Thread: Cleaning rods vs bore snakes

Originally Posted by ChrisW

I use rods, brushes, & patches.
I leave oil in the barrel when I store my guns. I use the boresnake to remove the oil before shooting. Its good to get a bit of crud out of the barrel, good to have in your pack, but it wont remove hard carbon, copper, etc.

I don't use boresnakes. They get dirty and fouled quickly and unless you're chucking them in with the washing after a couple of uses they're depositing crud on the bore. I have a four piece rod for emergency use if away on an extended trip solely for the purpose of removing an obstruction. Never had to use it though as I tape the end of the barrel. I use a plastic coated steel wire with a brass loop on the end plus a very small container of light oil and patches for cleaning on trips. It's just for bore protection and doesn't remove much carbon or copper.

At home after a range session I use a bore guide, good quality single piece cleaning rod, good quality bronze brushes and carbon and copper remover. Bore protected with Corrosion-X. Rifles stored barrel down and oil removed before shooting with a rod and a couple of clean patches.

To combat first shot shooting off aim I've found a couple of patches run through with Kroil and then a couple more to clean helps. Chamber also swabbed free of oil before use using a large patch wrapped around bronze or nylon bore brush on a pistol cleaning rod. Locking lug recesses cleaned and bolt lugs re-lubed every third cleaning.