For quick and easy, perfectly satisfactory, simple bore cleaning are there any real negatives to the use of a Hoppes Bore Snake? Having a small bottle of CLP and the bore snake for the caliber I am shooting is all I need to quickly clean and lube the bore of my favorite rifle after firing a few rounds. Granted every now and then detail stripping and cleaning is advisable, but for the every day convienence and being ready to clean set up what are the negatives? I am impressed and sold on this system. Price of a bore snake runs $9 to $15 or so
The only downside is that you have to clean the snake. Very good for a quicky at the range, but no so fine for much more. If your bore is foul, the snake will get it out, and re-deposit on the second pass. (I have an use one for the shotty between rounds at trap, and for the 45 once in a long while if I feel like it.)
I use a bore snake often. I find that if you use a spray carbon cleaner in the bore before the pull through with the bore snake, the solvent collects the fouling. Every couple cleanings i wash mine in a pillow case with my shop towels and dawn dish soap. Works like a champ. Obviously my firearms get a good strip down and cleaning when they need it, but for simple range maintenance it does the job.
Bore snakes are one of the greatest inventions ever. I keep one of every caliber for bug-out ready to go. They definitely beat the swab-patch method in the field, too. You don't need to use a ton of CLP on the snake; typically a few drops and two passes will do fine to clean the bore perfectly. It takes quite a bit to dirty up the bore snake --if you are the type who frequents the range and shoots several times a week, I can see where this may become a burden...for this, I recommend traditional cleaning. I think of the bore snake as a field cleaning tool, perfectly suited for compact storage and easy use. As was already mentioned, cleaning the bore snake with a little dish detergent works great. I just drop them in a small bucket with Palmolive and soak for a few minutes, then wring and rinse.
I have a bore snake for every caliber I own and for two I don't. I have to clean my issued weapons monthly, and I try real hard to remember to take my snake with me to the armory when I do. While it is true that the armorers work for me and might not tell me that my weapons were dirty even if they were, I have told them to treat me more harshly than others and to never let me turn in a dirty weapon. When I use the snakes, the armorers give me no flak. I like them, but buy one for one caliber and try it out. It's not much of an investment for one.
I stepped on a bored snake and he didn't even hiss..just kinda looked at me and stuck his tongue out.
Probably the wrong caliber for your guns...... he'd have been right PO'd had you stuffed him down a rifle bore......
I propose this: After a shooting session, clean your weapon with a bore snake. Follow with a solvent wetted patch . . . or three or five . . on a jag. After doing this myself I came to the conclusion the bore snake is indeed handy for an on the fly "bore wipe". But . . . well, I' not calling my weapons cleaned until they have had the bore done conventionally. Maybe its just me . . . . I am kinda funny about that stuff . .
I liked em so much i sent a box of 6 over to our boys in Afghanistan. I can just imagine what its like to get back to base, and have to spend your free time cleaning a rifle. They save me a ton of time. I agree that they are not as good as a real hoppes patch/jag, but pretty darn close.
I actually hace a couple - .22 and .20 caliber - but have yet to use them. I always carry an AR15 surplus rod/cleaning kit in my shooting bag, and some borecleaner - I just clean the rifles at the range before leaving, if not pressed for time.
I've used them when shooting corrosive ammo... use some ammonia/windex on one for a few passes and a second with hoppes.... dosent replace a full cleaninng but will keep you going until youn can....
Over-cleaning a modern bore is worse than hardly ever cleaning it. That's why I use bore snakes. For more detailed cleaning, I use OTIS. If it really demands attention- steel coated rod. If it's chrome lined, bore snake is good enough.
