I just bought a bore snake to clean my .22 pistols. I'm curious of a couple things: 1. do you clean the bore snake too? It seems that by continuously adding the oil and pulling it through so many times that you are adding dirty to dirty.... if so, what is the recommended method of cleaning the bore snake or do you just throw it out and buy another one? I shoot twice a week and run the bore snake through every other shoot. Do you think that's too much?
cleaning bore snake
- Thread starter Rugerchic
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VA27
Member
Me too. I do put it in an old pillow case to keep it from getting tangled up in the agitator, though.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Throw it in the washer with your wifes delicate undies!
rc
rc
iLikeOldgunsIlikeNewGuns
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Never thought about the possibility of particles scratching, I've got four different calibers of bore snake and haven't ever cleaned any of 'em. Guess i'll get on that soon. Do you guys just let 'em hang dry, or toss 'em in the dryer too?LibShooter
Member
I've got 5 or 6 Boresnakes. When they need to be washed I put all of them in a lingerie bag and run them alone through the washer. Sometimes the brushes get snagged in the mesh.
I usually dry them outside. They are noisy in the dryer. The little brass weights tend to work themselves through the mesh and bang around.
I usually dry them outside. They are noisy in the dryer. The little brass weights tend to work themselves through the mesh and bang around.
I would not be worried about scratching your bore. Everything that should be on your bore snake came from the bore of your firearm. So unless you store your bore snake with hardened steel fillings there shouldnt be a pronlem. That being said I just toss mine in an old sock and chuck that in the washer.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
I don't use bore-snakes.
I'm a firm believer in, if I need to clean a gun, I need to clean it.
That involves cleaning rods, and chamber brushes, and bore brushes, and nitro solvent, and clean cotton patches, etc.
But if I did use bore-snakes?
I'd probably keep a coffee can full of denatured alcohol or mineral spirits paint thinner and swish them around it that.
Then hang outside in the breeze to evaporate the solvent out.
rc
I'm a firm believer in, if I need to clean a gun, I need to clean it.
That involves cleaning rods, and chamber brushes, and bore brushes, and nitro solvent, and clean cotton patches, etc.
But if I did use bore-snakes?
I'd probably keep a coffee can full of denatured alcohol or mineral spirits paint thinner and swish them around it that.
Then hang outside in the breeze to evaporate the solvent out.
rc
bigfatdave
Member
I put mine in a zip-top bag with some water and shake the crap out of them, then rinse in the bathroom sink and allow to dry.
But I also rarely use them, because I'm more concerned with cleaning gunk out of the moving parts of a gun than I am about the bore. Disassemble, clean everything, and the bore is a small part of the job, really.
But I also rarely use them, because I'm more concerned with cleaning gunk out of the moving parts of a gun than I am about the bore. Disassemble, clean everything, and the bore is a small part of the job, really.
dfariswheel
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Bore snakes were intended to be expedient field cleaners that were to be more or less disposable.
When you clean them the material is weakened. Clean it often enough and soon or later it's going to break off in the bore as a number of people have found out.
The natural inclination is to grab the other end and pull it back out. Often that end also breaks off and you then have a little problem.
Just as general interest I once contacted a bore snake maker to ask what they recommended as an extraction method for a broken off snake.
They said they had no method of extracting them.
The danger of a broken and stuck snake is worse on the smaller calibers.
Use a snake if you must, and clean it a couple of times, but then pitch it and buy a new one that's hasn't weakened.
This is one of those cases of "Penny wise, Dollar foolish". Snakes are cheap and easy to replace. Getting a snake extracted.... not so much.
When you clean them the material is weakened. Clean it often enough and soon or later it's going to break off in the bore as a number of people have found out.
The natural inclination is to grab the other end and pull it back out. Often that end also breaks off and you then have a little problem.
Just as general interest I once contacted a bore snake maker to ask what they recommended as an extraction method for a broken off snake.
They said they had no method of extracting them.
The danger of a broken and stuck snake is worse on the smaller calibers.
Use a snake if you must, and clean it a couple of times, but then pitch it and buy a new one that's hasn't weakened.
This is one of those cases of "Penny wise, Dollar foolish". Snakes are cheap and easy to replace. Getting a snake extracted.... not so much.
Mike1234567
member
? bore snake with wife's undies ?
Bad boy... bad, bad boy!!
oneounceload
member
Actually, a small bucket with dawn and hot water will work and not have momma mad because her clothes or dishes are greasy and smell like Hoppes.
Swish it around, rinse thoroughly with cold water and hang to dry
Swish it around, rinse thoroughly with cold water and hang to dry
JohnBT
Member
.22 rimfire primer contains a bunch of ground glass. The figures I've seen said 10% to 30%.
I don't use bore snakes. It's just easier for me to use a rod. I made a hard case for travel out of a small piece of plastic pipe.
I don't use bore snakes. It's just easier for me to use a rod. I made a hard case for travel out of a small piece of plastic pipe.
bhk
Member
I occassionally use bore snakes, but prefer rods. I clean my snakes by putting them in a large-lid plastic gallon jar, fill with water and soap, and then shake like the dickens. I repeat the process and then rinse using the 'shake method' twice. Works for me.
I can shoot out my back door and much of this shooting is 'low volume.' For example, I fired 15 shots from a 32-20 rifle at my gongs yesterday. I pulled a bore snake through the bore twice, wiped the rifle, and put it away. A couple more sessions like this, or a single higher-volume one, will warrent the use of a cleaning rod.
I can shoot out my back door and much of this shooting is 'low volume.' For example, I fired 15 shots from a 32-20 rifle at my gongs yesterday. I pulled a bore snake through the bore twice, wiped the rifle, and put it away. A couple more sessions like this, or a single higher-volume one, will warrent the use of a cleaning rod.
JustinJ
Member
I just wash mine with soap and water. But the only use i see for a bore sneak is to use before patches to get a good amount of the loose and big stuff out so fewer patches are needed.
Whiskey11
Member
I learned this trick while working at the rifle and shotgun range at the local Boy Scout Camp. Take an old milk jug and fill it with dish soap and water. When the bore snake is dirty (for us at camp it was every week, cleaning 12 .22LR rifles and 8 20 gauge shotguns and 8 black powder rifles after firing thousands of rounds in a day tends to get them dirty quick) put it in the milk jug with soap and water and place that jug near the door you travel in and out of the most every day (door to the garage?) and give it a good shake every time you walk past it for a few days. Once you've given it a good number of shakes take it out and rinse it out with a garden hose or in the sink if you must (garden hose being better than having the wife kick you out 
).
We've used the same bore snakes for the past 6 years or so cleaning 12 .22's, 8 20 gauge shot guns, and 8 black powder rifles every single day (well the 8 black powders twice a week) for 6 weeks every summer. They are plenty durable for that work and they get the bores cleaner than any rod, patch, and brush ever did.
).We've used the same bore snakes for the past 6 years or so cleaning 12 .22's, 8 20 gauge shot guns, and 8 black powder rifles every single day (well the 8 black powders twice a week) for 6 weeks every summer. They are plenty durable for that work and they get the bores cleaner than any rod, patch, and brush ever did.
JohnBT
Member
Cleaner than with a rod? How do you get a bore cleaner than spotless? I've been doing spotless cleans for decades with a rod, brush and patches. It doesn't take long once you figure out the right size of each component for the actual bore diameter.
John
John
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Try cleaning a carbon fouled bottle-neck rifle chamber.
Or a copper jacket fouled bore.
Or hard carbon rings in a revolver cylinder.
Then get back too us.
rc
Whiskey11
Member
JohnBT, taking the time to clean 20 firearms everyday and on some days 28 firearms, to that level of cleaning would take HOURS to do. We've run patches down bores of our shotguns and our .22's and the patches have always been spotless.
rcmodel - I have no problems cleaning my .308 R700 with my bore snake... not sure I follow what you are getting at. If I understand the premise of a bore snake correctly (my logic may be flawed here) but it's premise is to clean the BORE of a rifle or handgun, not the chamber. I do use a chamber brush prior to snaking my R700 and it gets it clean.
rcmodel - I have no problems cleaning my .308 R700 with my bore snake... not sure I follow what you are getting at. If I understand the premise of a bore snake correctly (my logic may be flawed here) but it's premise is to clean the BORE of a rifle or handgun, not the chamber. I do use a chamber brush prior to snaking my R700 and it gets it clean.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
I'm getting at, a bore-snake small enough to fit through the bore of a centerfire rifle is too small around to touch or clean a carbon fouled chamber.
rc
rc
Whiskey11
Member
rcmodel, that's because a BORE snake is intended to clean the bore of a firearm, not the chamber. The large knot on the end does a decent job of getting the chamber clean if you use a chamber brush prior to snaking it. Mine gets clean enough to continue shooting accurately after snaking. I use Hoppes 9 Benchrest Solvent to get rid of copper fouling.
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bergmen
Member.
Cleaning instructions are right on the package, no mystery there.
"The 'BORESNAKE' can be washed easily by hand. Band securely or use wash bag for machine cleaning. Air dry."
I would think putting it in an old sock would work.
Dan
"The 'BORESNAKE' can be washed easily by hand. Band securely or use wash bag for machine cleaning. Air dry."
I would think putting it in an old sock would work.
Dan
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