[bigmtnman]

I've been looking at boresnakes in different calibers for quick barrel cleaning. I have a couple of questions for those who have used them. How do you clean them? How often should they be cleaned? (I imagine, every time you use them) I'm an old single guy and don't have a washer/dryer. I send my laundry out to be done. More time to do other things and no laundry boo-boos. Can you just wash them in the kitchen sink?

[zahc]

I don't wash them every time I use it, not even close. I use mine dozens of time before cleaning. You can wash it in the sink with a little soap or Simple Green or put in in the dishwasher.

Wash it everytime and you're defeating the convenience.

[who me]

You don't have to wash it as much as you would think. I like mine it saves a lot of time.

[C.R.Sam]

Or send em out with the laundry ?
No starch please.

Sam

[V-fib]

Does anyone make a boresnake with nylon bristles instead of the brass?

[10-Ring]

You're suppose to wash bore snakes??? :confused:

seriously, they're great & very easy to use!

[geekWithA.45]

When I don't have time for a full strip & scrub.

They don't work as well as I had hoped.

And I've yet to clean it. :)

[Kamicosmos]

geekwitha.45 wrote:
They don't work as well as I had hoped.

Really? I got one for my AR and think it does a better job than the rod and patch way.

But, I haven't tried them on a handgun yet...

[chuckles]

Are they OK to run through the dishwasher? I didn't know if a dishwasher would be ok on them. They sure do a decent job very rapidly. I have several, but have only used one of them twice. I've always used the Dewey and patch process.

[Dave R]

I use 'em regularly. IMHO, they do a great job on powder fouling. But they don't do real well on leading or copper fouling. Still have to use traditional methods for that kind of fouling.

I spray the front end of my 'snakes with CLP or G-96, then pull through the bore 3 times.

Anybody else use a cleaner on their 'snake? Or just use 'em dry?

[Kor]

I'm getting more and more paranoid about lead poisoning every day, so I would NOT wash my Boresnakes in the kitchen sink - I would hand-wash them with laundry soap in a bucket instead, and dump the wash water down the toilet, into the dirt or down a storm drain.

[larryw]

Boresnakes work great to get the loose fouling out of a barrel, but do nothing for lead or copper fouling.

They're all my 22LR bores ever see and work great there. Other than that, I only use them when I put a gun away without cleaning that I'll be shooting again within the next 24 hrs.

I agree with Kor; don't wash them where food or dishes go. I soak mine in a bucket with warm sudsy water overnight, rinse and hang to dry. Please don't dump the water down a storm drain as that just flows untreated into the creeks and rivers; dump it down a toilet or sink so it can be treated.

[FPrice]

I tuck them in my range bag and run one through each firearm I shoot just before I pack them up to go home. Seems to help with the more detailed cleaning later.

[bigmtnman]

Everybody-

Thanks for all your answers/opinions. I guess I'll just have to get one and try it. Seems like it would be handy for a quick cleaning.

[Dave R]

The other thing they are good for is "field cleaning". If you're out shooting prairie dogs, and you get past 50-100 rounds and accuracy starts to fall off--use the bore snake to get accuracy back.

[chaim]

I agree with the emerging consensous. Not so good for primary cleaning, great as a part of or suppliment to your normal cleaning or for a temporary solution. The fit isn't very tight so it doesn't seem to do that much. It really doesn't do anything for any lead build-up. However, as part of a regular cleaning it seems to help. When I use it before (to loosen) and after (to finish up) my normal cleaning my guns seem cleaner than they would be without the boresnake. Also, for a quickie when you don't feel like a thorough cleaning (or while still at the range), so long as you don't delude yourself into thinking you did a complete cleaning, is ok too.

I haven't cleaned mine yet, but a mild soap solution into a bucket or utility sink would be fine. I'm with those who say to forget the kitchen sink and especially the dishwasher- I want to avoid lead poisoning as best I can (especially avoid this if you have children as they are most at risk for lead poisoning, though don't get too complacent as it can affect adults too).

[Leibster]

I guess I'm in the minority. Maybe I have lower standards than you guys, but I think the BoreSnake does a great job. I have one in 9mm and one in 22lr, (and soon to be one in .45acp).

I have had GREAT results with them. I have used the 9mm one to clean an XD9 barrel, and have literally gone over 8,000 rounds with no other barrel cleaning method. There has been no perceptible change in accuracy. There is a little bit of fouling visible, but it's stayed at about the same level for many thousands of rounds. I think the BoreSnake is a great device, and I couldn't be more pleased with mine.

--Leibster