http://image.sportsmansguide.com/adimgs/l/7/70142m2_ts.jpg


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Someday your life will flash in front of your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.
#4497395 - 11/16/19 07:56 PM Re: Bore Snake [Re: bones]  
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I used them a lot until I had one break in my Model 70. They are a royal pain to get out when that happens. I still use them for quick scrub at the range but I now replace then often.


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#4497762 - 11/20/19 02:21 PM Re: Bore Snake [Re: oldgrognard]  
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Originally Posted by oldgrognard


Chamber brush. This is for an AR15. The threading makes you think it just goes into the cleaning rod as normal. But you need something that can torque it with. Like a stationary T handle. The regular AR15 cleaning kit usually has a chamber brush and the necessary handle to torque the rod.



Thanks for your response! I actually have this, I got the RealAvid cleaning kit and although it came with a lot of good tools (including that chamber brush), they didn't really say what each one was used for and how to use them.

Quote
Here is the standard issue cleaning kit. You can see it has the chamber brush. The top section of rod can be seen to have the folding portion that creates a T to torque the cleaning rod holding the chamber brush.

http://image.sportsmansguide.com/adimgs/l/7/70142m2_ts.jpg


I'll have to send you some pix of what my kit has, maybe you know what they are and how to use them. A few of them were explained but not all. Like what is the pin with the smiley face for? (Just kidding).

v6,
boNes


"Also, I would prefer a back seater over the extra gas any day. I would have 80 pounds of flesh to eat and a pair of glasses to start a fire." --F/A-18 Hornet pilot

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