I have been using a bore snake to clean my barrel out after every shooting session. I think i'm over cleaning it thats forsure. The bore snake is a little tight, It says its ment for 223, 22-250, and 22 LR. Was wondering what people use to properly clean there barrels or if the bore snake is fine.
Is a bristle bore snake harmful to the barrel?
- Thread starter Brappp306
- Start date
I think boresnakes are fine to use but the key is to wash them out with soapy water every 5 or so uses to loosen up and remove the dirt that gets imbedded in them.
That being said, I do not use them in any LRP/benchrest type rifles I have. More for the AR, Handguns, 22's etc. ymmv
That being said, I do not use them in any LRP/benchrest type rifles I have. More for the AR, Handguns, 22's etc. ymmv
The proper way to clean a barrel, is to use a one piece rod, and a bore guide, with properly sized patches, and a good bore solvent. I clean the barrel in my 22lr rifles every few thousand rounds.If you use a bore snake, you keep dragging the same crud through the barrel over and over, unless you clean the bore snake after every use.
With a bore snake you drag not only the crud through the barrel you drag it unevenly past the crown and this will kill accuracy. You can have a pretty rough barrel but if you have a damaged crown you gun won't shoot well. Be careful when pulling the snake out, pull it STRAIGHT out.
I'll add my 2 cents worth. Unless the bore snake and/or any contaminates on the bore snake is of harder material than barrel steel, then no. As already stated, you do need to wash the bore snake every so often. I would bet guys do far more damage and wear to barrels using the traditional method of bore guide & one piece rod. Not to mention that method is slow and I have better things to do with my time.
Precision rifle competitors are a different breed of rifle shooter and would probably have a hissy-fit at the mere mention of bore snakes. I just spray some Wipe-Out down the barrel, let it sit for a few minutes while I doing something else, pull the bore snake through once and done.
Precision rifle competitors are a different breed of rifle shooter and would probably have a hissy-fit at the mere mention of bore snakes. I just spray some Wipe-Out down the barrel, let it sit for a few minutes while I doing something else, pull the bore snake through once and done.
Can't agree with you more, for crying out loud, its a 22. Don't think carbon build up or a string would wreck a crown, however a steel rod might. I've read time and time again, most people wreck their barrels by cleaning not shooting.
- Location
- Winnipeg,Man.
I have been to many long range shoots and watched many shooters use a ridgid rod , brushes and patches. Over and over the brush was passed thru the barrel both ways, patches the same. A few shooters were snuffed at when using a bore snake ( i think that was rude). I would much rather pull a brush and cloth cleaner thru a barrel one way and out than see the crud being brushed up and down thru the barrel. There is much more cleaning area on a bore snake than a small patch that is normally used. A wash of the snake can render it like new. and i consider cloth much easier on a bore than any metal rod. But to each thier own.
I agree with stonehorse and Winnipeg. as long as the bristles are softer than your barrel, how is it possible to mess up your crown or rifling? doesn't make sense to me. I usually pull the boresnake through 2, 3 times tops then clean it after every session. Now cleaning your chamber is a different story I don't know that a boresnake can do that. especially If your cleaning a semi auto, boresnakes are your best friend, that or an Otis kit.
This. I rarely clean my barrels, but when I do I use a one piece rod and bore guide, and I giv'er hell. I even plug the muzzle with an earplug and fill the bore with Ed's Red and let it soak overnight. The nex day I'll pass a brush through it a few dozen times, then several oiled patches, then I clean the chamber by spinning a brush then mop in it, then i clean the crown, and finally dry the chamber/bore with several dry patches pushed one direction only with a jag from breech to muzzle, never letting the jag totally exit the bore.
That is how I was shown to clean a gun by a very well respected person in the Canadian smallbore silhouette scene. It takes about 50 rounds to get the accuracy to settle back after the process, but it's then good to go for another 2-4 thousand rounds.
Yes how many people have a match grade barrel? I can see if you spend tons on a target barrel and that you only use match grade ammo and compete for money, then yes having a proper rod system would work best doing it step by step like a center fire.
However it's a 22, bore bright, snake, patches for recivers, shoot the crap out of it, ENJOY!!!!
However it's a 22, bore bright, snake, patches for recivers, shoot the crap out of it, ENJOY!!!!
???
So, you should only clean your gun properly if it cost you a lot of money? I shoot mainly marlin's savages and CZ's and they all have very nice barrels, not match grade but very nice. And they are worth cleaning properly in my opinion. Just not as often as a center fire, those I clean after each use. If someone were set on a pull through system there are many better choices than a snake, otis for example. Or even a homemade pull through using bow string with a bowline knot on one end to hold patches and a jag on the other to drop down the pipe.
I'm not saying boresnakes are terrible, just lazy and inefficient considering you only get one pass down the bore before it itself is fouled and in need of cleaning.
Your own argument defeats itself ! The uniformity of a match grade barrel reduces the need and frequency for cleaning , yet match shooters clean religiously. Non match grade barrels typically have a much less uniform bore and their comparative roughness increases the likelihood to foul. It is that roughness which can require more shots to season the barrel after a cleaning.
If truth were known it is probably the casual nature of many people's shooting habits which endears them to shoot rimfire and justification to neglect the subsequent maintenance of the firearms.
We all know how well a cz can shoot and low and behold look what they sell on the web store!!!
http://shop.cz-usa.com/P-19260/Cz-Bore-Cleaner-Double-Brush-22-Lr.aspx
R
http://shop.cz-usa.com/P-19260/Cz-Bore-Cleaner-Double-Brush-22-Lr.aspx
R
I find it curious that some people get excited about the effects of dragging a bore snake down a dirty barrel, but don't seem to worry about the effects of shooting a copper covered bullet down the same dirty bore.
Those people are not yet edumacated in the ways of the bullet. I have never contended that a bore snake is BAD for a barrel... just that it sucks for actually CLEANING a barrel. It eludes common sense.
And i personally shoot lubed lead because i understand how it works to season the bore. i don't like shooting copper because its dry and devoid of any lubrication besides different brinell hardness scores. It just dosent seem right to me at the low pressures and velocities of .22lr.
http://www.proshotproducts.com/assets/images/PTK45 HI RES.jpg
new coated pull through cable cleans up easy with paper towel, Price-Enterprises carry them
new coated pull through cable cleans up easy with paper towel, Price-Enterprises carry them
elimsprint
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Kelowna, BC
I use bore snakes for all my guns and I don't see any adverse effects. To wash them just put them in a dirty sock, tie it loosely and throw it in the washing machine with the rest of the dirty socks. Hang to dry.
Kim
Kim
I think its mainly the benchrest and long distance guys that get worked up about this. They are the bee's knees for semi autos and pumps. You might need a rod if you're cleaning out a lot of copper fouling or leading but it's fine for routine cleaning. As for frequency, there may be something to be said for seasoning but if I'm out hunting in snow or rain, my guns are getting cleaned and oiled inside and out.
