The Dangers of Using a Bore Snake on Your AR-15
BY Herschel Smith
1 year, 8 months ago
We’ve covered this before. Softer metals can wear down harder metals if they make contact long and vigorously enough. And he tells you so again in the video.
On March 9, 2023 at 9:13 pm, Paul B said:
Bah. I use bore snakes on all my guns. Better than rods to clean the bore and barrel. Easy to add oil to the snake and then to the bore.
Easy and fast and easier to have the bore snake in your range kit.
Some one somewhere is always saying what I am doing is wrong so what is another.
On March 9, 2023 at 9:45 pm, georgiaboy61 said:
@ HS
You’re the engineer, not I, but it seems to me that a bore fragile-enough to be damaged by a Bore-Snake or similar pull-through cleaning device isn’t going to handle the friction, temperature or pressure of a center-fire rifle shoot too well.
Moreover, unless the bore is not at all fouled with gilding metal, the cleaning surfaces won’t be contacting the bore, per se, at all times – but instead scrubbing away fouling.
Last but not least, even in the event that these devices have the theoretical possibility of scoring a bore, simply add a cleaner which also lubricates – such as CLP. This, it would seem, would largely negate the risks.
Obviously, all of the above is speculation until proven otherwise. But millions of FA owners have used Bore-Snakes without issue. That fact alone casts a degree of doubt on the veracity of the claims made in the video.
On March 9, 2023 at 10:34 pm, Herschel Smith said:
Go back and watch the video again to see how he recommends using a bore snake, and how NOT to use it, pulling it at an angle.
His claim is that the particles left behind is what’s doing the damage, and more than that, he explained that he has had to re-crown barrels because of folks doing that.
Make sure to watch the video.
On March 10, 2023 at 1:52 pm, =TW= said:
I guess it might be possible to damage a barrel by persistent, repeated misuse of a bore snake. But that could take some time.
There are quicker methods…
On March 13, 2023 at 3:54 pm, PJ said:
I was about to sneer, but it turns out the advice is all good.
I only just boresnakes immediately after I have finished shooting. Why? To get the carbon fouling out while it is still soft. I use it dry and only a couple of passes.
For cleaning I like the OTIS kits.
Keep in mind that cleaning rods can also damage bores, and not just the bit at the muzzle.