Thoughts on cleaning, Rod or Snake ?

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Thoughts on cleaning, Rod or Snake ?

Post by Die Judicii » 06 Dec 2021, 6:02 pm

I've been looking at various brands of one piece rods for doing the .17 with.
I already have a bore snake.

But when looking closely at the one piece diameter/strength over their length,,, I wonder how they put up with the pressure without bending.

Anyone got much experience re brands good or bad ?
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Re: Thoughts on cleaning, Rod or Snake ?

Post by Strikey » 06 Dec 2021, 6:41 pm

Boresnakes should only be used as a leash for walking the dog, get yourself a decent one piece rod such as a Dewey or Pro Shot, even the GunSlick rods aren't too bad. Ask a reputable gunsmith for their opinions of Boresnakes.
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Re: Thoughts on cleaning, Rod or Snake ?

Post by Lsfan » 06 Dec 2021, 7:23 pm

I actually just bought a 17hmr and in preparation I bought both a snake and a cleaning rod. Haven't use either yet though. I'm waiting on a barb and brush I bought online too.
The rod seems reasonably stiff. It's a birchwood casey coated steel for $32 or something. I can't see it being an issue with bending unless patches are too big.
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Re: Thoughts on cleaning, Rod or Snake ?

Post by deye243 » 06 Dec 2021, 8:32 pm

Strikey wrote:Boresnakes should only be used as a leash for walking the dog, get yourself a decent one piece rod such as a Dewey or Pro Shot, even the GunSlick rods aren't too bad. Ask a reputable gunsmith for their opinions of Boresnakes.


You've got that right & gunsmiths love boresnakes gets them a lot of work
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Re: Thoughts on cleaning, Rod or Snake ?

Post by No1Mk3 » 06 Dec 2021, 8:40 pm

For proper cleaning only a good 1 piece rod for me, boresnakes should be considered a field expedient only, and just like the old pull through should never be dragged across the edge of the crown but be pulled straight out of the bore, Cheers.
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Re: Thoughts on cleaning, Rod or Snake ?

Post by Oldbloke » 06 Dec 2021, 8:51 pm

No1Mk3 wrote:For proper cleaning only a good 1 piece rod for me, boresnakes should be considered a field expedient only, and just like the old pull through should never be dragged across the edge of the crown but be pulled straight out of the bore, Cheers.



Agree 100%
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Re: Thoughts on cleaning, Rod or Snake ?

Post by Robin » 07 Dec 2021, 7:03 am

A bore snake is like a girl you meet in a pub, you get the job done but not totally satisfied, a cleaning rod is like a long term partner, it takes longer and when the job is done, you are satisfied with the result.

All in all, a rod will give u a better clean
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Re: Thoughts on cleaning, Rod or Snake ?

Post by Die Judicii » 07 Dec 2021, 9:32 am

All sentiments expressed thus far are pretty much as I expected.
I'm thinking of going for a hardened stainless rod,,,,,, but the price tags are up there ,, ( $80 - $90 )
So,, nobody has had any issues with such tiny rods bending ??

Or,,, maybe meet some sheila in a pub,,,, and ask if she would help me get a cleaning job done with my new rod ?

:lol: :lol:
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Re: Thoughts on cleaning, Rod or Snake ?

Post by deye243 » 07 Dec 2021, 10:22 am

Well as they say size of the rod doesn't matter it is how you use it :lol:

Now that's out of the way die judicii I have 4 pro shot cleaning rods one including 17 Cal they are fine just keep it centered if you can't do that get yourself a bore guide all will be fine .
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Re: Thoughts on cleaning, Rod or Snake ?

Post by northdude » 07 Dec 2021, 5:43 pm

one piece stainless rod and bore guide for me. I carry a 3piece alloy one in the field for emergencies tho...
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Re: Thoughts on cleaning, Rod or Snake ?

Post by boingk » 07 Dec 2021, 10:52 pm

Bore snakes should be considered disposable. They are good for drying, unfouling or removing debris but not reliably cleaning copper or lead deposits.

If you are in a warzone, a bore snake is brilliant.

But a rod - of any type - is better. Ideally single piece, yes, but even a multi is better than a bore snake.

What do I do? I have a nice little cased kit with basic brushes and mops. Its got a three-piece aluminum rod setup with brass jags and works a treat. They're $30 on ebay.

So long as the consumables (patches, mops, brushes) you put through the bore are clean the rod is secondary IMO.

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Re: Thoughts on cleaning, Rod or Snake ?

Post by deye243 » 07 Dec 2021, 11:24 pm

This is what I keep in my bag

20211208_002229.jpg
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Re: Thoughts on cleaning, Rod or Snake ?

Post by disco stu » 08 Dec 2021, 4:17 pm

Making me think here. Would a steel centre with carbon over the top avoid a lot of flex? I picture the stainless rods would flex a lot. Might even have a play with some carbon tube I've got laying around here
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Re: Thoughts on cleaning, Rod or Snake ?

Post by Larry » 08 Dec 2021, 5:48 pm

The stainless rods dont flex much at least if you keep the pressure behind the rod.
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Re: Thoughts on cleaning, Rod or Snake ?

Post by deye243 » 08 Dec 2021, 6:29 pm

What are you pushing through the bore you need a hell of a lot of resistance to have a problem
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Re: Thoughts on cleaning, Rod or Snake ?

Post by disco stu » 08 Dec 2021, 6:41 pm

I'm just going by comments of people talking about flexing. I actually thought I must be doing it wrong because I don't have that issue!
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Re: Thoughts on cleaning, Rod or Snake ?

Post by Die Judicii » 08 Dec 2021, 8:42 pm

I bought a one piece stainless rod complete with jag and patches etc.
Should be here before Xmas.
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Re: Thoughts on cleaning, Rod or Snake ?

Post by Downunder » 26 Dec 2021, 5:22 am

Replaced a stainless 1pc rod with a carbon fibre to reduce the risk of damage. Cutting the patches to the size that a nylon brush resistance is is the way to not bend or break anything.
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Re: Thoughts on cleaning, Rod or Snake ?

Post by Biscuits » 06 Feb 2022, 9:27 am

Die Judicii wrote:All sentiments expressed thus far are pretty much as I expected.
I'm thinking of going for a hardened stainless rod,,,,,, but the price tags are up there ,, ( $80 - $90 )
So,, nobody has had any issues with such tiny rods bending ??

Or,,, maybe meet some sheila in a pub,,,, and ask if she would help me get a cleaning job done with my new rod ?

:lol: :lol:

Obv they will bend in the barrel bore, but you get a coated (teflon or whatever it is) so it doesn't matter. And get a one-piece rod.

However I disagree with the negative sentiments about bore snakes. I use them a lot; the rifle which has had a boresnake through it the most is a .308 which has had thousands of rounds down it, cleaned with a boresnake most of the time and is still <1 MoA accurate.
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Re: Thoughts on cleaning, Rod or Snake ?

Post by Wm.Traynor » 06 Feb 2022, 10:21 am

FWIW Die Judicii
Part of the bigger picture is that a vice on a solid workbench is a Great Thing :D to have in your shed. Clamping the barrel leaves you with two free hands, which makes the job easier. If the rod bends and touches the bore, pull it back out and reduce the size of the patch.
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Re: Thoughts on cleaning, Rod or Snake ?

Post by Bill » 06 Feb 2022, 3:34 pm

SPIKA make a lovely 4mm Carbon Fibre cleaning rod, makes sure you buy the small 17 call patches. I paid $65 for my 1 piece rod, I use it now to clean my 20 hornet.

Comes in a protective tube :drinks:

https://spika.com.au/products/cleaning- ... -fiber-rod
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Re: Thoughts on cleaning, Rod or Snake ?

Post by Oldbloke » 06 Feb 2022, 4:11 pm

Wm.Traynor wrote:FWIW Die Judicii
Part of the bigger picture is that a vice on a solid workbench is a Great Thing :D to have in your shed. Clamping the barrel leaves you with two free hands, which makes the job easier. If the rod bends and touches the bore, pull it back out and reduce the size of the patch.


Sh1t. I never do that. I made a simple wooden rifle rest, it get put in the Vice.

Not identical but along these lines.

https://youtu.be/HpwssJzoArg
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Re: Thoughts on cleaning, Rod or Snake ?

Post by Communism_Is_Cancer » 06 Feb 2022, 4:15 pm

I just bought a little 6 inch rod for my pistols. So much better than using a 30 inch rifle rod. Should of done it moons ago.
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Re: Thoughts on cleaning, Rod or Snake ?

Post by Wm.Traynor » 06 Feb 2022, 6:43 pm

Oldbloke wrote:
Wm.Traynor wrote:FWIW Die Judicii
Part of the bigger picture is that a vice on a solid workbench is a Great Thing :D to have in your shed. Clamping the barrel leaves you with two free hands, which makes the job easier. If the rod bends and touches the bore, pull it back out and reduce the size of the patch.


Sh1t. I never do that. I made a simple wooden rifle rest, it get put in the Vice.

Not identical but along these lines.

https://youtu.be/HpwssJzoArg


Er. Just to make everything perfectly clear, perhaps I should have mentioned that there is some protective material wrapped round the barrel before it goes between those nasty vice jaws :D
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Re: Thoughts on cleaning, Rod or Snake ?

Post by on_one_wheel » 06 Feb 2022, 6:53 pm

Cleaning rods are pretty useless for holding your trousers up.
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