Bore Snake verses Rod, Brush, & Jag

["DoubleAction"]

I understand the Bore Snake works good on the bores of the rimfires, but being the way I already am about cleaning, I'm looking for opinions on how the Bore Snake compares to that of using the Rod, Brush, and Jag. How are the results after using the Bore Snake, compared to that of the Rod ?
P.S. ; I do my bore inspections using a 10x power jeweler's lupe and a bore light.

[klmhq]

Personally, I've only used a bore snake and the barrels are great. They are very clean after two or three run throughs with the snale. I can't compare to the rod and patch cleaning method because it's been about 25 years since I cleaned a gun that way.

[5ontarget]

I am able to get my bbls cleaner with the traditional rod & brush cleaning. I use the bore snake for "inbetween" thorough cleanings. It is obviously much more convienent and faster.

I've cleaned with the bore snake, then with the rod, brush and solvent, and I've pulled out quite a bit of fouling after that. Maybe if I spent as much time with the bore snake, I would have removed it.
The bbls looked clean after the bore snake, no magnification. But after the brush and solvent, I had 2-3 pretty dirty patches come out.

["DoubleAction"]

I've had some barrels that I swore was clean, only to run a few small patches of Lead Away on a jag, to find more crud coming out of the bore. Using oversize brushes has helped, along with a good penetrating lube, like Gun Sheath, followed by Tetra Lube or Break Free after clean up.
The Bore Snake has caught my interest, but it's difficult to imagine it would be a substitute to the methods I already apply with the Brushes and Jags. However; Because I have to clean my revolvers from the muzzle end, I'm always concerned with any damage that might occure to the muzzle crown. I do use one piece brass pistol rods and bore guides, and haven't noticed any wear to the crowns.
Should I just forget about the idea of using the Bore Snake ?

[5ontarget]

The boresnake works well, It works better with solvents. The packaging says "If desired, use a few drops of our famous #9 Solvent." The downside of that, is the snake gets dirty much faster, obvious upside, guns get cleaner. The boresnake is washable though.
If you are (and it seems you are), very particular about getting your guns clean, I would stay with the old rod method. This would enable you to focus on a specific area of your bbl that may have a little extra crud on/in it, where the boresnake just gets the whole thing.

They are not very expensive, I think they are $10-15. If it doesn't work to your liking, sell it to someone at the range, or use it inbewteen boxes at the range to clean your bbl.

One thing I do really like, is I can put it in a little zip lock bag, put it in my pocket and do a little cleaning at the range if my guns start shooting poorly. A couple passes and it seems to help... moreso with the rimfires.
This might help you out, TMan, with your .22 fouling problems.

["DoubleAction"]

Thanks 5ontarget and klmhq; I already purchased a Bore Snake for my 10/22 rimfire; I will try it on my .223 as well. As for the larger centerfire barrels; I might start off using the Snake as an initial pass through, starting off with the .357 because I can use it on the 38 special, and should be able to pass it through the .355" of the 357 sig bores as well.

[5ontarget]

I have two boresnakes
1st is sized for M16, .22, .222, .223, .225
2nd is for .380, 9mm, .38, .357cal
works fine on .357sig

hope you like it!!

[mwatson69]

I also reccomend the bore snake. I use them on my .22, 30-30, 20ga and am going to use it on my XD-40 when it gets here!!

[TMan]

No 5ontarget, with the particular problem I had, the snake wouldn't have helped. All the fouling occured with only 50 rounds. I think the barrel (used gun) was screwed up.

I have the bore snakes for all the caliblers that I shoot. I really like them for the 22LR autos. The Browning Buckmark has a little &^#$% c-clip that goes flying across the room on occasion when I field-strip it. Therefore, after each shooting session (max 200 rounds), I clean it with the bore snake. I'm using copper coated bullets (CCI Mini-Mag), and haven't experienced any problems.

With guns like the little Kimber, I usually only put 50 rounds through it at a session. Then I'll use the bore snake. After a couple hundred rounds, I'll do the regular cleaning.

I never thought about using the bore snake on the revolvers. Like DA, I'm a little nervous about screwing up the crown. I understand that if you screw it up, it drastically effects the accuracy of the gun. I wouldn't use it on the cylinders, but for the barrel, I think it is a great idea. My barrels don't seem to get too dirty anyhow. The crud is in the cylinders. Not so much anymore since they are highly polished with Flitz, and I use the ammo that the gun was designed for i.e. I no longer shoot .38 Specials in the .357 Magnums.