[joplinsks]

Hi all,

Probably a dumb question, but Hoppes makes bore snakes for both .22 rifle and .22 pistol due to length differences. I have the .22 rifle snake... can I use it to clean a .22 pistol (Browning Challenger II) or is it not a good idea?

Thanks

[Sisco]

I would use it.

[tank mechanic]

I would use it too, and imagine that it is just going to be an issue of pulling a lot of bore snake through a small barrel.

[gudel]

I use a .22 rifle bore snake for a Ruger P4. works great :D Very good cleaning in one wipe.

[tegemu]

I have both and would unhesitatingly use them on pistols. Won't work the other way on many rifles. The handgun Bore Snake is too short to make it all the way thru the barrel.

[Onmilo]

This thread got my curiosity up and running so I got up and had a look at my BoreSnake box.
The.22 rifle snake is forest green, the .22 hand gun snake is purple in color.
The rifle snake brush is twice as long as the handgun snake's brush.
The absorbent batting is four inches longer on the rifle snake and the pull through cord is roughly ten inches longer on the rifle snake.

Truth is I almost always use the rifle snake to clean both handguns and rifles.
The only time I ever use the handgun snake is when cleaning revolvers and the longer brush on the rifle snake is harder to feed through the frame window of a revolver.
Oh, I always clean from breech to muzzle. Don't you?

[tank mechanic]

Always breech to muzzle.You want to pull all of the gunk out of the gun and not drag it into the gun.

[possum]

use it, it will be a-ok!

[Crimp]

I never used a bore snake. Seems to me you'd have to run it through the washing machine after each use. Otherwise, you'd be pulling all that crap back through the barrel each time you used it. For the price, I can go through a lot of patches.

Am I missing something? :confused:

[Rokman]

I use my rifle snake on my pistols. No problems yet, except extra long pull.

[1 old 0311]

I know a lot of people love Bore Snakes, but I stick with patches.

[bear71]

"I never used a bore snake. Seems to me you'd have to run it through the washing machine after each use. Otherwise, you'd be pulling all that crap back through the barrel each time you used it. For the price, I can go through a lot of patches."

I like bore snakes and usually use them for field cleaning if I'm firing motre than 200-300 rounds as an intermittent clean or use them after mild use at thr range. I usually shoot several handguns a few times rather than one handgun alot. The exception would be my carry gun which I shoot more than the other combined. The snake works well for cleaninjg after light range use and they're fast.

After I do three pistols with three different caliber snakes, I soak them in a tupperware container in the laundry sink for awhile and then just hand shake/wash them, wring 'em out and hang them to dry. This is all very simple and vey easy.

I use brushes, rods, patches, jags and all those toys, after every three or so shooting sessions.

Bore snakes are quite an invention, I can get a barrel that is not heavily fouled but still been well shot and return it to a mirror shine with a few simple passes in a matter of seconds, literally 45-60 seconds.

Always make sure you get a very light coat of oil after you finishing cleaning, the snakes remove this oil immediately after one pass when ready again to shoot, Hoppes packaging says something like "200 times the cleaning surface over a single patch."

[Dave R]

I never used a bore snake. Seems to me you'd have to run it through the washing machine after each use. Otherwise, you'd be pulling all that crap back through the barrel each time you used it. No worse than running a patch through the last part of a dirty bore after you pushed it through the first part of a dirty bore.

The fouling adheres to the snake, not the bore, same as with a patch.

[CraigJS]

Try these "Patch Worms". They are all I use, they work very well..

http://patchworm.com/

I use them with patches, the felt buttons and the "cleaner" buttons.

[CU74]

Bore snakes and a bottle of Hoppes #9 go into my bag along with my ammo, glasses, ear muffs, etc. for every range trip. I use the bore snakes at the range for "spot cleaning" between extended shooting sessions and on each gun after I am finished shooting for the day.

Once I get home, I use the usual selection of brushes and jags to "properly" clean the guns before putting them away. (Yes, I AM somewhat anal retentive about cleaning my guns.)

As bear71 points out, cleaning the bore snakes is a pretty simple process. I usually clean them after they have been used 10-12 times.

[Loanshark]

CU74, How do you clean them (snakes)? What do you use?

[CU74]

LOANSHARK: I use a plastic bucket, warm water and liquid laundry detergent. Let them soak for a few minutes, "agitate" the bucket, pull them through my hand to get the excess water out. (Careful of the imbedded brass bristles!!) Then rinse a couple of times, pulling through my hand again, and hang on the clothesline to dry.

I haven't done any microscopic analysis to see how clean this process gets them, but they don't smell like Hoppes when I'm done. I also don't know how long they will last before needing replacement. Since I don't use them for "primary" cleaning, this is good enough for me.

[Ala Dan]

Bore Snakes are great inventions; as I keep 'em in several handgun
calibers in my range bag. To answer your question, YES you can use the
.22 caliber rifle bore snake in a .22 caliber handgun.:)

[Chipperman]

I use mine for "finish" cleaning after already getting most of the junk out with patches. I don't have to clean the snakes very often.

[Sniper X]

I use the rifle snakes on all my pistols, they work great.