Bore Snake - Time Saver In The Field

One of the most exciting things for me personally is to be in the right place at the right time when hunting any type of bird. Slinging hundreds of rounds into the air in a no holds barred action fest is exactly how I like it. The downside to multiple action-packed days in a row is that the build-up from lead, gun powder, waxes and dirt can wreak havoc on even the finest of shotguns. If the conditions are poor, the chances for general equipment malfunction increase.

On more than one occasion, I’ve found myself on the tailgate of the truck with my shotgun in pieces trying to clean out the gunk with limited tools. I’ve also seen some interesting but, not recommended methods that involved toilet paper and a spare wire hanger… The bottom line is for most of us, a good cleaning kit would easily solve this problem. The problem is that threading the rods together in field conditions and keeping all the parts off the ground can sometimes be a challenge. One tool that we have found to be helpful for field cleaning a gun is the Bore Snake.

The Bore Snake replaces brushes, patches, cotton swabs and brass rods by combining the functions into one tool. It is easy to use and does not require you to break down your gun to use it. You can store it pretty much anywhere because of its rope-like shape and it is washable (just don’t throw it in the dryer – bad things happen to it there). It can be used dry or with oil depending on your needs.  Oh, did I mention that it won’t cost much? If you lose it, step on it, run over it, leave it in the field or let a buddy borrow it forever, you’ll only be out a few dollar bills.

One thing worth mentioning is that although this is a simple tool in principle, it can be misused. This is not to be mistaken for a complete gun cleaning solution. Trigger assemblies and other moving parts should be serviced according to the manufacturer’s instructions. It is great for cleaning left over powder, lead/steel residue and plastic out of the barrel . Be careful to also use the tool correctly. Pulling the Bore Snake from the chamber to the choke is the correct direction. If this is performed in reverse it can dump unwanted materials into the trigger assembly, guide rails and firing pin areas, not to mention the fact that the choke extraction notches will cut into the tool.

Overall, it is a great timesaver in the field and is easy to carry in the end of a gun case or in a pocket of a blind bag.

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