After having reviewed numerous bore snakes, we finally came up with a list of some of the best ones you can buy.
You may have used a bore snake before and you have a favorite one, which might not be on our list. And that’s alright.
You may decide to try a different one, and we hope you consider trying out one of the bore snakes we have reviewed in this article.
If you have never bought a bore snake before to clean your gun and you want to get one, the list should help you get started.
Having said that, bore snakes are the simplest to use tools for cleaning guns.
Basically, a bore snake is a cord made of fabric that you drag through the bore of a gun to remove crud. It’s easy to use and time-saving.
So there is plenty of variety in bore snakes and deciding on which one to buy is tricky. Different bore snakes are designed for different calibers. So you can’t just go out and buy any type of bore snake. It has to be a bore snake that is suitable for your caliber.
Guns have different bore sizes and so do bore snakes. A bore cleaning snake for a 9mm pistol is not going to be the same length as that of a 20 gauge rifle. You have to ensure that you get the right size for your caliber.
With that in mind, let’s get to our list of the best bore snakes you can get for different calibers.
Top Pick
Ultimate Rifle Build Bore Snake
- Cleans in 1 Quick Pass
- Solvent Safe
- Machine Washable
Bore Snakes Comparison Chart
| Photo | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultimate Rifle Build Bore Snake | Size: .30 cal, .308, 30-30, .300blk, 7.62mm Reusable: Yes Machine Washable: Yes | Check Price |
| Hoppe’s 24035 | Size: 12 Gauge Reusable: Yes Machine Washable: Yes | Check Price |
| Otis Technology FG-RC-338 | Size: .38/9mm/.357cal pistol Reusable: Yes Machine Washable: n/a | Check Price |
| Sage & Braker Bore Cleaning Kit | Size: .338 cal, .340 cal Reusable: Yes Machine Washable: n/a | Check Price |
| Gloryfire Bore Snake | Size: .308, 30-30, .30-06, .300, .303 caliber Reusable: Yes Machine Washable: Yes | Check Price |
5 Best Bore Snakes (as of April, 2024):
1. Ultimate Rifle Build Bore Snake Review
If you own different types of guns and you don’t buy a bore snake for each of them, consider getting the Ultimate Rifle Build bore snake cleaner.
Its not called Ultimate for nothing, this bore snake is designed to clean pistols, rifles, and shotguns.
The bore snake is available in different lengths for different bore sizes. And its made of high-quality and durable materials to give years of good service.
The bore cleaner is washable. You can throw it in your washing machine to give it a good clean and it won’t fray or tear. That’s how durable it is.
You can reuse it as many times as you want and the structure and the fabric is still going to hold. Also, you can dip it in any solvent cleaner or lubricant as it’s designed to withstand the harshest of cleaning solutions and lubes.
It is compact and lightweight. So you carry it easily with you to the range for target shooting or out in the field to hunt. And you don’t much space for it. This is a tool that you can throw in your pocket and go about your business.
Main Features
- Easy Cleans in 1 Quick Pass
- Can Apply any Lubricant
- Solvent Safe
- Machine Washable
- Reusable Hundreds of Times
- Lightweight & Compact
- Packaged in Clamshell
Pros:
- Its machine washable
- It’s reusable
- It is easy to use
- It’s solvent safe
- Affordable
Cons:
- It starts to fray after 100 cleans
2. Hoppe’s 24035 Bore Snake Review
Hoppe’s Bore 24035 Snake cleaner is one of those bore snakes that you must have if you own a shotgun.
It is pretty thick in size and it comes attached with a rope that has a brass weight on one end to help you pull it through your gun’s barrel.
The brass clip at the end of the rope has markings on it that indicate the caliber the rope it’s designed for.
So this makes it easy to tell what caliber the bore snake is made for.
And the tool is extremely easy to use. You only need to add a couple of drops of your favorite gun cleaning solvent, and then drive the bore snake through your gun’s barrel. And what it does is that it cleans, brushes, and dries your barrel in one sweep.
So it saves you a lot of time because you don’t need to brush your barrel first using a bore brush to remove the crud.
The bore snake is designed to do a full clean up in one sweep. And once you have cleaned your gun’s bore, you can add a few drops of Hoppe’s No. 9 lubricating oil or other lube to the bore snake to oil the bore.
The bore snake is washable, so you can reuse it many times. And you hardly need any space in your bag to store it when you need to go out in the field to shoot targets or hunt. It is compact, lightweight, and portable.
Main Features
- Ideal For Cleaning Shotguns
- Three Step Bore Shine
- Brass Weight On the Pull Cord
- Patented One Piece Design
- Nylon Cord Attached Directly to Brush
- Solvent Compatible
- Machine Washable
- Portable & Reusable
- Extremely Packable
Pros:
- Compact and lightweight
- Portable
- Washable
- Reusable
- Ideal for cleaning shotguns
- Cleans quickly and thoroughly in a single sweep
- Made of durable and tough materials
Cons:
- Its messy
- It does not get rid of powder residue well
3. Otis Technology FG-RC-338 Bore Snake Review
If you own a collection of different firearms, and you are looking for the easiest and fastest way to clean them, consider getting the Otis Technology FG-RC-338 Ripcord bore cleaner.
The Ripcord comes in varying sizes and it is designed to clean different caliber pistols, rifles, and shotguns.
What makes it such a great cleaning tool is the way it’s designed.
The bore cleaner has a rubber core that ensures that the bore cleans your gun’s barrel with only one pass.
And the bore snake is made of heat-resistant material that can withstand up to 700 degrees heat.
So you can shoot your gun and immediately clean it with the ripcord without worrying about the rope getting damaged.
Even better, you can use the ripcord when it’s dry or wet. It’s up to you how you want to use it but this is a snake bore that you can go out hunting with, it portable and lightweight. And it’s extremely easy to use.
When you need to give your gun a quick clean to get an accurate aim, this rope is going to be of great help. Besides that, the ripcord is reasonably priced, so you don’t have to break your bank to afford it.
Main Features
- 10 inches of Aggressive Cleaning Surface
- Heat Resistant Up To 700 Degrees F
- Helix Shape Engages Rifling Through The Barrel
- Molded Rubber Core for 360 Degree Cleaning
- Memory-Flex Cable
- Nomex Surface
- Equipped With 8-32 Threaded Ends
- Cleans: .38/9MM/.357cal
Pros:
- Compact, lightweight, and portable
- Made of durable and heat-resistant materials
- Ideal for a wide range of firearms
- Does a good job at removing crud and powder residue from a gun’s bore
- It is reasonably priced
Cons:
- It requires some effort to get the snake bore out of the bore
4. Sage & Braker Bore Cleaning Kit Review
Sage & Braker are at the forefront when it comes to making quality gun cleaning kits.
This Sage & Braker Bore Cleaning Kit can clean different types of rifles, shotguns, and pistols.
And this is not your ordinary bore snake.
The Sage & Braker bore is made of superior materials and it comes with a thick pull cord that makes it easy to pull the bore cleaner through your gun’s barrel.
It also comes with a bronze brush you can attach to the bore snake when you need to give your gun’s bore a thorough clean.
Depending on how dirty your gun is, you can run the bore twice through the barrel to ensure that all the dirt is out.
The process is easy and quick. You don’t need extra cleaning tools. The bore snake and bronze brush are more than sufficient to get your gun sparkly clean.
The other thing is that the bore snake is lightweight. You can carry in your pocket when you out in the field shooting or hunting.
And it does make your outdoor adventure a lot easier and less frustrating particularly when you need to hit your target with a single bullet. Something you can’t do with a dirty gun.
Since the bore snake is reusable, you can clean your gun as many times as you want to get an accurate aim all the time.
Main Features
- Ideal For Cleaning Different Types of Guns
- Time Saver 15 Seconds
- Full Size Bronze Brush
- Removable Buffing Rope
- Full 25” Buffing Rope
- Stamped Brass Weight
- Portable & Lightweight
- Canvas Bag
Pros:
- Cleans thoroughly
- Comes with a bronze brush
- Lightweight and portable
- Made of quality and durable materials
- Ideal for cleaning different types of guns
- Easy to use
Cons:
- It is expensive
5. Gloryfire Bore Snake Review
The Gloryfire Bore Snake comes with a steel cable that you attach to the bore to give your gun a thorough clean.
The bore snake can be placed in a gun bore vertically or horizontally and you can easily pull it out without a problem.
You can also attach a brush or mop to the end part of the rope that has a lead attachment.
The attachment is quite firm to make it easy for you to clean your gun.
But one of the best qualities of this bore snake that you don’t even find in many other quality bore cleaners is the inbuilt bore brush.
The company made a good decision to place a bore brush within the bore snake to help remove stubborn crud and powder residue. And this small feature makes a whole lot of difference.
For one, you don’t need a brush to get rid of dirt that is hard to remove. And secondly, you can easily and quickly remove the dirt with one or two passes. So the Gloryfire bore cleaner does a wonderful job of removing dirt with ease and speed.
Plus it is extremely durable. You can wash it and use it as many times as you want. So this a rope that you can rely on to keep your guns spotlessly clean.
Main Features
- Innovative Design
- Memory-Steel Cable With a Pull Strength Up to 750 lbs
- With Detachable Component
- Builtin Bronze Brush
- Bore Cleaner Absorbs Gun Cleaning Solvent Well
- Not Easy to Break
- No Exposed Metal
- Washable & Reusable
- Compact & Lightweight
Pros:
- Has builtin bronze brush to help remove stubborn crud
- It is durable
- Its has a simple yet innovative design
- Comes with a steel cable that is easy to use and clean
- It’s reusable
- It’s washable by hand or washing machine
- The bore snake is efficient
- It is lightweight and portable
- It is affordable
Cons:
- Some users have complained that the lead attachment on the bore snake is not durable
Buyer’s Guide
Bore snakes come in different sizes and this because they are designed for different caliber guns. So depending on the type of gun you have, this is going to determine what size and type of bore snake to buy.
If you have multiple firearms, you may need to buy more than one bore snake, but there are bore snakes that are designed to clean different types of firearms. And we have mentioned some of them in the product review section.
That said, before you buy a bore snake, there are a few considerations you need to take into account. And these considerations are as follows:
Size of a Gun’s Barrel
The one thing you should not do is assume that any bore snake can clean any type of gun. Bore snakes much like gun barrels come in varying sizes. And some bore snakes are created for shotguns, others for pistols or rifles.
You can find a bore snake that comes in varying sizes to clean different types of guns.
What you need to know is that every bore snake is designed for a specific bore size and that the type of gun caliber it’s suited for is indicated on the metallic attachment on the rope.
Material
It might be hard to tell if the material of a bore snake is durable. The best way of knowing if a bore snake is made of quality materials is by checking user reviews.
These reviews are extremely helpful because not only do you get information about the durability and effectiveness of a bore snake. You also get to know about its positives and negatives.
And these can help you make an informed decision on the type of bore snake to buy based on the type of gun or guns you own.
Design
Bore snakes may have some similarities in the way they are designed. Many of them come with a pull cord that has a brass weight on one end. But some have bronze brushes embedded in them for a deep clean.
So when it comes to design, it is up to you to decide what to want. Bore snakes are designed to help you clean your gun quickly and easily.
And if you can get one that comes with extra features that can give the bore of your gun a deep clean with one or two passes, it would be a more ideal choice.
Reusability
Most bore snakes are washable. You can throw them into a washing machine or you can wash them by hand. Ultimately, what you need to check is if the bore snake is washable and how many times you can reuse it.
Some bores snakes start to wear and tear after 100 passes, some after more. We recommend you check user reviews to find out which ones you can use many times before needing to get a new one.
Also, check to see which bore snakes can withstand harsh cleaners and lubricants. You want to get one that can last as long as possible before its starts fraying.
Price
Price is not much of an issue when it comes to bore snakes. Most of them are reasonably priced. But if you are on a budget, choose one that has good user reviews as this is an indication that it’s of good quality despite being inexpensive.
The Advantage of Using a Bore Snake
We don’t recommend using a bore snake alone to clean your gun. Sometimes when you need to give your firearm a thorough clean, you need extra cleaning tools. But if you are looking for a quick way to clean your gun, then a bore snake would be the best option.
The advantage bore snakes have over the traditional gun cleaning tools like cleaning rods is that they make gun cleaning extremely easy and quick.
For gun owners who don’t have the time to clean their guns, they can use a bore snake because they are quick and efficient.
Plus you can dip or spray your favorite cleaner on the bore snake as they are made of absorbent material to help you get rid of hard to remove crud. You can also oil your gun using a bore snake.
You only need to add a few drops of your favorite lube and pass it through the bore of your gun.
Another advantage is portability. It’s easier to carry around a bore snake than a cleaning kit full of cleaning tools. A bore cleaner does not require much space. You can easily throw it in your pocket and go about your business.
Bore snakes are also easy to maintain. Most of them are washable, you can handwash them or throw them in a washing machine. So you can reuse a bore snake many times. It all depends on the toughness of the material.
Conclusion
There are plenty of good reasons to buy a bore snake. It’s definitely a cleaning tool you would want to have when you are for hunting or shooting targets.
It makes the process of cleaning the barrel of a gun easy because you just need to pass it through the barrel once or two times and you’ll have a clean bore. You can reuse a bore snake many times, and they are super easy to maintain.
So the next time you are out shopping for gun cleaning tools, make sure to budget for a bore snake if you don’t already have one.
