Even if just one (1) round fired...the fewest in real numbers we generally fire is four (4), a safe queen that gets fired and cleaned once a year, a couple others will see six (6) fired, and then also cleaned...we are making sure the firearms are functional, and a bare minimum once a year cleaning helps ensure that...Neil Young sang 'Rust never sleeps', and unfortunately that is true...
I clean my guns after every few hundred rounds. The only exception is my long range precision rifle and even that is just bc I don’t shoot it hundreds of rounds at a time. It’s about every 20-40 rounds. Cleaning every time you shoot a few rounds is completely unnecessary. I’ve seen zero benefit to doing that and I have tried it as opposed to less frequently. I’ve seen zero difference in accuracy, longevity or any other excuse frequent cleaners can come up with. My guns have literally zero rust and as long as you’re cleaning and oiling every few hundred rounds you’ll be fine.
Ive been using bore snakes for years and never had any of these problems. I guess thats what happens when you pmcs it before you run it down the barrel and clean it after you use it. Edit: I use mine by oiling just the portion where the string meets the mop, and the brush portions. The rest stays dry to soak up excess oil as its pulled through the bore. A couple hard shakes clears any accumulation from the mop. I also pull the string straight with the bore, and make sure the mop is in line with the bore while pulling, no dragging it through a mag well or ejection port at a hard angle.
Lol all these HARD rules people try to live their lives by. I only use a bore snake on my 17 and 22 cals. So much more gentile. My 17vss has never failed to hold perfect laser like accuracy. One time down the bore (I always feed in through breech side to avoid snagging the ejector). Are people flossing them back and fourth or what? Hahaha
You mean...just like anything else, it all depends on how and when/where you use it????? Sheesh, who'd have ever thunk it???? 😂 like everything else, it has its place and purpose. That's what people don't get.
Other tips....1. Inspect the cord where it attaches to the snake part. 2. Wash the bore snakes. 3. Hold gun waist high pointing upward pulling upward while snake dangles below creating zero resistance beyond the effort needed to pull through cleanly. A simple 90* bend in the snake can cause one to pull 2-3 times harder than needed. Ya gotta be smart to use a bore snake, not for dummies.
@@robbycrumpton5560 Marketing gimmick or not, I do like them... sometimes. I have a lot of guns are basically just "range toys", that I like to take to the range and run a box of ammo through them for fun/target practice. They never get all that dirty, but I don't like to store a gun without cleaning it... and to me it's not worth the time to get out the cleaning kit just to run a couple of patches through. A squirt of oil/cleaner, pull the bore snake through, and it's clean enough to store 'till next weekend. So yeah, as long as you clean the bore snake, use it properly and replace it when it gets worn, they work just fine. However, if I do a lot of shooting or use ammo that's particularly dirty, or if it's a gun that I don't shoot very often, then I'll do a proper cleaning before storing it. Also, I don't know why this guy said it's so hard to remove one when the string breaks. Apparently he's never heard of a ball extractor...
I have never liked the idea of the boresnake, and so I've never used one. But then, I've never wiped my ass with toilet paper that already had shit on it, either, LOL!
You push a patch through 1 time, it falls out the muzzle, and you throw it away. Using a bore snake is akin to using that dirty patch over and over. Even if you clean them periodically, carbon deposits and other particles are still embedded in the borensnake fibers. Add to this, the fact that bore snakes are very tight in the bore compared to patches, and those carbon deposits are being ground against the bore walls with much more pressure.
@@desertdogoutdoors1113My personal routine is to run a wet patch through, run another and let sit for a while if it is particularly dirty or if I want to remove copper fouling, and finish with one pull of a bore snake that has been lightly sprayed with CLP. I can't verify this scientifically, but I'm sure the first couple of wet patches have done the vast majority of the cleaning, and the boresnake just polishes it off.
52 years of shooting. I can honestly say, I have never used a bore snake. I had a natural aversion to them & never thought about why. Quality coated 1 piece rods is all I have ever used.
Never had a problem with bore snakes. Used them for many years, from pistols to LR precision bolt rifles. I would say that I am one who thinks most people either clean their barrels to little or too often. A bore snake is great for running through a barrel after a day at the range. Although it doesn't replace a good cleaning after a thousand rounds or so depending on caliber, ammo, conditions, etc.
Rule #4: If a bore snake shows any signs of wear, discard it immediately! This is especially true at the transition point between the parachute cord and where the snake starts.
As a barrel maker, never use a bore snake on a rifled barrel. Same as everyone else is saying. They break or worse they bunch up in a knot and get wedged in the groves. If you push with a rod it makes it worse. I found a way to get it out, but you run the risk of damaging the rifling. Take a long drill bit ( 18” to 24”) like you use to drill thru walls. Make sure it is smaller than your lands diameter. Center it up buy using a muzzle bushing and ease it down the barrel, gently tap it into the bore snake so the snake will grab ahold of the bit. Use a hand crank to get the snake taught on the bit. Then pull like (!@“&!!), they usually come out. You have nothing to lose. If you damage the barrel you are no worse off than if you have a stuck snake in your barrel. Do not pour abrasive chemicals in your barrel. They cause pitting. Always clean a rifle barrel with a plastic (or similar) coated one piece rod (Dewey, Tipton, Parker Hale, etc…). Use a good bore guide that fits the action or muzzle on leaver action and other enclose action rifles. Use brass jigs. Use a good softer brush most are readily available at stores (ProShots Benchrest Brush is my favorite, Hoppes works etc.). Don’t use a hard brush that will scratch the bore. Wet patch a couple of times with a solvent which as Hoppes # 9, CLP, Shooters Choice, (Wal*Mart Break Parts Cleaner). Put the brush on wet it scrub, make sure you push the rod straight (like your handling a pool stick). After about 5 to 10 strokes clean the brush spraying it off. Flush the bore or run wet patches thru the bore a couple usually does it. Brush again. Flush, then push a patch coated with a light clear oil (Rem Oil or Mineral Oil) fluid dynamics will take over. The heavy clear oil will push the lighter bore cleaners out the barrel groves. Then fun a dry patch. Recommend you put the gun up for storage with a light bore oil in the bore. Can be done by pushing an oil patch thru the bore. Before you shoot through rifle, push a dry patch thru to get the oil out. If you have an air compressor with a blow gun on it. Blow it dry. Never get any type of oil, solvent, etc. on your scope lenses. Cover the well.
With all due respect Desert Dog (I watched all of you videos and have learned a lot from them...) - for the past 3 years I have used nothing else but Bore Blitz (German version of bore snake) to clean my rifles both at home and in the field and never have any issues. Lupo 243 win (2000+ shots so far) Lupo 308 win (3000+ shots so far) continue to print 0.25 MOA groups at 100 yards have been never cleaned with anything else but Bore Blitz only ...
Try the otis system it is awesome if you don't want to use a good one piece cleaning rod, avoid those multi section rods they can be problems too, just the little kit that sells for 55$ and some cleaning patches and whatever bore solvents and so on you like and you are good for pretty much anything that is a gun, it is all I use now, I put it and some patches and solvents oils and a couple cleaning rags and some Qtips in a 4x8x3 inch little pouch and I clean every gun I own from 22 caliber to 500 S&W and shotguns with that kit.
Cccccertainly haven't ussssssssssed bore ssssssssnakes, and had thought I might at ssssssssssssome point, but thisssssss has convinccccccced me to ssssssstay away.
You must be brilliant (because we agree 😉 ). I have long been suspicious of the bore snake concept because of reading about the pull-through cleaning devices that were traditionally issued by European armies and the wear they caused on rifle barrel crowns. Yes, they usually consisted of aluminum beads on a chain and would cause wear more quickly, but the fundamental danger of a well-used, dirty bore snake is the same, and even pulling the snake straight out doesn’t eliminate all contact with the crown. But you also raised some other points that I’ll remember the next time someone asks my opinion of the devices.
Iv never used a bore snake nor will I ever use one. The first time I ever saw a bore snake I thought to myself what I gimmick that is! When I clean my barrel I clean it to bare steel to put it up for the year and there is no way in hell you can clean a bore as well as I’m looking to clean my bores when I clean!! I too have had first hand experience with someone getting a bore snake stuck in there bore. A neighbor brought a gun to me a year or two ago and had one stuck in his bore and man did I have to fight to get that thing out but I managed to remove it. Just buy a good cleaning kit a quality one piece rod and clean your rifle the proper way. We spend 1000s on our rifles is a 100$ worth of quality gun cleaning supply’s really going to kill ya to buy to take care of your rifles??
"terrycalvert7812," "A quality one-piece rod" recommendation for the old school, been-around-a-long-time types still screwing together the sectionals from within their Hoppes 'all-in-one' kits. BTW, if ordering from your suggestion(s) that are mail order, the s&h cost might equal the rod's cost due to its extreme length. Once again, Desert Dog, informative, colorfully illustrated report for which we 2A types within the vast TH-cam Universe say "Thank you."
Ive never in 30 years used a boresnake. If only for the idea its a dirty object. We use a clean patch for each pass through and see what comes out each time. I never understood the idea of using a boresnake.
Never haved used a bore snake never will. I seldom use metal brushes to clean my barrels, always use plastic brushes. And my bore scope tells me that I am doing it right.
When these things came out I just laughed. Lazy man’s way to ruin a gun. Just distributes fouling around. There is no free lunch out there folks. Remember the moly coated bullets what a joke that was?. I never jumped on that bandwagon also. Think about what you are doing.
I have expensive cleaning rods and jags; and I use bore snakes. Thanks for your perspective; and the possible pitfalls of using bore snakes. I used your link and just ordered the Otis universal rifle cleaning kit. I had never given Otis much consideration. Stuck casings and bore obstructions could really ruin my day; so now I should be better prepared.
As a professional gunsmith I say don’t use a damn boresnake! I’ve seen too many people ruin a good barrel trying to remove a broken boresnake. They aren’t worth the trouble nor the expense of having a barrel replaced. If you need a cleaning kit in the field then purchase an Otis kit and be done with it or have a ball bearing cleaning rod at your base camp. Here’s another tip, put a piece of electrical tape over the muzzle of your firearm while in the field, just a shot piece, it will actually blow off or your bullet will pass through it in you need to take a fast shot. Don’t be a snake charmer!
I use a bore snake, the problem with people is they don't use it correctly causing fast wear and tear on the snake and they don't inspect the snake for fraying before use.
Now Granny taught me had to use toilet paper with shit on it with that clever "second fold" without getting any on you... Shotgun is the only place for a bore snake after tournament shooting when you have to break it down and put it back in a hard case if you don't want to "get any on you" IMHO. It looks like a change is coming to my cleaning habit. Excellent content, and it looks like Beka has provided intel to help drive the point home.
🇦🇺😎👍Hey mate I’ve had 4 bore snakes for years and I’ve never properly used them. When I got them I tried to lightly insert a few into my rifles and I noticed they were very tight so I felt down the track their could be problems so they never got used. As for dragging crud back down the barrel I couldn’t agree more. Great honest video 🏁
Who the hell is rolling around in the mud and dirt while out hunting ? In my 45 years in the field a little snow or rain was my only issues. If your that stupid you shouldn’t be climbing a tree either !
Nobody said anything about rolling around in mud. I've slipped on mossy rocks before while crossing streams during a deer hunt. Accidentally stepping into holes in muddy fields and going down is common on Pheasant hunts. Keeping your footing while hunting Chukar in the Mojave Desert isn't always easy. Crossing a river in a leaking dugout canoe in Zimbabwe might get a rifle wet. It's called hunting and things happen. I don't hunt in tree stands.
I've dropped from a steep bank almost to the water (actually got 1 foot wet) while fishing more than once, and I guess some hunters are a bit more determined, so it doesn't seem unlikely to take a dip in mud from time to time while traversing difficult terrain.
Completely unrelated to your video DD. Did you watch the new Backfire vid? A guy claimed he was able to make 100% of his shots out to 600 yards. Backfire challenged him and put it on video.
OK, I just watched it. I think that video summed up the reality of internet trolls and "forum experts". It was obvious from watching that "Marine Marksman" shoot, that he had absolutely no grasp on any shooting fundamentals (no trigger control, no natural point of aim, no attemp to check parallax, lifting head, no follow-through, no rear support, and no awareness of chamber status). It was a shit show, and I applaud Backfire for showing it. Can you imagine how many thousands of people on the internet have listened to that guy's "expert advice" over the years.
@@desertdogoutdoors1113 I think the worst part was how he said he felt capable out to 400 yards after making a fool of himself. It REALLY goes to show how god AWFUL some people are at shooting.
I personally prefer snakes just for ease of carry due to to myself doing a lot of trekking and having bad experiences with Hoppes' aluminum cleaning rods, so I really appreciate the mention of the Otis system. Seems to combine the best of both worlds.
"z.melnyk8822," " . . . . bad experiences with Hoppes' aluminum cleaning rods . . . " Expound, please, for the millions of shooters who've been cleaning with them for decades. Of course we are sorry to hear of your 'bad experiences' -- thankfully you're still here to tell us about them. So, we'll consider it a lesson learned passed on to us so that, God willing, and with good judgement we won't duplicate. . . . . . . . Rhetorical question / remark: Has the state of Washington GONE OUT OF ITS MIND?!?! This jewel of the Pacific Northwest is being neutered right before our eyes -- and THEIR LIVES. . . . . . . . "Many thanks, 'Desert Dog Outdoors.'"
Ive used Hoppes bore snakes on my .375 and my Lott for a long time and never had an issue. I do not use it to "clean" my barrels as such. I use it to clear dust and grass (yes grass sometimes) after a long walk or every few days while on safari/hunt.. For me it just helps keep the barrel clean.
Im a big fan of the cable type otis cleaning kits and keep one with me in the field for emergency cleaning needs. Never really was a fan of the "Bore Snakes" as the get dirty and I didnt want to pull a dirty one down the barrel as I feel like it accomplished very little for me as such.
Great points here, will reconsider using bore snakes for rifles. Mostly use them on my shotguns and a little beater .22LR bolt action (Ruger American). For my AR and shorter barreled rifles I like Frog Lube's (apparently now discontinued) all-in-one cleaning kit shaped like an AR magazine! Bought it years ago and seems like it's a collectible now I guess 😂 It's a grey, AR magazine-shaped cleaning kit containing a durable metal cleaning rod in 3 pieces, a jag tip, a brush tip, the thingy that holds your wipes, some wipes, some Q-tips, some Frog Lube "ketchup packets," some picks, and has a little extra room to spare. Kit came in two sizes: normal and double wide. The gimmick is that since it's magazine shaped it fits into any magazine slot in your plate carrier. The plastic it's made out of is super resistant to chemicals and acts as a mixing pot for cleaning chemicals. You can dip your Q-tips or whatever into it safely.
Always have a bore snake in my backpack when hunting, only gonna use it if I got dirt or mud inside the barrel, only used it once, haven't used it since 2020
I stopped using bore snakes when I found i couldn't clean them enough. As you said in effect: 'would you wipe your ass with dirty TP?". My own observation following a bore snake with patches was that the bore snake was NOT cleaning the barrel. Now I don't clean my barrels much. I look with a bore cam and use mops and pathes and am very careful with the brass rods. Now I think I'll try the pull through cable you mentioned
I put my rifles away with a thick storage oil because some of them might not be used even annually and my safe condensates. Ive always put a snake through before firing but its its only used for that purpose then back into container. Good tip about the muzzle tape. Very common here in NZ.
"brettcleveland6335," Great to hear your report. . . . Since you 'spilled the beans' (like 'the cat's out of the bag,' American slang for 'let everyone know' or 'now everyone knows') New Zealand is your residence (lucky you!), I feel this is a rare opportunity to ask how have your political leaders escaped the lunacy and pure madness and thievery of your neighbor in the Pacific, Australia's where they wiped out SO MUCH of their proud, privileged tradition of private gun ownership? In the U.S. we're not immune to that, even with our Second Amendment, as radical types governing (serving as governor) Illinois, New York, California and most recently, draconian measures in Washington state, would like NOTHING MORE than blast through, take-no-prisoners GUN-FREE world.
There is NOTHING wrong with using Bore Snakes to do light to general quick cleaning of your handgun or rifle. I have used Bore Snakes for over 15 years and never had one single issue. Just use common sense, wash the bore snake periodically and use with MPro7 Gun Cleaner. Bore Snakes are good for quick, basic and light cleaning. I use traditional rod, brushes and patches for more in-depth and heavy-duty cleaning later on. Again, use common sense and use the Bore Snake in the right time, the right place and for the right reason and there is a very small chance of ever having any issues.
My bore snakes are 30” long without the string. If the string broke while pulling it through, either one end or the other is still hanging out of the barrel and can easily be pulled through. Point #1 is only a problem if using a snake shorter than the barrel.
DD, I had almost ditched my bore snakes before, but now I will do so 100%. I actually recall a scare with the string of a bore snake fraying and almost lodging the rest of the snake in the barrel of my 300 Win Mag. P. Pappous, SoCal.
I never have used them and never wanted to for the one reason you pointed out. And that is the act of pulling one through at an angle at the muzzle can ruin a perfect crown, and also the snake entering at the breach at an angle can abrade a wear groove at the same place it enters the chamber ( don't know if I stated that correctly ?? ). No, me thinks I will continue to clean my firearms the same way I have been doing it for the last 61 years when I got my first .22 single shot rifle when I was 10 years old.
@@desertdogoutdoors1113 Mind you , they do make good impromptu bore laps, after a couple of years of use , the snake is nicely saturated with fine carbon debris as you correctly stated . Really enjoying your episodes.
I like using the Patchworm system, very versatile, compact and cheap. Not a replacement for a cleaning rod or as heavy duty as Otis, but I’ve never had a problem with it as long as you use the correct size cleaning head. Try one!
I know one guy who got one stuck in a 20 gauge shotgun barrel. Someone joked about using LIQUID FIRE, which is an ACID PIPE DRAIN CLEANER. The person took him seriously and did it. Ruined his shotgun. LOL!
IF you were truly attached to this concept and auto loaders and lever action rifles are a reason to consider this type of cleaner. Otis Technology and PatchWorm both offer FAR Superior products. The washable aspect , I guess if I used laundry soap or maybe dish soap to clean my barrel. 😂 NEVER was tempted to try one. I like chamber / bore guides and Dewy or Tripton rods that have bearings in the handles.
I've had properly sized bore snakes be so hard to pull through I was amazed at the string didn't break. I counted myself lucky and didn't want to keep pushing my luck and find out the hard way how long it would take until one eventually broke. I've even had issues with the Otis steel cable pull throughs and the eyelet and brush connectors to where I don't feel comfortable using those either. Sometimes they can unscrew in the bore which is not a huge problem because you can stick the cable down there or a rod and screw it back together but then that takes away the simple convenience you were using it for in the first place.
I never did think they cleaned all that great. I could always swab out a lot of dirty patches after running a bore snake thru before. It might look clean, but run a bronze brush thru after running the bore snake first and there is a lot of crap left in the barrel the snake never got. The fact that the string might break and get the snake stuck makes it not worth screwing with.
10:46 precisely. Zero reason to clean in the field if you’re a hunter, plinker, or whatever sport’s shooting enthusiast you might be. Unless you’re one of the 00.5 percent of gun owners who are actively using your firearm in a combat scenario. And besides, if you’re not using corrosive surplus ammo you don’t need to clean your rifle that often. Once every 300-400 rounds of constant daily fire would be a good time to clean, otherwise if you’re a normal hunter or enthusiast just do it when the season is over or before you put your rifle away for a decent amount of time. As for 22lr’s, I hardly ever clean them. I find that the dirtier the bore, the more accuracy I get. Very weird indeed.
YEPPER, I figured this all out about 30 or so years ago, bore snakes are garbage and for people just too damn lazy to give any real care about anything let alone properly cleaning thier gun, if you want a good system use the otis with the pull cables, you still have to be carful how you use it just like a cleaning rod or damage can be done, but at least you pull a clean patch instead of a piece of sandpaper down your bore every time, and you can hold the entire otis system able to clean about any caliber in just one hand.
Glad I never went down the bore snake road. I did however watch your video on using Kroil and JB paste to remove stubborn carbon and copper from your Barrel. When trying something new there is a leaning curve, however I am getting excellent results using this process. Thanks for that video is was very helpful.
total agreement. once i obtained a bore scope i saw how filthy the barrel really was. i do use a boresnake on my .22 pistols at the range only after shooting a lot of rounds. at home i do the bore cleaning the proper way.
I’ve tried them in the past, but it doesn’t seem to really do anything. My barrels are still just as dirty almost as close as they were before I ran the snake through a few times.
BORE SNAKES: Why I stopped using them Just use a bore guide where possible and an aluminum cleaning rod and it will be fine. The barrel is steel is harder than the soft metal alloy rod and alloy and plastic fittings.
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Y’all clean your guns?
OF COURSE. Even if I have to cut a piece of my sock and grab the nearest tree branch for a Cleaning rod. 😂. HAVE A GREAT DAY.
Who wipes?
Even if just one (1) round fired...the fewest in real numbers we generally fire is four (4), a safe queen that gets fired and cleaned once a year, a couple others will see six (6) fired, and then also cleaned...we are making sure the firearms are functional, and a bare minimum once a year cleaning helps ensure that...Neil Young sang 'Rust never sleeps', and unfortunately that is true...
I clean my guns after every few hundred rounds. The only exception is my long range precision rifle and even that is just bc I don’t shoot it hundreds of rounds at a time. It’s about every 20-40 rounds. Cleaning every time you shoot a few rounds is completely unnecessary. I’ve seen zero benefit to doing that and I have tried it as opposed to less frequently. I’ve seen zero difference in accuracy, longevity or any other excuse frequent cleaners can come up with. My guns have literally zero rust and as long as you’re cleaning and oiling every few hundred rounds you’ll be fine.
You guys shoot your guns? 😂
Ive been using bore snakes for years and never had any of these problems. I guess thats what happens when you pmcs it before you run it down the barrel and clean it after you use it.
Edit: I use mine by oiling just the portion where the string meets the mop, and the brush portions. The rest stays dry to soak up excess oil as its pulled through the bore. A couple hard shakes clears any accumulation from the mop. I also pull the string straight with the bore, and make sure the mop is in line with the bore while pulling, no dragging it through a mag well or ejection port at a hard angle.
Lol all these HARD rules people try to live their lives by. I only use a bore snake on my 17 and 22 cals. So much more gentile. My 17vss has never failed to hold perfect laser like accuracy. One time down the bore (I always feed in through breech side to avoid snagging the ejector).
Are people flossing them back and fourth or what? Hahaha
You mean...just like anything else, it all depends on how and when/where you use it????? Sheesh, who'd have ever thunk it???? 😂 like everything else, it has its place and purpose. That's what people don't get.
Other tips....1. Inspect the cord where it attaches to the snake part. 2. Wash the bore snakes. 3. Hold gun waist high pointing upward pulling upward while snake dangles below creating zero resistance beyond the effort needed to pull through cleanly.
A simple 90* bend in the snake can cause one to pull 2-3 times harder than needed.
Ya gotta be smart to use a bore snake, not for dummies.
Never use a bore snake. It's just a marketing gimmick any way!
@@robbycrumpton5560 Marketing gimmick or not, I do like them... sometimes. I have a lot of guns are basically just "range toys", that I like to take to the range and run a box of ammo through them for fun/target practice. They never get all that dirty, but I don't like to store a gun without cleaning it... and to me it's not worth the time to get out the cleaning kit just to run a couple of patches through. A squirt of oil/cleaner, pull the bore snake through, and it's clean enough to store 'till next weekend. So yeah, as long as you clean the bore snake, use it properly and replace it when it gets worn, they work just fine. However, if I do a lot of shooting or use ammo that's particularly dirty, or if it's a gun that I don't shoot very often, then I'll do a proper cleaning before storing it.
Also, I don't know why this guy said it's so hard to remove one when the string breaks. Apparently he's never heard of a ball extractor...
I hadn’t considered the risk of the snake breaking. Thanks
Yeah me to . Never thought of it . That would suck!!🙈
Message 100%...Tampon Graphics 100%...Sarcasm 100%...Please continue.
I have never liked the idea of the boresnake, and so I've never used one. But then, I've never wiped my ass with toilet paper that already had shit on it, either, LOL!
The way he said that was hilarious!
😂🎉
Why would carbon on a bore snake scratch a barrel, while carbon on a cotton patch would not?
You push a patch through 1 time, it falls out the muzzle, and you throw it away. Using a bore snake is akin to using that dirty patch over and over. Even if you clean them periodically, carbon deposits and other particles are still embedded in the borensnake fibers. Add to this, the fact that bore snakes are very tight in the bore compared to patches, and those carbon deposits are being ground against the bore walls with much more pressure.
@@desertdogoutdoors1113My personal routine is to run a wet patch through, run another and let sit for a while if it is particularly dirty or if I want to remove copper fouling, and finish with one pull of a bore snake that has been lightly sprayed with CLP. I can't verify this scientifically, but I'm sure the first couple of wet patches have done the vast majority of the cleaning, and the boresnake just polishes it off.
@@GreenKnight1979 Whay not just run 1 more patch though instead of using a bore snake?
52 years of shooting.
I can honestly say, I have never used a bore snake.
I had a natural aversion to them & never thought about why. Quality coated 1 piece rods is all I have ever used.
Same. I’ve been using the same 1 pc rod for like 20 years lol
A very good choice
You are the second YouToober I really listen to who says “No!” to Bore Snakes. I hear you and will change my ways.
I find cleaning my firearms therapeutic, same thing with sharpening my knives. So why rush it...
Never had a problem with bore snakes. Used them for many years, from pistols to LR precision bolt rifles. I would say that I am one who thinks most people either clean their barrels to little or too often. A bore snake is great for running through a barrel after a day at the range. Although it doesn't replace a good cleaning after a thousand rounds or so depending on caliber, ammo, conditions, etc.
Rule #4: If a bore snake shows any signs of wear, discard it immediately! This is especially true at the transition point between the parachute cord and where the snake starts.
As a barrel maker, never use a bore snake on a rifled barrel. Same as everyone else is saying. They break or worse they bunch up in a knot and get wedged in the groves. If you push with a rod it makes it worse. I found a way to get it out, but you run the risk of damaging the rifling. Take a long drill bit ( 18” to 24”) like you use to drill thru walls. Make sure it is smaller than your lands diameter. Center it up buy using a muzzle bushing and ease it down the barrel, gently tap it into the bore snake so the snake will grab ahold of the bit. Use a hand crank to get the snake taught on the bit. Then pull like (!@“&!!), they usually come out. You have nothing to lose. If you damage the barrel you are no worse off than if you have a stuck snake in your barrel. Do not pour abrasive chemicals in your barrel. They cause pitting.
Always clean a rifle barrel with a plastic (or similar) coated one piece rod (Dewey, Tipton, Parker Hale, etc…). Use a good bore guide that fits the action or muzzle on leaver action and other enclose action rifles. Use brass jigs. Use a good softer brush most are readily available at stores (ProShots Benchrest Brush is my favorite, Hoppes works etc.). Don’t use a hard brush that will scratch the bore.
Wet patch a couple of times with a solvent which as Hoppes # 9, CLP, Shooters Choice, (Wal*Mart Break Parts Cleaner). Put the brush on wet it scrub, make sure you push the rod straight (like your handling a pool stick). After about 5 to 10 strokes clean the brush spraying it off. Flush the bore or run wet patches thru the bore a couple usually does it. Brush again. Flush, then push a patch coated with a light clear oil (Rem Oil or Mineral Oil) fluid dynamics will take over. The heavy clear oil will push the lighter bore cleaners out the barrel groves. Then fun a dry patch. Recommend you put the gun up for storage with a light bore oil in the bore. Can be done by pushing an oil patch thru the bore. Before you shoot through rifle, push a dry patch thru to get the oil out. If you have an air compressor with a blow gun on it. Blow it dry.
Never get any type of oil, solvent, etc. on your scope lenses. Cover the well.
With all due respect Desert Dog (I watched all of you videos and have learned a lot from them...) - for the past 3 years I have used nothing else but Bore Blitz (German version of bore snake) to clean my rifles both at home and in the field and never have any issues.
Lupo 243 win (2000+ shots so far)
Lupo 308 win (3000+ shots so far)
continue to print 0.25 MOA groups at 100 yards have been never cleaned with anything else but Bore Blitz only ...
Its sooooooo much fun to try and fish out a broken Boresnake. I have used them but after my fishing expedition I pitched all them things in the trash
When bore snakes are new, it is sometimes difficult to pull them through. I am always afraid the cord will break.
All points make sense to me. I'm ditching them. As always, thanks, DD.
Your advice makes sense 100%. No more bore snakes for me!👍
Try the otis system it is awesome if you don't want to use a good one piece cleaning rod, avoid those multi section rods they can be problems too, just the little kit that sells for 55$ and some cleaning patches and whatever bore solvents and so on you like and you are good for pretty much anything that is a gun, it is all I use now, I put it and some patches and solvents oils and a couple cleaning rags and some Qtips in a 4x8x3 inch little pouch and I clean every gun I own from 22 caliber to 500 S&W and shotguns with that kit.
Cccccertainly haven't ussssssssssed bore ssssssssnakes, and had thought I might at ssssssssssssome point, but thisssssss has convinccccccced me to ssssssstay away.
Told people when they came out---- THEY ARE GOOD FOR LAZY PEOPLE WHO DONT KNOW BETTER!
You must be brilliant (because we agree 😉 ).
I have long been suspicious of the bore snake concept because of reading about the pull-through cleaning devices that were traditionally issued by European armies and the wear they caused on rifle barrel crowns. Yes, they usually consisted of aluminum beads on a chain and would cause wear more quickly, but the fundamental danger of a well-used, dirty bore snake is the same, and even pulling the snake straight out doesn’t eliminate all contact with the crown. But you also raised some other points that I’ll remember the next time someone asks my opinion of the devices.
Otis makes a pull-through cleaner called the Ripcord that is now US military issue with their own NSNs for different calibers.
Iv never used a bore snake nor will I ever use one. The first time I ever saw a bore snake I thought to myself what I gimmick that is! When I clean my barrel I clean it to bare steel to put it up for the year and there is no way in hell you can clean a bore as well as I’m looking to clean my bores when I clean!! I too have had first hand experience with someone getting a bore snake stuck in there bore. A neighbor brought a gun to me a year or two ago and had one stuck in his bore and man did I have to fight to get that thing out but I managed to remove it. Just buy a good cleaning kit a quality one piece rod and clean your rifle the proper way. We spend 1000s on our rifles is a 100$ worth of quality gun cleaning supply’s really going to kill ya to buy to take care of your rifles??
"terrycalvert7812," "A quality one-piece rod" recommendation for the old school, been-around-a-long-time types still screwing together the sectionals from within their Hoppes 'all-in-one' kits.
BTW, if ordering from your suggestion(s) that are mail order, the s&h cost might equal the rod's cost due to its extreme length.
Once again, Desert Dog, informative, colorfully illustrated report for which we 2A types within the vast TH-cam Universe say "Thank you."
Kinda ah bummer. I have a bunch of the that are new. But hard to argue with what you said.
I'll have to change my field / hunting cleaning kit.
Ive never in 30 years used a boresnake. If only for the idea its a dirty object. We use a clean patch for each pass through and see what comes out each time. I never understood the idea of using a boresnake.
exactly that's why I have never even considered a bore snake, simply pulling all the crap repeatedly through your gun, some have no common sense
Never haved used a bore snake never will. I seldom use metal brushes to clean my barrels, always use plastic brushes. And my bore scope tells me that I am doing it right.
No parachute cord either!!! They really knot up and chemicals cause them to breakdown and break.
When these things came out I just laughed. Lazy man’s way to ruin a gun. Just distributes fouling around. There is no free lunch out there folks. Remember the moly coated bullets what a joke that was?. I never jumped on that bandwagon also. Think about what you are doing.
Use a smaller diameter bore snake with a standard cleaning patch around the metal prongs and it works great and protects the bore.
Yeah i never though they were a good idea from day 1 i always use a rod and good old fashioned patches :)
I have expensive cleaning rods and jags; and I use bore snakes. Thanks for your perspective; and the possible pitfalls of using bore snakes. I used your link and just ordered the Otis universal rifle cleaning kit. I had never given Otis much consideration. Stuck casings and bore obstructions could really ruin my day; so now I should be better prepared.
As a professional gunsmith I say don’t use a damn boresnake! I’ve seen too many people ruin a good barrel trying to remove a broken boresnake. They aren’t worth the trouble nor the expense of having a barrel replaced. If you need a cleaning kit in the field then purchase an Otis kit and be done with it or have a ball bearing cleaning rod at your base camp. Here’s another tip, put a piece of electrical tape over the muzzle of your firearm while in the field, just a shot piece, it will actually blow off or your bullet will pass through it in you need to take a fast shot. Don’t be a snake charmer!
I used to carry electrical tape on me to cover my muzzle, but I now use muzzle condoms and find them much easier to carry and use in the rain.
@@desertdogoutdoors1113 they work great.
I use a bore snake, the problem with people is they don't use it correctly causing fast wear and tear on the snake and they don't inspect the snake for fraying before use.
I've never used one but I got a good laugh from your used bootypaper analogy 😊
I have not thought about this, but as I think about what you’ve said, I think I will toss my bore-snakes out.
The idea of dragging a dirty bore snake through my barrel just never sounded good to me.
I don't use my dunny paper twice.
wash it.....
@greencable2222 definitely possible but I'd be fukn around trying to get that puppy spotless every time I use it.
I use D-Lead to wash mine. Although I only use the snake for pistols mainly. I have a coated 1 piece rod for rifles.
@@greencable2222 Do you wash it every single time you pull it through????
Great video! Funny as hell with very good points and information.Great job,as always!
Interesting points, I think I'm going to stop using boresnakes.
Now Granny taught me had to use toilet paper with shit on it with that clever "second fold" without getting any on you... Shotgun is the only place for a bore snake after tournament shooting when you have to break it down and put it back in a hard case if you don't want to "get any on you" IMHO. It looks like a change is coming to my cleaning habit. Excellent content, and it looks like Beka has provided intel to help drive the point home.
🇦🇺😎👍Hey mate I’ve had 4 bore snakes for years and I’ve never properly used them. When I got them I tried to lightly insert a few into my rifles and I noticed they were very tight so I felt down the track their could be problems so they never got used. As for dragging crud back down the barrel I couldn’t agree more. Great honest video 🏁
I’ve never used a bore snake, so pleased that I stuck with old fashioned patch on a rod.
Who the hell is rolling around in the mud and dirt while out hunting ? In my 45 years in the field a little snow or rain was my only issues. If your that stupid you shouldn’t be climbing a tree either !
Nobody said anything about rolling around in mud. I've slipped on mossy rocks before while crossing streams during a deer hunt. Accidentally stepping into holes in muddy fields and going down is common on Pheasant hunts. Keeping your footing while hunting Chukar in the Mojave Desert isn't always easy. Crossing a river in a leaking dugout canoe in Zimbabwe might get a rifle wet. It's called hunting and things happen. I don't hunt in tree stands.
I've dropped from a steep bank almost to the water (actually got 1 foot wet) while fishing more than once, and I guess some hunters are a bit more determined, so it doesn't seem unlikely to take a dip in mud from time to time while traversing difficult terrain.
I put snake oil and snake bores in the same class. Not totally useless but pretty close 🤔😳
Completely unrelated to your video DD. Did you watch the new Backfire vid? A guy claimed he was able to make 100% of his shots out to 600 yards. Backfire challenged him and put it on video.
I watched it. Just showed most of us got no business shooting past 300 yards,maybe 200!
OK, I just watched it. I think that video summed up the reality of internet trolls and "forum experts". It was obvious from watching that "Marine Marksman" shoot, that he had absolutely no grasp on any shooting fundamentals (no trigger control, no natural point of aim, no attemp to check parallax, lifting head, no follow-through, no rear support, and no awareness of chamber status). It was a shit show, and I applaud Backfire for showing it. Can you imagine how many thousands of people on the internet have listened to that guy's "expert advice" over the years.
@@desertdogoutdoors1113 I think the worst part was how he said he felt capable out to 400 yards after making a fool of himself. It REALLY goes to show how god AWFUL some people are at shooting.
@@jackbuendgen389And he'll continue being an internet long-distance hunting expert, and he will maintain a large audience.
@@jackbuendgen389 That was a dumb statement & shows he is incapable of learning from his mistakes.
This product should be re-branded as. “SNAKE OIL DELUXE “
I personally prefer snakes just for ease of carry due to to myself doing a lot of trekking and having bad experiences with Hoppes' aluminum cleaning rods, so I really appreciate the mention of the Otis system. Seems to combine the best of both worlds.
"z.melnyk8822," " . . . . bad experiences with Hoppes' aluminum cleaning rods . . . " Expound, please, for the millions of shooters who've been cleaning with them for decades.
Of course we are sorry to hear of your 'bad experiences' -- thankfully you're still here to tell us about them. So, we'll consider it a lesson learned passed on to us so that, God willing, and with good judgement we won't duplicate.
. . . . . . .
Rhetorical question / remark: Has the state of Washington GONE OUT OF ITS MIND?!?! This jewel of the Pacific Northwest is being neutered right before our eyes -- and THEIR LIVES.
. . . . . . .
"Many thanks, 'Desert Dog Outdoors.'"
Damn DD I never even thought about a bore snake breaking like that. In the trash they go! Thanks for yet another eye opening video.
Agreed . Only place bore snakes make sense to me is in a survival pak. Inly use in a pinch. It would be better then not cleaning at all.
Ive used Hoppes bore snakes on my .375 and my Lott for a long time and never had an issue. I do not use it to "clean" my barrels as such. I use it to clear dust and grass (yes grass sometimes) after a long walk or every few days while on safari/hunt.. For me it just helps keep the barrel clean.
Im a big fan of the cable type otis cleaning kits and keep one with me in the field for emergency cleaning needs. Never really was a fan of the "Bore Snakes" as the get dirty and I didnt want to pull a dirty one down the barrel as I feel like it accomplished very little for me as such.
the cable kits are excellent for field cleaning, and for cleaning some semi-autos and lever guns.
I’ve never used a bore snake, because I never saw the need to change. (Old guy mentality, 😂) Thank you for the information.
Great points here, will reconsider using bore snakes for rifles. Mostly use them on my shotguns and a little beater .22LR bolt action (Ruger American).
For my AR and shorter barreled rifles I like Frog Lube's (apparently now discontinued) all-in-one cleaning kit shaped like an AR magazine! Bought it years ago and seems like it's a collectible now I guess 😂
It's a grey, AR magazine-shaped cleaning kit containing a durable metal cleaning rod in 3 pieces, a jag tip, a brush tip, the thingy that holds your wipes, some wipes, some Q-tips, some Frog Lube "ketchup packets," some picks, and has a little extra room to spare. Kit came in two sizes: normal and double wide.
The gimmick is that since it's magazine shaped it fits into any magazine slot in your plate carrier. The plastic it's made out of is super resistant to chemicals and acts as a mixing pot for cleaning chemicals. You can dip your Q-tips or whatever into it safely.
Always have a bore snake in my backpack when hunting, only gonna use it if I got dirt or mud inside the barrel, only used it once, haven't used it since 2020
Will the otis steel cable work on lever actions.
Yes, perfectly.
Excellent food for thought. Sounds like "the juice isn't worth the squeeze" in this matter. Thank you for making this video.
90% of the reasons you stopped using a BS are the same reasons I never started.
I appreciate your informative video I learned alot
Thnx so much
I really like the OTIS system and mostly use them.
I just threw my snakes into the garbage,thanks.
I stopped using bore snakes when I found i couldn't clean them enough. As you said in effect: 'would you wipe your ass with dirty TP?". My own observation following a bore snake with patches was that the bore snake was NOT cleaning the barrel. Now I don't clean my barrels much. I look with a bore cam and use mops and pathes and am very careful with the brass rods. Now I think I'll try the pull through cable you mentioned
I put my rifles away with a thick storage oil because some of them might not be used even annually and my safe condensates. Ive always put a snake through before firing but its its only used for that purpose then back into container. Good tip about the muzzle tape. Very common here in NZ.
"brettcleveland6335," Great to hear your report. . . . Since you 'spilled the beans' (like 'the cat's out of the bag,' American slang for 'let everyone know' or 'now everyone knows') New Zealand is your residence (lucky you!), I feel this is a rare opportunity to ask how have your political leaders escaped the lunacy and pure madness and thievery of your neighbor in the Pacific, Australia's where they wiped out SO MUCH of their proud, privileged tradition of private gun ownership? In the U.S. we're not immune to that, even with our Second Amendment, as radical types governing (serving as governor) Illinois, New York, California and most recently, draconian measures in Washington state, would like NOTHING MORE than blast through, take-no-prisoners GUN-FREE world.
Never used one. Always kept a piece of electrical tape over the muzzle and a light weight field cleaning kit as needed with me.
There is NOTHING wrong with using Bore Snakes to do light to general quick cleaning of your handgun or rifle. I have used Bore Snakes for over 15 years and never had one single issue. Just use common sense, wash the bore snake periodically and use with MPro7 Gun Cleaner. Bore Snakes are good for quick, basic and light cleaning. I use traditional rod, brushes and patches for more in-depth and heavy-duty cleaning later on. Again, use common sense and use the Bore Snake in the right time, the right place and for the right reason and there is a very small chance of ever having any issues.
My bore snakes are 30” long without the string. If the string broke while pulling it through, either one end or the other is still hanging out of the barrel and can easily be pulled through. Point #1 is only a problem if using a snake shorter than the barrel.
DD, I had almost ditched my bore snakes before, but now I will do so 100%. I actually recall a scare with the string of a bore snake fraying and almost lodging the rest of the snake in the barrel of my 300 Win Mag. P. Pappous, SoCal.
I never have used them and never wanted to for the one reason you pointed out. And that is the act of pulling one through at an angle at the muzzle can ruin a perfect crown, and also the snake entering at the breach at an angle can abrade a wear groove at the same place it enters the chamber ( don't know if I stated that correctly ?? ). No, me thinks I will continue to clean my firearms the same way I have been doing it for the last 61 years when I got my first .22 single shot rifle when I was 10 years old.
Hey DD
Coming from an engineering trade background, l find boresnakes a collective ground for grit & grime , they have never impressed me.
It took me a few years, but I came to the same realization.
@@desertdogoutdoors1113 Mind you , they do make good impromptu bore laps, after a couple of years of use , the snake is nicely saturated with fine carbon debris as you correctly stated .
Really enjoying your episodes.
I like using the Patchworm system, very versatile, compact and cheap. Not a replacement for a cleaning rod or as heavy duty as Otis, but I’ve never had a problem with it as long as you use the correct size cleaning head. Try one!
I see your point, but I still like them I haven't had any problem with them Yet.
I know one guy who got one stuck in a 20 gauge shotgun barrel. Someone joked about using LIQUID FIRE, which is an ACID PIPE DRAIN CLEANER. The person took him seriously and did it. Ruined his shotgun. LOL!
New intro looks great, DD!
Thank you. Just thought I'd change things up a little.
IF you were truly attached to this concept and auto loaders and lever action rifles are a reason to consider this type of cleaner. Otis Technology and PatchWorm both offer FAR Superior products. The washable aspect , I guess if I used laundry soap or maybe dish soap to clean my barrel. 😂 NEVER was tempted to try one. I like chamber / bore guides and Dewy or Tripton rods that have bearings in the handles.
I've had properly sized bore snakes be so hard to pull through I was amazed at the string didn't break. I counted myself lucky and didn't want to keep pushing my luck and find out the hard way how long it would take until one eventually broke. I've even had issues with the Otis steel cable pull throughs and the eyelet and brush connectors to where I don't feel comfortable using those either. Sometimes they can unscrew in the bore which is not a huge problem because you can stick the cable down there or a rod and screw it back together but then that takes away the simple convenience you were using it for in the first place.
I never did think they cleaned all that great. I could always swab out a lot of dirty patches after running a bore snake thru before. It might look clean, but run a bronze brush thru after running the bore snake first and there is a lot of crap left in the barrel the snake never got. The fact that the string might break and get the snake stuck makes it not worth screwing with.
10:46 precisely. Zero reason to clean in the field if you’re a hunter, plinker, or whatever sport’s shooting enthusiast you might be. Unless you’re one of the 00.5 percent of gun owners who are actively using your firearm in a combat scenario. And besides, if you’re not using corrosive surplus ammo you don’t need to clean your rifle that often. Once every 300-400 rounds of constant daily fire would be a good time to clean, otherwise if you’re a normal hunter or enthusiast just do it when the season is over or before you put your rifle away for a decent amount of time. As for 22lr’s, I hardly ever clean them. I find that the dirtier the bore, the more accuracy I get. Very weird indeed.
Like this program .totally agree with this.
Great video thanks
Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for watching.
YEPPER, I figured this all out about 30 or so years ago, bore snakes are garbage and for people just too damn lazy to give any real care about anything let alone properly cleaning thier gun, if you want a good system use the otis with the pull cables, you still have to be carful how you use it just like a cleaning rod or damage can be done, but at least you pull a clean patch instead of a piece of sandpaper down your bore every time, and you can hold the entire otis system able to clean about any caliber in just one hand.
I have never used a bore snake, all ways used cleaning rod.
Glad I never went down the bore snake road. I did however watch your video on using Kroil and JB paste to remove stubborn carbon and copper from your Barrel. When trying something new there is a leaning curve, however I am getting excellent results using this process. Thanks for that video is was very helpful.
Thanks for your tips. I haven’t used them. Was thinking about it now I will not 👌👍 !
I’ve never used a bore snake in my life. Always used a 1 piece rod and never had a reason to use anything else.
Another good one DD. Your analogies made me laugh. On top of that, I agree. No bore snakes.
Good stuff and funny shi....... LOL. I never did like bore snakes.
Otis for field use. Or home use.
How is clanging a metal cleaning rod down the barrel less damaging than a boresnake? Sincere question, not sarcasm.
Many years of limited use with bore snakes without issues. I do wash them and inspected them and replace if needed.
total agreement. once i obtained a bore scope i saw how filthy the barrel really was. i do use a boresnake on my .22 pistols at the range only after shooting a lot of rounds. at home i do the bore cleaning the proper way.
I never had those problems I use snakes from Otis. If you use the cheap ones from China this can happen.
Thank you for this informative video.
Haha I just HAD to watch this video after seeing the thumbnail
I knew I wasn't the only one thinking this.
I was always afraid of bore snakes..now I know why...
I’ve tried them in the past, but it doesn’t seem to really do anything. My barrels are still just as dirty almost as close as they were before I ran the snake through a few times.
The only reason I didn't use boresnake is I am too lazy to do that...
I completely agree.
Just wash the boresnake and let it dry fully in between cleanings, ultrasonic clean it if you like.
I like them because they are easy to use. A rod was always a hassle to use
BORE SNAKES: Why I stopped using them
Just use a bore guide where possible and an aluminum cleaning rod and it will be fine. The barrel is steel is harder than the soft metal alloy rod and alloy and plastic fittings.
Great insights and love the new video!