Boresnake versus Patches

[Life During Wartime]

Hi,

I will be going to the range soon I think and when I come back I am going to have a dirty shotgun barrel to clean. Whats the best way to do this. I am new to shotguns. I've heard a boresnake is useful but I dont have one. Can I use .50 cal patches and clean as usual, or should I go buy. The LGS has them at a lower price right now.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Then you'll have a stank snake. I use a rod, brush and hanks of a t-shirt.

 

[maxyedor]

.50-CAL patches are too small for anything but a .410 and maybe a 28ga. The cheap thing to do is get a mop for your correct bore size, but a boresnake is really the best I've found.

That said, unless it's a finicky gas operated auto, I wouldn't even bother. I run about 1500 rounds between cleanings, and even at that they're barely dirty, mainly just my interval for a drop of lube.

 

[rcmodel]

You need a shotgun cleaning rod, a 12 ga bore brush, nitro solvent, and patches made from old underwear if you don't want to buy 12 ga patches.

Plastic wad fouling is hard to clean out with anything less.

Bore-Snakes only do half a job, and after the first time you use them?

Your are trying to get a bore clean with a filthy bore-snake.

rc

 

[oneounceload]

Boresnakes are good for a quick pass at the range, but to CLEAN the barrel (and choke tubes if applicable) you need a rod, brush, patches and cleaner - just like a rifle. There are MANY cleaners that will work, from $3 brake cleaner from wally world to fancy "gun" cleaners that cost a lot more

 

[bikemutt]

Try cleaning both ways, bore snake and patch. I use bore snake with a preload of CLR, I cannot tell any difference from a patch. Bore snake is especially good for field cleaning (easy to carry), I'll go the extra mile if she's getting put up for a while.

Consider fuzzy snap caps too, keeps the breach oiled and spring tension relaxed.

 

[rcmodel]

In my experience, the only time I ever needed to do any 'Field Cleaning' was a couple of times on Western Kansas pheasant hunts 400 miles from home.

Both times involved myself or a friend sticking a shotgun muzzle in the mud when tripping over a barb wire fence buried under a 4' drift of tumble weeds.

Try pushing a mud plug out of a barrel in the 'field' with a Bore-Snake!!

rc

 

[Life During Wartime]

What I am mostly getting from this is that boresnakes are not that great. useful in some circumstances but not most. Is there some way to clean a boresnake

 

[rcmodel]

Throw it in the washing machine.

Just not with your tighty whities.

rc

 

[oneounceload]

Not if your married - get a bucket with hot water and DAWN liquid dish soap (and I mean only Dawn, no cheap subs), swish around until clean and rinse with cold water and hang to dry

 

[maxyedor]

Am I the only one who uses a boresnake over and over and over, never cleans it and always has a perfectly clean barrel after I'm done?

Put a little Hoppes #9 on there and run it through.

 

[Milkmaster]

I use my bore snake many many times. After a time I even run it through the wash to clean it. The melted plastic inside the barrel isn't a problem. I spray the inside of the barrel with a little CLP and let it sit for a time. The plastic curls up and then the bore snake pulls it right out. My bore snake is usually oily. I do admit that the chrome lined barrels on my Berettas make things a lot easier as well. The same process will work however on non chromed barrels.

 

[oneounceload]

Am I the only one who uses a boresnake over and over and over, never cleans it and always has a perfectly clean barrel after I'm done?

Put a little Hoppes #9 on there and run it through.

Or so you think - this is more like changing the oil in your car, but not the filter

 

[Mamertine]

I'm also a believer in the boresnake. I'm willing to accept that I still have to run a brush down the barrel on occasion, but I don't see why I'd run patches after the boresnake. The bore seems quite clean to me. Am I missing something?

 

[Hunterdad]

I like my boresnake, bit I've always considered is a temporary clean. I cut the handle off a cleaning rod so it could go into a drill. That thing gets it spotless.

 

[loose noose]

I just recently bought a Bore Snake, to do the bore on my AR-15s and my Mini-14, however I just consider it a temporary clean as it doesn't get the chamber or the gas ports clean. Now the shotguns O/Us and the semi autos get the usual cleaning with the Rod and brush (bronze brush soaked in CLP) and the old clean underwear, I know my guns are clean!

 

[JohnBT]

Years ago I settled on this method: For a 12 ga., I wrap a 12 ga. patch around a 12 ga. brass brush, apply cleaner and go to work. The brush does some of the work and applies even pressure to the patch. I change the patch a couple of times and quit when it's clean.

I only use mops for applying oil or grease to the bore for storage. I keep them in a baggie.

John

 

[Sheepdog1968]

For what it's worth, my Mossberg 500 has around 1000 rounds through it since I last cleaned it and it runs fine. I might clean it before the next trap league starts up. If not, it will likely go another 750 rounds or so before I think about cleaning it.

 

[oneounceload]

I just recently bought a Bore Snake, to do the bore on my AR-15s and my Mini-14, however I just consider it a temporary clean as it doesn't get the chamber or the gas ports clean. Now the shotguns O/Us and the semi autos get the usual cleaning with the Rod and brush (bronze brush soaked in CLP) and the old clean underwear, I know my guns are clean

For your 223 boresnake, I HIGHLY recommend that you tie a length of para cord to the loop end so when the pull string breaks (and it will, trust me), you have an easy way to remove it from your bore. The consequences of a stuck boresnake in such a small bore are brutal

 

[Certaindeaf]

Tie a string around the string for when the string breaks makes no sense. I've never used one so I guess you meant a trailing loop perhaps.

 

[j1]

Try a Kotex for the first pass.

 

[Certaindeaf]

I don't think they make a 1 bore these days but that's a good thought. They about give away that type stuff at the Dollar Store.. well, for a dollar.

 

[oneounceload]

Certain - that's what I said - to the loop end so when the string breaks, you can remove it pulling it backwards and out

 

[Certaindeaf]

Aye, I hear you.. that's probably a smart thing. I've heard bad things when they break and if there's a way to salvage a catastrophe/prepare for a surety, I'm all for it.

 

[Deer_Freak]

What I don't like about boresnakes for any weapon is they are tied onto a nylon rope that will cut materials a lot harder than a barrel.

I admit you aren't likely to damage your gun but I have seen the rifling wore out on old rifles from using a steel cleaning rod without a guide. I am not one to sell my guns. I plan on passing them on to the next generation. With any luck my ancestors will be shooting my guns long after I am gone.