Bore Guides Worth it? Cleaning Rod Vs. Bore Snake

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Off in the Bushes

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I recently purchased a new firearm and want to maintain it, and don't what to damage it well doing it. Are bore guides worth it for lining up and centring the cleaning rod? Are cleaning rods that are one piece better then multiple pieces, less chance of catching an edge stiffer, less flex. Can one keep it simple with just a bore snake if you stay on top of cleaning.
 
I had an "OTIS" (I think) bore snake and it broke off in the barrel as I was pulling it through.
THAT SUCKED
You cant just take a rod and pound that out.
I will never touch one again, except maybe on my 12ga just to get the crud out.
 
A quality rod and bore guide correctly used will add life to your rifle over the long run.

A bore snake will not.
 
I had an Otis bore snake and used it for 5 years in the military combat arms. No problems. I found it more quick and convenient than the rod.
 
JoKa said:
I had an "OTIS" (I think) bore snake and it broke off in the barrel as I was pulling it through.
THAT SUCKED
You cant just take a rod and pound that out.
I will never touch one again, except maybe on my 12ga just to get the crud out.
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The Otis bore snake consists of a coated steel cable. I hope that it was something else that broke in your rifle because the Otis bore snake is my go to tool to clean semi-automatic rifles... If it was an Otis, I might have to rethink my tools because it would suck big time to get a broken one out of the bore. Never thought that an Otis could break, unlike other bore snakes that consist of string and cloth.
 
cheb said:
The Otis bore snake consists of a coated steel cable. I hope that it was something else that broke in your rifle because the Otis bore snake is my go to tool to clean semi-automatic rifles... If it was an Otis, I might have to rethink my tools because it would suck big time to get a broken one out of the bore. Never thought that an Otis could break, unlike other bore snakes that consist of string and cloth.
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Perhaps the screw on part that you put the swab through wasn't screwed on properly? That being said, I put on really big swabs and pulled on the Otis bore snake really really hard and never had it break or get stuck.

If this happened I would email Otis and ask for a replacement because of a defective product. It happens.

I remember sticking some really big swabs on and having to step on the bore snake and pull the rifle up to get the pull through.
 
cheb said:
The Otis bore snake consists of a coated steel cable. I hope that it was something else that broke in your rifle because the Otis bore snake is my go to tool to clean semi-automatic rifles... If it was an Otis, I might have to rethink my tools because it would suck big time to get a broken one out of the bore. Never thought that an Otis could break, unlike other bore snakes that consist of string and cloth.
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Sorry, I just looked it up.
It was NOT otis

It was the Real Avid Bore Boss.
It broke at the connection point between the wire and the fabric.
 
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IMHO my recommendations would be:
1. Get a one piece cleaning rod. This will save you time & money. All multi-piece cleaning rods I have tried bent or broke. They suck. (or maybe it is just me?)
2. Get a bore guide.
3. Get a bore snake and keep it in your range bag along with a bit of oil. Works well at the range. Much better than a multi-piece cleaning rod.
 
Bore guides are good. Stay away from bore snakes they will screw up the Crown. I had a bore snake break in the barrel. Came out not too bad but never again. The guy at the store told me I was using the bore snake wrong through the chamber and the chamber cut the snake. Buy a Dewey and be done.
 
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Started with bore snakes, some of the best money I’ve spent has been on Tipton jags, Tipton carbon fibre cleaning rods and a universal bore guide. Much easier and a much better job.
 
Mr.Crumbz said:
Started with bore snakes, some of the best money I’ve spent has been on Tipton jags, Tipton carbon fibre cleaning rods and a universal bore guide. Much easier and a much better job.
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I love my Tipton cleaning rod. After upgrading I threw my cheap brass rod into the scrap metal bin.

I like bore snakes for using in the field. Using them correctly and pulling straight through the bore should prevent cord wear on the crown.
 
Off in the Bushes said:
I recently purchased a new firearm and want to maintain it, and don't what to damage it well doing it. Are bore guides worth it for lining up and centring the cleaning rod? Are cleaning rods that are one piece better then multiple pieces, less chance of catching an edge stiffer, less flex. Can one keep it simple with just a bore snake if you stay on top of cleaning.
Click to expand...

We used to visit a gunsmith that did a lot of barrel swaps for target rifles. We would stand around and watch him install our new barrels.

He had a display of screwed up barrels. There were several there that had the rifling washed away on one side of the barrel, about 6 inches forward of the chamber. caused by the rod with no guide.

Some barrels had gouges just forward of the chamber. Pounding on a live round with a cleaning rod. Tip of the rod deflects into the barrel.

You also need a good one piece rod. I use a Parker Hale (bought by my father in the 50s) and a Dewey. They last forever and are worth every penny.
 
Ganderite said:
We used to visit a gunsmith that did a lot of barrel swaps for target rifles. We would stand around and watch him install our new barrels.

He had a display of screwed up barrels. There were several there that had the rifling washed away on one side of the barrel, about 6 inches forward of the chamber. caused by the rod with no guide.
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Wow.. I imagine that has a lot to do with cheap, flimsy cleaning rods as well. They bend and dance around inside the barrel as you push them through.
 
For the field, pushing out a muzzle jam from a fall (if the finger cot breaks or the bit of tape over the muzzle gets passed) - a sectional rod with an internal tensioner. Never had to use it but it's in the pocket.
For cleaning - a one-piece rod, with a bore-guide, from the breech.
For really screwing up a rifle - a really tight bore-snake that's been used a little too much.
 
Not many of my own rifles can be cleaned from the breech. Lever guns and the like. But for those that must be cleaned from the muzzle it's a crown protector each and every time.

Bore snakes are like some sort of religious thing. Me? I don't want a smooth spring stainless rod rubbing the crown. So I use a crown protector and hold it in place. Would I drag a pull cord which could have abrasive grit in it over the crown? Nope. But everyone says they keep them really clean. I'm not sure that they can be kept that clean. And even if they are the material they are made from if pulled over some steel a few times is likely to polish the steel. And polishing means abrading..... just really fine abrading.

None of us uses ammo that is corrosive or which becomes more difficult to clean if left for a few days. So why clean at the range with a bore snake when we can clean with a proper rod and bore guide or crown protector in a few hours at home?
 
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