The Dangers of using Bore Snakes on your AR-15

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.**

Lapping one pull at a time, I don't think I can live that long. A lodged bore snake entices me to patent a needle nose of special dimensions.

I was wondering if there was an easier faster way to clean all the nooks and crannies in my upper receiver. Could I spray it out with brake cleaner or is that a no no?

This is good info. I use bore snakes on my ARs and hunting rifles. Always have been cognizant to pull straight through. I don’t clean my rifles’ barrels after every shooting. I’ve seen some guys that over-clean and put a lot of wear on their guns. After sighting in, my hunting rifles don’t get cleaned for the remainder of the season unless they get extraordinarily dirty or wet. I clean them before they are placed into storage. My ARs are usually shot several times before the barrel gets cleaned (I shoot my ARs multiple times a week, usually 140 to 200 rounds in a session). Most of the time, I just break down my BCG, wipe, and re-lube while it’s still warm. My AR barrels don’t need that much attention. When I do clean them, I typically run a bore snake with hoppes applied to the brushes through the barrel twice. I’ve never had an issue.

People clean barrels?

Good information and schedule idea. Thanks

It’s always super hard pulling out the snake!!

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

👍🏻

People asking about bronze bore brushes and mentioning that bronze is softer than steel so it will not do any damage. Yes, this is true, however, if you have heavy fire cracking at the throat you can tear pieces of it out of the bore with a bronze brush. In addition, if you use abrasive cleaners you can destroy the rifling with a bronze brush a lot faster than with a nylon brush or fabric patch. Frank Green (Bartlein Barrels) did an interview recently where he showed a sectioned barrel that was 're-rifled' by someone getting overly zealous with a bronze brush and an abrasive cleaner.

BUTT STOCK CLEANING KIT SINCE 1974

Interesting video. I too have alot of mistrust about them. If I require a pull thru device, I'll use the Otis system.

Once you strip the Bolt Carrier, insert it back into the chamber. Then you have an instant bore guide. Cleaning from the breach is simple and safe. You cannot damage the chamber or lead into the bore this way.

Good advice, thank you. I get why no stainless steel brushes, but why no bronze brushes?

You want to pull(or brush) in the direction your projectiles travel through the barrel also

Man, I love these videos. Thank you for keeping me from doing damage to my guns in my ignorance.

I’ve always pulled straight through just because that’s the least amount of drag. The snake through a 223 barrel is pretty snug. All I do is wet the snake down with oil by the bristles, pull it through twice, and call it a day on the barrel. Every other piece I wipe the carbon off, lube it and let it sit until the next time.

I did not know any of this and since im hoping to buy my first rifle this year its something im glad i know now,so thank u

What bag are you using for your cleaning supplies?

Good video.. I use Boresnakes as well.. but usually before and after a shooting session with CLP only.. at the beginning, a couple pull throughs to make sure there's no obstruction and clean out dust.. and after shooting again to clean dust, minor fouling and just for me to know it's cleared and safe..

Cloth will file away hardened steel.

That’s why you inspect them before every use!

Once had a .30cal barrel in the shop with a stuck boresnake. The loop on the tail end of the rope had got pulled into the chamber with a fold in it, folded in on itself like a heart shape. Luckily the rope was long enough that we could tie into the actual rope, rather that the lead string, we ended up pulling the rope out with a forklift.

Really like these quick tip like videos, gives good information for your everyday Rifleman. I’ve learned a lot just by these videos. Thank you!

Can you post a shopping list for that range cleaning kit?

I like bore snakes as a field cleaning kit that can store on the gun . Like in the grip of an AR or AK if the grip has the pug for the bottom. That alone with a small needle oiler (very small off Amazon for labs). I don't use it much but it is there and doesn't weight much.

The bore snake is nylon, bristles are bronze/brass and carbon/lead debris; All softer than steel and chrome lined barrel. Not sure I understand how softer material than steel can wear it down that easy ??? Just sayin trying to use logic….

I used one in an m&p 15-22 one time and it caught the ejector inside the upper and bent it. I had to send the rifle back to s&w.

Great advice!

Great advice thanks

If you pull the bore snake through sideways like that, you are probably pulling it towards the same direction every time, which will definitely egg out the crown. It never occurred to me that people might even do that. I don't understand what someone could be thinking who would do something like that. It just seems super obvious that it should be pulled straight.

That’s all I use on 22 cal barrels. Using a cleaning rod is a pain in those tiny bores