I can see the advantages of cleaning firearms using a boresnake, but there's one question that I have: how do you know when you're done? When using a cleaning rod and patches, so I have been told, you're done when the last dry patch comes out clean, but when using a boresnake...?
Cleaning with a boresnake?
- Thread starter dburkhead
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1KPerDay
Member
Boresnakes are for field/quick cleaning. Not for 'detail' cleaning. I'd never consider a firearm really clean if I just used a boresnake. It's for lazy people (like me) to use between REAL cleanings. IMO
Thernlund
Member
I just pull it through 3 or 4 times. For what a Boresnake is designed for, that's "done" as far as I'm concerned.
-T.
-T.
possum
Member
i agree and i do the same, and like the above poster said, it is a quick cleanning not a detailed one. if i shoot 200-300 rds of fmj at the rnge then 3-4 pulls with the snake and i am done, and then at about 500rds i go the old fashioned way. it is great for cleanning out dirt, sand and the big portion of copper fouling.
Okay, so the snake is for quick cleanings between good scrubbings. Got that.
Now, I am wondering about that thorough cleaning.
Being new to the field of gun ownership, I did an online search to try to find instructions on how to properly clean my guns. The procedure I more-or-less settled on was from (IIRC) guns magazine:
- Run 2-3 patches with solvent through the bore and let it sit for 10 minutes or so. (While it's sitting, I use the time to scrub the bolt and the inside of the receiver with a toothbrush and more solvent--using Hoppes #9 Bench Rest at the moment.)
- Run a brush through the bore several times
- Run patches through the bore, alternating wet (with solvent) and dry. When the dry patch comes out clean, you're done. If after several times it's still coming out dirty, go back to the beginning and start over.
I've modified that to running 2 or three dry patches after each wet one since the first dry patch _always_ come out with solvent on it making it hard to tell if it's also picking up residue.
Since, following those directions, I always end up going back to the beginning at least twice, I'm wondering if I'm doing something wrong.
Advice?
Now, I am wondering about that thorough cleaning.
Being new to the field of gun ownership, I did an online search to try to find instructions on how to properly clean my guns. The procedure I more-or-less settled on was from (IIRC) guns magazine:
- Run 2-3 patches with solvent through the bore and let it sit for 10 minutes or so. (While it's sitting, I use the time to scrub the bolt and the inside of the receiver with a toothbrush and more solvent--using Hoppes #9 Bench Rest at the moment.)
- Run a brush through the bore several times
- Run patches through the bore, alternating wet (with solvent) and dry. When the dry patch comes out clean, you're done. If after several times it's still coming out dirty, go back to the beginning and start over.
I've modified that to running 2 or three dry patches after each wet one since the first dry patch _always_ come out with solvent on it making it hard to tell if it's also picking up residue.
Since, following those directions, I always end up going back to the beginning at least twice, I'm wondering if I'm doing something wrong.
Advice?
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
A barrel is very seldom really completely clean.
Even if you go through the routine 10 times and get nothing but tidy whitey patches for an hour.
Leave solvent wet in it overnight, come back tomorrow and do it again, and you will get a few dirty patches again!
There is alway some dirt and/or fouling down in the grain of the metal you simply can't get out in one cleaning session!
The trick is not to get so anal you wear the bore out cleaning it over & over again.
Just go through the routine, then run an oiled patch through it and call it good.
rcmodel
Even if you go through the routine 10 times and get nothing but tidy whitey patches for an hour.
Leave solvent wet in it overnight, come back tomorrow and do it again, and you will get a few dirty patches again!
There is alway some dirt and/or fouling down in the grain of the metal you simply can't get out in one cleaning session!
The trick is not to get so anal you wear the bore out cleaning it over & over again.
Just go through the routine, then run an oiled patch through it and call it good.
rcmodel
1911 guy
Member
I agree with rcmodel.
Clean everything relatively well, then leave it alone. I'd avoid the brushes in the bore, too. Cleaning can contribute as much or more to barrel wear than shooting.
Bore snakes are great, I use them on all my rifles when at the range.
At home, I push a patch dripping with solvent down the bore, and let that soak while I tidy up the rest of the rifle. Make sure to clean your boltface, lots of people ignore that and wind up with extraction problems. After 10 minutes or so, swab out the solvent. If patches are still coming out grungy and there's no solvent left in the bore, I run another wet patch down.
I stop as soon as patches are coming out fairly clean and there are no visible spots in the bore.
If it's a .22 rimfire, it gets cleaned once a year, boresnaked after each range outing. Their barrels are usually made of relatively soft steel, cleaning can and does kill more .22 barrels than shooting ever will.
Clean everything relatively well, then leave it alone. I'd avoid the brushes in the bore, too. Cleaning can contribute as much or more to barrel wear than shooting.
Bore snakes are great, I use them on all my rifles when at the range.
At home, I push a patch dripping with solvent down the bore, and let that soak while I tidy up the rest of the rifle. Make sure to clean your boltface, lots of people ignore that and wind up with extraction problems. After 10 minutes or so, swab out the solvent. If patches are still coming out grungy and there's no solvent left in the bore, I run another wet patch down.
I stop as soon as patches are coming out fairly clean and there are no visible spots in the bore.
If it's a .22 rimfire, it gets cleaned once a year, boresnaked after each range outing. Their barrels are usually made of relatively soft steel, cleaning can and does kill more .22 barrels than shooting ever will.
I just started using Slip 2000 instead of Hoppes #9, in part, based on what I read here:
http://www.slip2000.com/art-precshooting.html
http://www.slip2000.com/art-precshooting.html
Harve Curry
Member
So we all need:
The Hawkeye® Precision Borescope
and;
Bore Tech's Eliminator, and Slip 2000tm's Carbon Cutter and Gun Lube were clearly far superior to all other products tested.
Or our rifles will never be up to their accuracy potential?
The Hawkeye® Precision Borescope
and;
Bore Tech's Eliminator, and Slip 2000tm's Carbon Cutter and Gun Lube were clearly far superior to all other products tested.
Or our rifles will never be up to their accuracy potential?
Jim_M
Member
"cleaning" .....gonna google that someday.
Jim M
Jim M
XDShooter07
Member
I personally think the boresnake does a better job than patches. It is a little more scrubby due to it's weave and larger diameter than the bore. I spray solvent on the back of mine pull it through 3-4 times then run 2 patches through to dry and check if it's clean, then a patch to lightly oil the inside of the barrel. Running a boresnake 3-4 times is much faster and works just as well for me as does 15 patches when the gun is really dirty. Just because it takes longer doesn't mean it works better.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Running a dirty Bore-Snake through a dirty barrel repeatedly doesn't do a better job than patches!
You still have a dirty barrel when you get done.
Just not quite as dirty.
rcmodel
You still have a dirty barrel when you get done.
Just not quite as dirty.
rcmodel
Harve Curry
Member
How do you guys clean the Bore Snake?
I read on the directions you can put it in a bag or tie it and use the washing machine. I'm new to them and will wash it in a bucket with hot water and some dish soap.
I read on the directions you can put it in a bag or tie it and use the washing machine. I'm new to them and will wash it in a bucket with hot water and some dish soap.
Double Naught Spy
Sus Venator
I find a bore snake is most useful for use right after shooting when the barrel and its contents are still warm and seemingly softer (or not "set" in the barrel).
OldCowHand
Member
> How do you guys clean the Bore Snake?
I just toss 'em in a net bag like the ones my wife uses for her bras and such, then toss the bag in the washing machine with a little laundry soap (and no other items, unless you're fond of the smell of gun-cleaning solution on your clothes!). After the load runs, hang to dry, and you're done.
I just toss 'em in a net bag like the ones my wife uses for her bras and such, then toss the bag in the washing machine with a little laundry soap (and no other items, unless you're fond of the smell of gun-cleaning solution on your clothes!). After the load runs, hang to dry, and you're done.
Seafarer12
Member
Got to love bore snakes. I am lazy. Thats pretty much all I use on my 22 rimfires and everyother time with my 357 leveraction. I don't have any other bore snakes.
glockman19
Member
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2007
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I use the bore snake after every session. I run it throught all my rifles & handguns a few times before leaving the range.
When I get home I field strip, clean & lube everything but my .22's.
K3
Member
Would you apply that to nylon brushes too?
I can't see how nylon would wear down steel, but that's just me.
moooose102
Member
it really depends on how dirty your gun gets, and how clean you want it. if you want it C L E A N !!! it could take DAYS. before i know that solvent goes bad, i used to clean my guns, and thought i was done. then, after several years on the same bottle of hoppes, i just for the heck of it i bought a new bottle. it took me almost a week of cleaning and soaking about every four hours to get them REALLY GOOD AND CLEAN. i would say, probably every 250 rounds, it should be cleaned VERY THOUROUGHLY. with no effort spared. in between, get the most of it out, let it sit overnight soaking in solvent, and dont sweat the small stuff. UNLESS YOU ARE COMPETION SHOOTING.
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