At Shopaholly, we buy and test products. We do this to offer unbiased product opinions so you can make a more educated decision.
In order to support us buying and testing products, we sometimes include affiliate links to 3rd party websites. In addition, some products may be sponsored. However, this does not affect how we review them.
Our partners can not compensate us to receive a favorable review.
Take care of your firearm, and it will last you a lifetime. Most reputable firearms are made with long-lasting components. If you take care of these components, they can virtually last forever.
Additionally, keeping your gun in tip-top shape will not just enhance its lifespan, it will also keep it accurate and reliable.
There are various ways to clean your gun, most importantly a good cleaning kit. But, you may not always have time to completely disassemble your gun and clean each individual part separately.
Simply put, a bore snake is a combination of separate traditional cleaning tools. Imagine a brush, a rod, cotton swab, patches, all into one easy-to-use tool.
Sure, you don’t get to pick debris out of tiny little nook and cranny, but you’ll be able to accomplish roughly 50% of a cleaning job (the barrel), in a fraction of the time.
So does it replace the need for a cleaning kit? Not quite. But it’s a wonderful addition to any cleaning kit, or to simply throw in your range kit or hunting kit.
A bore snake typically consists of the following parts:
1. Brass weight
This brass weight is the first component to enter the barrel of the gun. This little weight makes it easy to string the first section of the bore snake through the barrel, without having to fish for it.
2. Floss area
This section will absorb the majority of the loser particles that may be in your barrel. Think of dust and gunpowder residue.
3. Bore brush
This brush is what loosens up the stickier and harder debris the flossing area doesn’t pick up. The brush typically consists of hard bristles. They should not be soft. In fact, squeezing the brush part with your fingers should inflict some pain, it may even puncture the skin.
4. Main floss area
This section is denser than the first flossing section. Its main purpose is to pick up any residue that the bore brush was able to loosen.
How to use a bore snake
1. Make sure the firearm is safe
Before you even handle the bore snake, make sure the firearm is empty and safe.
Here’s how:
Release the magazine
Hold the gun sideways, to where the ejection slot is facing the ground
Retract the action (cock the gun) and hold it until the remaining cartridge falls to the ground
I recommend you do this, even if you are 100% confident the gun is empty. This way it becomes a habit, and that’s a good habit to have. Owning a firearm comes with responsibilities. One of those responsibilities is that you always practice the safest way to handle your firearm.
2. Prepare the firearm
Now that the gun is unloaded, you have two options. You can clean the barrel while the gun is assembled by locking the action in the open position, or you can disassemble the firearm.
Action locked open If you plan on just cleaning the barrel with a bore snake, there is no need to disassemble the firearm completely.
However, some firearms, like those that offer a Glock style disassembly, are extremely simple to disassemble. It can take virtually seconds. In that case, go for it. It’ll make it a bit easier to clean the firearm, so why not.
Disassembling the firearm Disassembling the firearm is best if you plan on cleaning more than just the barrel with the bore snake.
3. Prepare the bore snake
Make sure you are using the correct caliber bore snake. A .22 bore snake won’t do much good on a 9mm handgun for example. You could also damage the barrel by using a bore snake that is too big. It could become jammed, and the hard brushes could damage the barrel grooves.
Add some gun cleaning solvent to the bore brush section of the bore snake. A popular choice is Hoppes No. 9, as it works quickly and extremely well.
Be sure to use a cotton swab or use gloves. Cleaning oils typically contain harmful ingredients that you don’t want to be absorbed by your skin. More about Hoppes No. 9 below.
4. Feed the bore snake through
Whether you completely disassembled the gun or not, the brass weight goes through the barrel first. Push the brass weight into the barrel, from the action.
In other words, the brass weight enters the barrel just like a bullet would.
Once the brass weight comes out the other side of the barrel, you can start pulling the bore snake completely through. If you have to pull with some force, don’t be alarmed. That’s exactly what gets the bore clean.
Important: pull the bore snake completely through. Do not tug it back and forth.
Inside the barrel, there are tiny grooves that make a bullet spin on the way out. By tugging the bore snake back and forth, you’re basically moving debris around instead of pulling it out. You could also damage these small grooves with the hard brass bristles by doing so.
Once you pull the bore snake through completely, you can repeat this step another time or two – or more if needed. It just depends on how dirty your firearm is.
Take a good look at the barrel, ideally with a flashlight (even your phone’s flashlight will do). Does it look clean? If so, continue to the next step. If not, repeat another time or two.
5. Lubricate the end of the bore snake and feed it through one last time
After feeding the bore snake through your firearm a few times with cleaning oil, your barrel should be looking clean as a whistle. You can now add some lubricant onto the main floss area (the thicker end of the bore snake) and feed it through one last time.
Be sure not to use too much lubricant. A light spray or a few drops are sufficient.
Not sure what lubricant to use? I highly recommend Ballistol. It’s affordable, will last a very long time, and very effective.
6. Clean up
Spent gunpowder is very dirty and sticky. I like to use an old t-shirt to wipe down the entire gun with some lubricant. Once done, you can wash the shirt so you can use it again next time.
Clean your bore snake You don’t have to worry about cleaning your bore snake every time you use it. I usually clean my bore snake after using it a few times, depending on how dirty the firearm was.
To clean your bore snake, just let it sit in some warm soapy water. After it has sat for about half an hour, spin the snake around in the water for a bit, so any sticky debris comes off.
Now squeeze the snake to force out the water. Give it a good rinse with new water (no soap this time), and squeeze the snake once more. Make sure you don’t squeeze the brush part as the bristles are typically hard and sharp.
Pat dry the bore snake with some paper towel and hang it out to dry. Your bore snake will be good as new!
About Hoppe’s No. 9 Cleaning Solvent
Looking for an excellent gun cleaning solvent? Look no further, Hoppe’s no 9 is powerful, it works fast, and it is very affordable. A pint (16 ounces) of Hoppe’s no 9 cleaning solvent will only cost you around $10. And trust me, it will last you years!
It was created by Frank August Hoppe over a century ago, in 1903. The #9 comes from the 9 chemicals used in this cleaning solvent, which created the most effective, and most popular cleaning solvent since.
Do you really need a cleaning solvent?
Yes, you do. While washing your vehicle with just water is better than not washing it all, soap is what really removes grime and debris and makes your vehicle sparkle. The same is true with your barrel.
Using a bore snake by itself is better than doing nothing at all. But using a bore snake with Hoppe’s no 9 is like giving your firearm the “Wash Deluxe”. It is formulated to penetrate deeply and rapidly. It does an excellent job of removing powder, lead, metal fouling, and rust.
In fact, it’s the most widely used cleaning solvent for firearms for over 2 decades! That should tell you something.
What about lubricant?
As far as lubricant goes, I personally spray a bit of Ballistol on the bore snake.
This is my lubricant of choice, as it’s very affordable and it works on anything. Think squeaky doors, removing bolts that are rusted stuck, lubricating fishing reels, you name it.
If it is made of metal and it moves, it can use a bit of Ballistol!
Final thoughts
A bore snake is a must-have for any firearm owner. It makes a dirty, yet important job, a breeze. Additionally, it’s so compact and easy to transport, you can throw one in your range or hunting kit.
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!