Using a 'boresnake' to clean a Winchester 94? Other suggestions

nntw

nntw

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Suggestions please.

Have a lovely new-to-me 94 (thanks Rob) that I have yet to bring out to the range.

It was suggested to me that a 'boresnake' would be a great cleaning tool since I could pass it through from the breech to the muzzle. Wouldn't be bringing dirt into the breech as I would with a conventional cleaning rod, no chance of damaging crown, and as long as my wife wasn't looking could just wash the boresnake with the laundry.

What are people's thoughts- good idea? Silly concept? I seem to remember that a similar cleaning tool was issued with Lee Enfields, so I think the concept makes sense....
 
Except bore snakes are about as lousy of cleaning tool ever invented.
Ask any gunsmith worth his salt what his opinion of them is, it wont be glowing trust me.

Get a good coated rod, a muzzle bore guide, and read up on proper firearm cleaning.
 
bored snakes

Bore snakes work fine -

As long as you have a laundry machine on the range and wash it after every pass through the bore -:D
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Boresnakes are OK as a quick and dirty cleaner between regular cleanings, but they aren't a substitute for conventional cleaning equipment. I would not wash one with clothes because you would contaminate your laundry with lead from primer residue.

Otis is another maker of pull-through cleaning kits that may be worth looking at.
http://www.otisgun.com/cgistore/sto...=1&ida=330&idp=1&his=0|1&cart_id=6275024.5108
 
Running it through the washer is not a safe idea...Mercury and Lead is not something you want contaminating your clothing and washing machine.

I just hand wash mine every so often in oxyclean dish soap.

I have been using them for five years now and find they work well as a quick if used properly.

I think there is a lot of negative hysterics over bore snakes and it's really based on stupid people doing stupid things. Such as adding a patch and getting it jammed, using the wrong size etc etc. And quite frankly some folks simply clean their guns way too much. :rolleyes:

You should see what damage a cleaning rod can do to a rifle bore if used improperly or too much.
 
For the OP, the reason many people do not like them is that they carry grit/carbon/whatever in the fabric after the first use and every time you pull the bore snake through, it drags all the junk through with it, potentially scratching and damaging the bore. As noted, careless use of a cleaning rod can also cause significant damage to the bore. Care is needed either way.

Mark
 
Using a bore snake for a couple initial passes is a good idea. For lever guns, try using a piece of soft nylon string, and then wrap it around a patch at the end.
 
iroc22 said:
Using a bore snake for a couple initial passes is a good idea. For lever guns, try using a piece of soft nylon string, and then wrap it around a patch at the end.
Click to expand...

I use nylon (I think that's what it is) fishing line. I use 20 pound and tie it around a cloth patch. I use a good solid steel and coated rod for 30 calibre and up, but the fish line for under 30, including 22s.
I tie the patch far enough from either end, that in the remote case it breaks, the other end may still pull it out.
Actually, there is no point in having too tight a fit, so really no danger at all, of it breaking.
 
I've always cleaned my lever guns from the breech. It only takes a minute to get the bolt out. A little more work on a 94 than a Marlin but no big deal. It gives you a chance to get any stuff out of the action that doesn't need to be there too.

I can't bring myself to do it from the muzzle and there is no need.

*Edit - Rant ON*

You can't clean a bore with a pull through, all you can do is wipe it out a bit. A pull through will wear the muzzle too. Just try not to touch the crown with the string; pretty tough to do. What do you do to get copper or leading or stubborn carbon out with a pull through? Won't work. You need a patch on a jag and / or a brush.

The Bore Snake is the biggest marketing coup in a long time. Ronco or K-tel should have brought it out years ago. Nobody knew they needed one until they were told. ShamWOW!! Reminds of that silly Flow 'n' Go gasoline jug POS that some guy got rich off of.

Sure you can wipe a bore out with a Bore Snake but you can't clean it properly so you need a cleaning rod anyway. If you've got a rod then why the heck would you buy a Bore Snake? It's a useless piece of kit. Anybody who really knows how to clean a bore wouldn't give the Bore Snake a second look. Every time I see one I just can't believe people are gullible enough to actually buy it. Unbelievable.

*Edit - Rant OFF

Ok, so I guess I've made my thoughts on the Snake and bore cleaning clear. Please realize that these are just my opinions and I don't want to get into a debate over it. If you like the Snake or pull-throughs, giv'er.
 
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hey, if i didn't want to hear what people had to say, shouldn't have asked!:D rants are welcome- do them myself.

... so how DO you clean a 94 from the breech? the downloaded owner's manual really doesn't get in to disassembly?
 
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Two Tone, we are all just giving our opinions, and I certainly won't find fault with yours. As I stated, I have a good rod and everything that goes with it for, I said 30 and up, but it is actually for 270 and up and that is where I would most likely encounter the fouling in the barrel you mention.
I also have the little brass tie on for a pull through, that accepts a screwed on brush.
Had I described all of my procedures, I would have stated that I always used to take a pull through and a bit of oil/solvent with me on trips, to clean the rifle after a hard, wet day.
 
I always clean my M94 from the muzzle.
I keep the action open and upside down and use a solid one piece 30 cal rod , being very careful not to rub the sides of the barrel with the rod.
Almost all of the crap that people seem to worry about getting into the receiver just falls out the top. No big deal.
Eric
 
I clean my BLR 308's through the muzzle, but I use a brass muzzle protecter/guide that the cleaning rod slides through to protect the crown and the bore.
 
Some of the absolute worst jobs that walk into gunsmiths' shops are broken off pullthroughs. Particularly those where the owner (or, usually his brother-in-law, many owners won't admit responsibility) has made an unsuccessful attempt at removing the thing. And left all sorts of hardware stuck in the bore along with the remains of the pullthrough.
If a pullthrough cord is dragged over the edge of the crown, it can do damage. Lee Enfields are seen stamped with a mark indicating "cord wear". M-1 rifles frequently show muzzle damage.
An Otis is the best non-rigid cleaning system I have seen. I have a couple, always have one in my kit at the range.
Cleaning from the muzzle is no problem, if a muzzle protecting guide is used. Even the SKS buttstock kit includes a muzzle protector. A bore guide should be used when cleaning from the breech as far as that goes.
It is pretty hard to beat a good one piece rod and proper gear for cleaning.
 
nntw said:
hey, if i didn't want to hear what people had to say, shouldn't have asked!:D rants are welcome- do them myself.

... so how DO you clean a 94 from the breech? the downloaded owner's manual really doesn't get in to disassembly?
Click to expand...

You don't want to take it apart...seriously. :D

OK if you really do...

http://www.castbullet.com/misc/tdown.htm

Also if any of you think the idea of a bore snake is something new then you have missed some history lessons...The Mauser cleaning chain, and Enfiled pull cord comes to mind.
 
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