How To Clean A Bore Snake

August 6th, 2022

When and How to Employ Diameter-Snakes for Butt Cleaning

Barrel brush bore-snake boresnake shake barrel cleaner brush

Handloading USAMU Facebook Bore Cleaning

In years by the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit Facebook page regularly released reloading "how-to" manufactures each calendar week. Ane "Handloading Hump Day" post covered diameter-cleaning, specifically the use of pull-through style bore-snakes. Visit the USAMU Facebook page for other helpful tips.

Barrel Cleaning with Bore-Snakes

Today, nosotros'll shift from handloading to rifle bore cleaning and maintenance, with data courtesy of the USAMU'south Custom Firearms Shop. We recently had some inquiries most bore cleaning, and this seems a good opportunity to share. After all, even the best handloads won't yield their full potential in a poorly-cleaned and maintained rifle.

NOTE: Hoppes claims a trademark on the term "BoreSnake" (1 word, no hyphen). For this article, the USAMU has used the term in hyphenated form, two words. We believe the USAMU is referring to a Hoppes Brand Boresnake, non a different bore cleaning rope.

BORE-SNAKES: MIRACLE REPLACEMENT FOR THE CLEANING ROD?
The experiences of our both firearms examination specialist and this author have given no prove that proper use of a make clean diameter-snake will damage a friction match barrel. Of course, one does non pull the diameter-snake at an angle to the crown when removing it — pull it straight out, parallel to the diameter's direction, to prevent crown habiliment over time.

USAMU Handloading facebook page bore snake cleaning Bore-snakes are very useful for some applications (primarily a jerky, interim wipe-down). In [my] experience they cannot replace a thorough cleaning with a proper rod and brushes. While the experiment cited here involves rimfire, it may help illustrate. Several years agone, the writer used his new, personal Anschutz to investigate the bore-snake issue. It had been fired ~350 rds with match ammo and had had 3 typical rod/castor cleanings.

Next, starting with a clean diameter, the author fired 300 more rounds without cleaning in order to build up a "worst-case" fouling status. After, the author examined the diameter with a Hawkeye bore telescopic. There was a uniform, grey film downwards the entire barrel, with some small-scale, intermittent lead build-up at and only forwards of the throat.

Some bore-cleaning rope products characteristic separate, detachable bronze brush and diameter mop segments. This allows more than usage options (eastward.k. mop only), and makes information technology easier to clean the brush elements:
Barrel brush bore-snake boresnake shake barrel cleaner brush

A new bore-snake was and so wet with solvent and pulled through the bore. The Eagle revealed that the gray fouling was gone, and much of the visible fouling at the pharynx was reduced. Withal, 9 more passes with the bore-snake, checking after each with the Hawkeye, revealed no further comeback in cleaning. The writer so cleaned with two moisture patches, observed, then one stroke of a new, wet bronze castor, and one wet patch to clean out residue.

USAMU Handloading facebook page bore snake cleaning

The Hawkeye showed a meaning reduction in fouling at the throat; it was virtually gone. A second pass with a wet bronze brush and a wet patch removed the remaining fouling. Scrubbing the bore further, checking to see how much fouling was removed, revealed no significant comeback. The reason for this examination was to acquire what'due south needed to become (and keep) this Anschutz clean with minimal cleaning rod utilise — and thus, minimal take a chance of bore harm/wear. Leaving fouling in the bore promotes corrosion over fourth dimension.

Obviously, this applies to a dainty, polish rimfire match barrel, using practiced, well lubed ammo. It doesn't apply directly to the use of copper-jacketed bullets, which get out a stubborn fouling all their own. Even so, it does suggest that while the bore-snake can exist helpful and a useful field-expedient, to truly clean a burglarize barrel one will still need a skilful quality rod, statuary castor and solvents. [Editor: Add a good-plumbing equipment cleaning rod bore guide.]

SO, WHAT About BORE SNAKES FOR BARREL Break-in?
The goal of barrel burglary is to fire each shot through a clean barrel, preventing copper buildup and assuasive the bullets their best chance at burnishing sharp edges. Thus, it seems this purpose would be best served by one'southward usual rods, brushes and rod guides.