As one who previously disassembled and "scrubbed the hell out of" guns upon every session using old-school methods, I consider the bore snake one of the greatest inventions EVER. Take a look down that pipe after cleaning (it's clean and shiny!) Also highly portable, such that cleaning after hunting afar or at the range prior to using the dining room table at home is quite the pleasure. As one who used to completely disassemble guns for a "good scrubbing" after use, and found that 750 yd shots could be consistently made using "just" the boresnake, I became sold on these gems. I can understand breaking out the ole J. Dewey on your competition, longer range, coated bullets, too many solids/copper pills down the tube (even using CR-10 acid solution,) but the fact remains that the 'snakes work.
I have cleaned my prized shooters using both traditional and modern serpentine methods and have noticed ZERO effect on accuracy. What I have a problem with is using the ole cleaning rod on Pumps, prized old rimfires where bolt removal is a PIA, Semis, etc. and I'm not a fan of pushing the copper/lead et. al. combusted organic sludge INTO the chamber, magazine and action, FROM the muzzle, so again the 'snakes win!
**Once upon a time, favoring the latest, greatest moly coated and all copper bullets, barrels would get loaded up on frequent flyer (long range target, varmint) guns. For them, Mr. Dewey would pay visits. But for LRX, traditional hunting bullets (Swift, NPs), solids and even TTSXs not shot in droves, again the snakes work well. Not all boresnakes are the same...they have 'em with 1, 2 and 'even saw one with 3 brushes. It's just a matter of the number of passes depending upon how many brushes they have. The deluxe models have a larger loop at the end which I believe does a better job of mopping up. I DO use chamber cleaning brushes on rifles in addition, as the boresnakes can't work their magic on larger diameter bottleneck cartridge (i.e. WSMs, et. al.) chambers or fancier recessed muzzles. The snakes can also do a decent job of cleaning/lubing the rear receiver area. Just make a couple passes on the top/bottom/sides and "Presto!" Always wear latex gloves when cleaning guns because Cancer is no bueno, no fun, and not a joke. (With the boresnakes, you're directly touching the contaminated cleaning apparatus with each pass.) Enjoy cleaning/lubing no matter what your preference. I WAS traditional, but now 90% synthetics. I've never witnessed a plastic rope mess up a crown, nor do I think the "muzzle protector" (aka needless widget) understands the concept of rockwell hardness of dissimilar metals in an exceedingly low friction, low velocity environment . LOL
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Perhaps they'll sell entire bore protectors next (because those bullets are hell on 'em!) BTW the Dewey rods are coated (many are synthetic) so it's a muzzle/bore protector all-in-one!
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