Bore-snakes any good?

[HexHead]

I had one give me problems in my .223 the other day. The string cause the snake to bunch up from the back, in the barrel. Fortunately, it's a bolt gun and I was able to get a pair of needle nose pliers in from the chamber to grab the snake and pull it out. I'll have to rethink cleaning with bore snakes, on rifles at least.

Problem is my 5.45x39, .22 cleaning tools don't fit. I guess I'll have to try some .17 ones?

 

[orionengnr]

Go back and re-read posts 16, 27, 36.

Then do a search on "bore snake broken/stuck/jammed/what to do?"
You will have a good evening's worth of reading...and you won't sleep well that night.

The Otis system mentioned by Mr. Borland is similar, but uses a stainless steel cable instead of nylon leader.

While the SS cable can cause problems of its own...breaking and sticking in the bore is not among them.

 

[jack44]

There ok I still use brushes to clean the barrel the snake is when I'm finish up.

 

[OilyPablo]

Don't like them.

They don't clean rifling very well.

OK for a shotgun, but then you have this nasty grubby giant snake to deal with.

Mine are in a landfill.

 

[bikemutt]

I've used them for years, swear by them. Especially for hunting trips where I have to fly, light and compact.

 

[dmazur]

...swear by them

Given enough time, you will swear at them.

The gentleman who replied immediately before you knows where they belong.

As an alternative to the Otis kit, there's this (which allows simultaneous use of brush and patch) -

CableKleen

 

[Geronimo45]

Love 'em. Best used at the range, right after shooting. Perfect for shotguns.

They're easy to clean, too. Stick 'em in a bucket of soapy water, splash them around a couple of times, then remove, rinse, and dry.

 

[HKGuns]

Bore snakes are wonderful tools.

 

[bikemutt]

Well, the bore snake either does something it shouldn't, or doesn't do something it should. I haven't experienced either, and it packs great. Mine will see the landfill when I do, lol.

 

[Comrade Mike]

Hate them, never use them any more. On the fly, fine they work okay. But for a proper cleaning, you might as well throw them away. Nothing beats a cleaning rod and patches.

 

[PWGUNNY]

I love them for my shotguns. I use a short rod for my pistols.

 

[gamestalker]

I use them at the range for a quick wipe down of the bore, but not for scrubbing down and removing copper fouling. For my full break down cleaning jobs, I use a bore brush on a one piece rod. But they aren't bad for shotgun barrels.

GS

 

[meanmrmustard]

Agreed. Used properly, they last and work well at the range.

The horror stories I read of are best defined as user error.

I follow up with patches for oiling and what not, but for preliminary cleaning, quick and simple to use a snake.

I have the same ones I bought about ten years ago...still working.

 

[aka108]

I posted here earlier. I really like the bore snakes and use them all the time. I so think that every so often it is still a good ideal to run some very solvent saturated patches thru the bore and let the stuff work for a couple of days the run the snake back thru a couple of times. I like Hoppes for this as it does clean well given some time and doesn't eat the bore at the same time. The snakes go into the washing machines with my everyday working clothes and come out like new.

 

[improperlyaged]

I use them on my shotguns but nothing else.