How many of you use bore snakes

i used and never had the issue some mentionned.

they are very good for just in case this is not a cleaning rod for sure. but when i got snow or mud after a shot and no more electric tape they are great and very light.
 
There's something about them that's never made sense to me.

Solvents remove metal and powder fouling largely through chemical reaction, do they not? If this is accurate, dosing your boresnake (or "dirtrope" - love that) with a healthy volume of Hoppe's seems futile - the solvent contacts the bore for only as long as it takes for the tail of the thing to come in behind it and wipe it off. Hardly a thorough cleaning by any standard.

I have a few. I use them only rarely. No substitute for a good rod and clean patches.
 
I use them and never have had a problem. I have them for all calibres! It's not my main method of cleaning but for ensuring a clean and moisture free bore and rifling.
 
Different strokes for different folks...

I don't use a pull through of any kind or make. In 50 years of gunsmithing I have seen way too many stuck in a barrel.

When I start a hunt my muzzle is taped and if I shoot I re-tape the muzzle... so the barrel never has a chance to get any debris in it... and the amount of shooting that takes place on a hunt does not require cleaning the barrel... and if for some reason the bore needed cleaning I have a proper rod back in camp or in the truck.

If for some reason a person was to slip and jam the muzzle into mud and plug the bore, a pull through would be useless anyway...
 
Not sure why people refer to them as a "dirt rope", the instructions even mention how to wash them. I doubt many of us use our cleaning rods without giving them a wipe down ever few passes. This is the first I've read of them coming apart and getting stuck in the barrel so I'll have to pay closer attention to mine. I do not use them regularly but do keep them available when I'm hunting, mostly for days that have HEAVY rain/snow. 2 things I've done to make it an easier process. #1- I have 2 of them for each caliber used hunting. One has a liberal quantity of solvent AT THE END OF THE ROPE. This leaves a nice film of solvent in the barrel. The second is dry, used to get rid of whatever is left in the barrel. #2- I've removed the brush. This prevents any possible damage some have claimed from the use of the brush at the muzzle. I do not use them on a regular basis, just for times I'm away from home and the barrel needs some attention. I have them, use them and would recommend them. Just not as a regular cleaning process.
 
For cleaning shotguns...Absolutely. Soak the bore with solvent and let it sit. Then follow with the boresnake. WAY faster than patches. Repeat if needed, then add oil with a separate patch.

Rifles? No thanks. Although I am thinking in a 45 cal rifle they may be good. Large enough for me to have confidence in the strength of the snake to not break. Might well be a great way of tackling leading until one figures out how to deal properly with cast bullets.
 
I have boresnakes in every caliber and use them regularly with no issues... I snake after every range session and after inclement weather. Spritz the bore with bore cleaner, then snake twice, spritz the bore with oil and then snake twice, done. They are handy for field use, but useless for dislodging obstructions or stuck bullets/cases.
 
These bore snake threads tend to draw out some strong opinions either way. Personally I see nothing wrong with them I have one for each calibre I have. I especially like them for trips and end of the day cleaning. For the heavy duty cleaning though I have my wooden rods for shot guns that I made, and I have a couple Parker Hale rods for the rifles. Works well for me anyways.
 
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