Bore Snake Warning

[radford56]

I know not everyone uses Bore Snakes, but I've always found them useful for a few quick passes when I don't have time to do a thorough job.

Yesterday I ran into an issue I've never experienced before. I had a .22 caliber snake break in the barrel of a .22 LR target rifle. It broke off at the thin section just forward of the brush portion and fortunately I was able to grab the metal insert in the cord with pliers since it was slightly protruding from the muzzle (very slightly!). There was nothing that I could grab protruding from the chamber end (this was a 26 inch barrel). Since I was a little scared of possibly damaging the crown, I made an effort to try pushing the snake out by using a cleaning rod, but that didn't work at all. So the only option was to grab it from the muzzle.

So I probably won't stop using Bore Snakes, but I'll retire them a little sooner and I won't use one that shows any appreciable wear - especially on a long barreled rifle.

 

[TAJ45]

I'm just curious, knowing nothing abt how BSnake technology has evolved, if there is a muzzle protector that fits into the bore to prevent the cord from wearing the muzzle?

 

[muleman69]

I'm just curious, knowing nothing abt how BSnake technology has evolved, if there is a muzzle protector that fits into the bore to prevent the cord from wearing the muzzle?

Pull it through from chamber ,they work well in a pinch. especially with shotguns

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Ive got a fairly new barrel laying around here somewhere with a bore snake in it with a carbon fiber cleaning rod broke off in there with it that stabbed the guy in the wrist when it broke. Coulda killed him had it not missed his arteries in the wrist and still had about a year of rehab and surgeries to remove the fibers. That was just a bad day

 

[338 dude]

I know not everyone uses Bore Snakes, but I've always found them useful for a few quick passes when I don't have time to do a thorough job.

Yesterday I ran into an issue I've never experienced before. I had a .22 caliber snake break in the barrel of a .22 LR target rifle. It broke off at the thin section just forward of the brush portion and fortunately I was able to grab the metal insert in the cord with pliers since it was slightly protruding from the muzzle (very slightly!). There was nothing that I could grab protruding from the chamber end (this was a 26 inch barrel). Since I was a little scared of possibly damaging the crown, I made an effort to try pushing the snake out by using a cleaning rod, but that didn't work at all. So the only option was to grab it from the muzzle.

So I probably won't stop using Bore Snakes, but I'll retire them a little sooner and I won't use one that shows any appreciable wear - especially on a long barreled rifle.

I’ve had that happen twice but only with 22 caliber it seems the cordage is too small of a diameter and does not get seen together very well I’ve never had a problem with larger calibers

 

[chop house]

Ive got a fairly new barrel laying around here somewhere with a bore snake in it with a carbon fiber cleaning rod broke off in there with it that stabbed the guy in the wrist when it broke. Coulda killed him had it not missed his arteries in the wrist and still had about a year of rehab and surgeries to remove the fibers. That was just a bad day

holy moley.... talk about negative second-order effects. dang.

 

[msalm]

I rebarrelled a custom with a boresnake broke off in the barrel along with a broken carbon fiber cleaning rod, and a mess at the muzzle where the owner tried to drive the remaining pieces out. I was able to get the whole mess out and salvage the barrel by threading the muzzle for a grease zirk and pushing the mess out with a sturdy high pressure grease gun. Thanks to Rod Hendrickson in Canada for that tip years ago.

 

[ebb]

I have a friend that told me his almost new Sako 300winmagwent from a less than 1 inch group at 100 yds to 18 inches. I suspected that the scope was loose, but after a thorough going over nothing was found loose. I asked how he was cleaning the gun, and got the bore snake story. I still didn't think it would be this bad. He called Sako and they said ditch the bore snake and use Butch's bore shine till it shot right. He didn't believe them. We talked and I told him it was possible that it could be fouled that much, would need a bore scope to tell. Teslong had not been brought to the market yet so he looked online for a Hawkeye. He would not spend 850 for one so we went halves of a Hawkeye and i got custody. He brought over the gun and I could not believe my eyes. All of the grooves from one end to the other looked like they had been gold plated. I cleaned it twice with a good copper cleaner, and still had copper in the grooves at the top of the bore. I decided that gravity must be keeping the copper cleaner from getting to the top so i turned the rifle upside down and tried again. That got out the copper. He called me from the range and told me his first group was over an inch but the second one was under. If you don't have time for a proper cleaning, i sure don't see what a bore snake is doing for you, does dragging the particles of carbon fouling from the last several times you pulled the bore snake through your gun really do any good? Throw that junk out and when you clean the gun clean it don't use the bore snake and make it worse.

 

[rwj]

Ive got a fairly new barrel laying around here somewhere with a bore snake in it with a carbon fiber cleaning rod broke off in there with it that stabbed the guy in the wrist when it broke. Coulda killed him had it not missed his arteries in the wrist and still had about a year of rehab and surgeries to remove the fibers. That was just a bad day

That sure was a bad day! Pushing the cord only makes it harder to remove. It is much easier by pulling it in the opposite direction of travel. As the cord is made from nylon, heat a jag then insert it into the stuck cord which will cause it to melt and stick to the jag, then pull to remove. Repeat as necessary...

 

[Chiquita]

I was about to place an order with Midway with an included bore snake for the 410 shot gun. I removed it from the cart. You guys have some horror stories.

 

[Dgd6mm]

I have 2 I've never used. I have an upcoming prairie dog trip this coming June and was thinking of using the .224 call in the field if needed. I'll re-think this.

 

[Texas10]

I had one break a pull cord after they went to a smaller, lighter cord and lighter brass weight on their upgraded model. POS! Was able to pull it back out through the chamber.

Another time a worn one seemed to bunch up at the loop end and get stuck in the barrel. Had a difficult time trying to grasp it while stuck well inside the chamber, but was able to remove it.

Used carefully they do the job quickly and effectively. I pull the snake through twice after every 5 shot group and it definitely does help maintain the highest possible accuracy.

 

[muleman69]

Ive got a fairly new barrel laying around here somewhere with a bore snake in it with a carbon fiber cleaning rod broke off in there with it that stabbed the guy in the wrist when it broke. Coulda killed him had it not missed his arteries in the wrist and still had about a year of rehab and surgeries to remove the fibers. That was just a bad day

Holly crap ,thats scary.Maybe I will just use it in my shotguns

 

[PRR1957]

Dewey offers these. The pull cord is 750 test pound steel wire rope with a nylon coating. The pull cord has one end with a brass patch loop, and other end is for a bore brush. The small black ball is to allow the pull cord to rotate when pulling the brush or patch through a rifled bore. Here is two of their kits. They are offered in other calibers. Go to the Dewey website and look at the Field Kit list. The top image is for AR type firearms of which I have that one. I can also use the sectioned rods to clean pistol barrels. They mite seem expensive, but they are of a high quality design and materials.

 

[muleman69]

Dewey offers these. The pull cord is 750 test pound steel wire rope with a nylon coating. Here is two of their kits. They are offered in other calibers. Go to the Dewey website and look at the Field Kit list. The top image is for AR type firearms of which I have that one. I can also use the sectioned rods to clean pistol barrels. They mite seam expensive, but they are of a high quality design and materials.View attachment 1216301View attachment 1216300

This looks to be a great kit,especily when you can't take a rod with you( like packing in the mountains etc. )

 

[GuitarmanNick]

Otis cable kit is what I usually use but will on occasion use an Otis bore snake. It does not have a cord on the end and is stiff enough to push through a 20" barrel with no problems No brush, but does a nice job unless you are using really dirty ammunition. It easily cleans up by soaking in hot water with Dawn dish soap.

 

[Kittitas George]

When traveling to shoot critters a long way from home the appropriate cleaning rod is under the foam padding in the gun's hard case. I have everything else I need in a 'fishing tackle' box. Chemicals, brushes, jags, patches, etc. for 4 calibers. One of the guys had a stuck BS, it was very poor advertising but we were able to find some humor cause by his problem. Did you notice I didn't mention BS in my travel kit?

 

[davidjoe]

holy moley.... talk about negative second-order effects. dang.

A stiff bristled nylon brush in a .222 for example can basically stop moving. I was recently cleaning a vertical barreled action when I realized how dangerous it was to keep putting my weight over that carbon fiber rod that was bowed because the brush had stopped midway.

Small bores are the worst for this because shorter bristles are much less forgiving.

 

[rebs]

I use the Otis Rip Cord and it works great especially on my lever action rifles

 

[mills braswell]

I've used a bore snake a couple of times on my 225. I keep it in a tupperware container to make sure it won't get contaminated with grit/sand, and won't even let it come near the ground or lay it on the bench, and I make sure to pull it straight as possible out of the muzzle. I worry that if anything such as hard carbon/grit gets embedded into the nylon, and gets drug across the crown, that it can't be a good thing.
Conclusion: It's not worth the wee bit of time saved, for all the negative things that can go wrong with a bore snake. Getting into the middle of a session and having the cord break and ruin my day is not going to happen if I throw it away. Nothing like setting yourself up for disaster, is there? I'm just glad this forum helps novices like me with decision making. It may serve others well, but I'm shucking it to the side. Forever.