Bore Snake Cylinder Cleaning Test

[Pat Riot]

I use Bore Snakes intermittently when cleaning my revolvers. I flip back and forth between traditional methods vs Bore Snakes depending on time constraints.

Anyway, in cleaning my .357 and .38 revolvers I have found that Bore Snakes made for .357 bores really lacking when it comes to cleaning the chambers of the cylinders.

The other day I decided to buy a .40 caliber bore snake and try it on my .357 / .38 revolver cylinders. I was a bit apprehensive about getting it stuck as years ago I grabbed the wrong bore snake and got it stuck in a 30-30 barrel. It was fun getting it out. Though I did manage to do so without hurting the bore but destroyed the snake.
Side Note: put your snakes in a box and label the box by size...ahem.

So, here are two pictures each of my S&W models 36 and 19 before and after using a .40 cal. Bore Snake with no solvent.









I think that works rather well for a quick cleaning. The model 19 was dirty from shooting .38 Special.

Now I wish I would have done the same experiment using the .357 Bore Snake, taking a photo, then using the .40 Bore Snake.

 

[UncleEd]

I've often used .45 brass brushes on
cleaning rods for cleaning .38s/357s.

 

[.38 Special]

If I am going to put the gun away for a long time, I go through the process with brushes and solvents and preservative. And for attacking the "crud ring" from short cartridges in long chambers, I normally use a brush chucked into a drill motor. For routine cleaning of revolvers I usually use bore snakes. It gets them "clean enough" in between range outings, and is much easier!

 

[J-Bar]

I found some .410 bore snakes on sale at a drastic discount. You can pull ‘em through a .38/.357 bore without much effort. And a discounted 10 gauge bore snake slides through a 12 gauge bore just dandy.

 

[WrongHanded]

Every gun I own gets snaked, brushed over, and oiled after every range trip. Simple and fairly quick.

If they need more attention they get it. But it's usually not the case.

 

[Homerboy]

I have bore snakes for all my calibers, but they don’t do as good a job as a brush and a rod. For revolver cylinders I use a .45 brush chucked into a drill. 5 seconds per hole and they are spotless. Bore snakes are just for a final pass before I put them gun away.

 

[DaStray]

Thanks for the tip, Pat Riot.
I`d also noticed that the 357/9 bore snake didn`t really clean that well in my 357`s but didn`t think about getting a larger size. I can see that it would be a royal pain if one broke off in the bore though and have cringed before while pulling one through, of all things...a .22!
A .40 sized bore snake sounds perfect
Thanks again.

 

[Riomouse911]

I've often used .45 brass brushes on
cleaning rods for cleaning .38s/357s.

Same here, a 35 for the .32, .40 for .35, .44 for .40-.41, .45 for 44 and .45 (.50 is just a bit too big for the .45).

Stay safe.

 

[Walkalong]

I've often used .45 brass brushes on
cleaning rods for cleaning .38s/357s.

Run by a drill