Boresnake vs. bore brush

[kazaam]

Which is better? YOU decide!

 

[TimeIsRunninOut]

I can't say that either is better than the other for my purpose of use, I feel that I did a much more though job if I use my bore brush and patches, but I tend to be lazy with my 22 and use a rifle length bore snake. Either way I use a nasty toothbrush to clean various inside parts additional.

 

[12131]

Boresnake vs. bore brush
Which is better?

Both!

 

[bubbacrabb]

to me atleast they're apples and oranges. I use a bore snake occasionally after a match, or after a quick shoot at the least, but I dont think anything will ever replace my core cleaning solutions. Brush wrapped in chore boy, or Lewis Lead Remover, many patches with a brass jag. I think nothing gets a bore cleaner than a tight fitting patch and jag. To each their own though. Everyone is most likely going to have a different opinion.

 

[TAKtical]

I use a bore brush every 3rd cleaning. Boresnake works well enough for me most of the time but it will not get everything.

 

[Jed Carter]

To thoroughly clean a firearm nothing beats a bronze brush and some sort of oil or solvent. At the range or a pistol match I take my trusty Bore Snake to clean out any oil from the bore from storage. Durring long USPSA matches I often clean out the bore and feed ramp with a Bore Snake. At a safe area I feed the brass end through the magwell and out the end of the barrel, this way it cleans the ramp some too.

 

[Ehtereon11B]

Both. Brushes for my rifles and handguns. For my shotgun I use a bore snake because they are less picky about being clean.

 

[NWCP]

I'll carry a bore snake in the field, or to the range because it/s so compact. I use my standard cleaning rod at home. Both do a good job.

 

[Blackstone]

I use a brush to loosen all the crap in the bore, then follow through with a mop to remove it all.

 

[meanmrmustard]

Bore snake and patches. If I can keep from peening my rifling, I do so by not using a brush unless its nylon. I don't use copper brushes, ever.

 

[Double Vision]

I'm pretty fussy about keeping my firearms clean, so I use a brush.
The Boresnake is fine in a pinch but to me is no substitute for a good cleaning.

PS - I switched to the Otis system this year and prefer it over the old cleaning rods.

 

[1911 guy]

For convenience and a range quickie, the snake is great. For actually CLEANING a bore, it doesn't stand a chance against a traditional brush and patch.

 

[jmr40]

A boresnake is OK for quick temporary cleaning but should never be a substitute for a real cleaning with proper tools. There have been know to get stuck in barrels. About the only fix if that happens is a new barrel.

 

[Blackstone]

Question - what's the actual purpose of the patch? I use a mop in lieu of it, is that the same thing?

 

[danweasel]

Hmmm, I clean all my firearm barrels with boresnakes, pretty much exclusively. I do hold them up to the light and they look pristene but maybe, after reading the responses, I could use some cleaning tips?

What would you guys call the "end all" gun cleaning thread on THR? I would love a link.

Thanks.

 

[Bozwell]

I don't know how you would manage to get it stuck in the barrel. You sometimes need to put a bit of muscle into it to overcome friction, but there's nothing for it to get "stuck" on. Edit: Unless you are using the wrong sized snake...

Dan, I'm not sure you're doing anything wrong. After a few thousand rounds and/or if you shoot cast bullets, you may want to do a deeper cleaning with some stronger chemicals and a bit more scrubbing, but for regular range work the snake is 100% fine.

Much like there's no magic bullet, there's no magic solvent/tool for cleaning your gun. You can keep a firearm running just fine using a boresnake, if you do your part.

 

[Voodoochile]

I do both, bore snake when I'm at the range to clean in between sessions & the patch & brush for at home thorough cleaning.

 

[rcmodel]

Cleaning rod and various size brush's.

Try to throughly clean a carbon fouled bottleneck rifle chamber with a bore snake.
You can't.

If it's small enough to drag through the bore, it is way smaller then the chamber.

rc

 

[JoeMal]

I prefer snakes for my long guns and brushes for my handguns. It can get a bit cumbersome to run a 4ft. boresnake through a 5" barrel.

 

[meanmrmustard]

Cleaning rod and various size brush's.

Try to throughly clean a carbon fouled bottleneck rifle chamber with a bore snake.
You can't.

If it's small enough to drag through the bore, it is way smaller then the chamber.

rc

That's what nylon chamber brushes or patches are for. If its big enough for the chamber, it's probably doing a number on you bore. Seen it first hand with copper brushes. No more, thank you.

 

[rcmodel]

Nobody was suggesting you try to drag a chamber brush through the bore.

Because it would get stuck.

What I was suggesting is that it takes two different size brushes to clean a rifle chamber & bore.

And a Boresnake can't do it.

rc

rc

 

[Beach Nut]

The bore snake is much quicker for me and easier to use but the bore brush is
does a much more through job of cleaning. So, I guess it depends on how dirty
the gun I'm cleaning is, was I shooting corrosive ammunition, etc. as far as which
cleaning tool I use.

 

[beatledog7]

Bore snake is made to solve the problem of cleaning the bore of a gun whose breach is blocked by action parts and can't be accessed by a cleaning rod without having to go in from the muzzle. Of course, any firearm can be disassembled far enough to get a rod through at the breach, but for a lot of owners of lever guns and semi-autos this is not practical for routine cleaning.

With a gun that doesn't present this problem, the bore snake is redundant. But it does make serve as a "between cleanings" make-do.

 

[meanmrmustard]

Nobody was suggesting you try to drag a chamber brush through the bore.

Because it would get stuck.

What I was suggesting is that it takes two different size brushes to clean a rifle chamber & bore.

And a Boresnake can't do it.

rc

rc

But then you're still using two tools, regardless, and the brush does not have 100% contact on all parts of the bore as it goes through. Therefore slower, and messy.. I find the snake works in the bore better, can be soaked with solvent, is washable and doesn't harm my rifling. Good enough for me.

 

[Mr. Tettnanger]

I use both!