The Dangers of using Bore Snakes on your AR-15

[SchooloftheAmericanRifle]

A few questions keep popping up so I thought I would make a pinned post.

We will continue producing maintenance tip videos like this one as well as other video content.

I'm sharing my experience servicing 20k plus AR's and tens of thousands of other types of firearms.

As I said in the video, if you disagree with these tech tips that's ok. I make these videos to help those looking for information, not those who have nothing to learn.

Question 1 - Who makes your kit?

Answer 1 - It's something I pieced together. The case is made by Voodoo Tactical. It may not be made any longer. I'll make a separate video about the entire kit and include the names of the items in the kit.

Question 2 - Who makes the sectioned rod with brass connections?

Answer 2 - It's from a Swiss K31 Cleaning Kit.

Question/Statement 3 - You don't use bronze or stainless brushes but use a bore snake with a built in metal brush? Isn't that hypocritical?

Answer 3 - I rarely use bore snakes because of the built in brush. Others may use them often, thus the reason for the video. The items in my portable kit are for limited and field expedient use. I use different tools in the shop.

Question/Statement 4 - You tell us to worry about the use of bore snakes but have sectioned rods in your kit. They cause damage too.

Answer 4 - I never said segmented rods were 100% safe. Segmented rods have risk too, and Ill do a follow up video about them. I use them a very specific way to limit damage. The items in my portable kit are for limited and field expedient use. I use different tools in the shop.

Question 5 - Will you do a video about the entire contents of your portable cleaning kit?

Answer 5 - Yes we will do that. That being said, the items in my portable kit are for limited and field expedient use. I use different tools in the shop.

Question/Statement 6 - Do you need to worry about the angle if you have a muzzle device? Won't that prevent you from pulling at an angle?

Answer 6 - You can still put an angle with open ended flash suppressors. Brakes will force you to pull more inline with the bore.

Question/Statement 7 - You said not to use scraping tools yet you have plastic scrapers.

Answer 7 - I don't use those plastic tools to scrape at the bolt tail or other critical surfaces. It's mainly to clear or pry out things like mud, snow, and other items that find their way into the firearm. That being said, the items in my portable kit are for limited and field expedient use. I use different tools in the shop.

Question 8 - If a bore snake breaks and gets stuck, why not just drive it out with a rod?

Answer 8 - A bore snake gets tighter in the bore when it's pushed and often becomes more difficult to remove.

Some people use special fittings with compressed air or grease guns with success.

I have seen the results people trying blanks or live ammo to clear a stuck bore snake. It will usually blow up the gun or bulge the barrel. I wouldn't try that.

I have my own methods to remove broken bore snakes that grab it with prongs so it can be pulled out.

Question 9 - Why no bronze brushes?

Answer 9 - When you use barrel cleaners meant to remove copper fouling you generally clean until your patches no longer have blue or green residue (copper being removed). Bronze brushes will leave bronze in the bore and your patches may lead you to believe there is still fouling to be removed.

Bore cleaners can degrade bronze brushes as well.

***I'll update this pinned post as necessary.***

[revvyishonisd]

Can’t damage your bore with brushes and solvents if you never clean your barrel 👌

[foxtrotunit]

2:21 what? Pay a gunsmith? If one is inside you just:
Push it out with a ram rod?
Or shoot a blank?
Or blow it out with a air compressor?


I agree it's pain ofc.
Btw I'm a fan of yours You do great, useful content.

[TexasLonghornRanch]

How to clean a bore snake:
Hot water with a couple of drops of dawn soap in a mason jar, shake vigorously!
Rinse hot water only, shake vigorously. Air dry.

[electronicweasel]

Ive been using bore snakes for like 20 years. They are great

[mountainmuleman]

I've been a rifleman in the military for 10 years. I've always carried and used the same 2 boresnakes during my time in. I always clean the upper receiver, followed by the star chamber then run a dry boresnake 3 times. ( I always run the boresnake after cleaning the receiver and chamber, if you do it first you will just drop carbon back into your already clean barrel). I've personally never had a problem with them. I'm also constantly lending it to other guys while cleaning weapons and I have never seen particular problems. From what I have seen it tends to be the most affective way to clean an AR barrel. With that being said I did see a guy run a 7.62 snake through a 5.56 rifle and that was a disaster. Attention to detail

[skeletonmakesgood]

I just watched a video made by someone who apparently keeps track of how many times a bore snake has passed through the barrel. That four and one half minutes of my life I will never have back. It's known as click regret.

[blackforest]

20 years with the same 22 bore snake, no issues and i use it all of the time.

[johnnottahcal]

Dude, that lil’ kit you put together is exactly what I’m trying to put together. Cleaning kits for individual firarms can be soooo frustrating. So many sizes of rod ends and brushes and patch heads. Very Nice and alittle old school.

[UncleStevieer]

I had a customer bring in a bolt action rifle with a broken bore snake in the bore. He said he tried pushing it back out with a rod and jammed the aluminum rod and then stripped the threads leaving the snake and a section of rod in the bore. I soaked both ends with WD-40, let it sit about an hour and used air pressure. I hose clamped (I used 3 clamps) a piece of high pressure rubber hose to the muzzle end with a hose barb with a quick disconnect and gradually increased pressure, it took almost 85psi but luckily it popped out. I hope I never have to do that again.

[brightargyle]

I always use mine sparingly, dry. I run patches after that to clear any debris out of the barrel. I was sure you were going to talk about a potential barrel obstruction that could go unnoticed due to a bore snake falling apart. I worry about that and always check the bore to ensure it is 100% clear. Good idea about the replacement policy, I was looking at mine the other day and thinking I had better replace it soon.

[alanlurie]

Those are the cleanest cleaning tools and kit I have ever seen.

[michaellewis]

I think it would take 10's of thousands of pull through's to damage the crown or chamber. They are extremely hard! I don't think any normal shooter needs to worry about it. I could be wrong, I have been before, but I don't think a weekend shooter or hunter has to worry about it. Don't over think it. Just be careful and keep it clean.

[scottboyd]

I found it interesting that you showed great concern for the crown of the barrel but had a sectional steel cleaning rod in your inventory.

[alanreese]

The risk of damaging the crown by pulling out a snake at an angle seems to only apply if there is no muzzle device fitted. I avoid pulling the snake through at an angle since it seems more likely to damage the snake.

[Grantherum]

I always inspect my cleaning tools before I use them, haven't had an issue with bore snakes up to this point, but I also don't go crazy with them either. Smooth even pressure applied while pulling, and always try to pull them as straight as possible out of the barrel is key to eliminating the extra pulling pressures that may cause bad things to happen to the barrel and snake. Additionally, one must be aware of the potentials for snagging the snake on the chamber end of the barrel... you have to make sure that you route the snake in a way that snagging it is neigh to impossible.

[mmgee]

Usually a worn out boresnake that fails, it’s only the brush that will hang up in a bore and it’s very easy to remove. Anyone running AR has to carry a rod anyway to knock out stuck brass

[TFFC]

I've run bore snake type of barrel devices from various makers, of various calibers, with various chemicals for longer than care to remember. I've used them all hundreds if not thousands of times in some calibers but I also clean them regularly with hot water and mild dish detergents. I just replaced my well used set of Hoppes original Boresnakes with the Vipers and expect them to last hundreds of uses as well. I would say you're spot on about pulling them through nice and straight....that's probably where 99% of the wear can be avoided if you clean them regularly.

[mooseman]

More damage is done using Aluminum Cleaning rods that are uncoated and no muzzle guide /crown protector. Steel cleaning rods that are dirty can also cut the Muzzle. You should also roll your Boresnakes up and put in a cloth bag tied closed and toss them in the washing machine every 3rd or 4th time they are used.

[ZSS]

Skip to 1:30 when he gets to the point.