Over time, the braided nylon floss of your Hoppe's BoreSnake gun bore-cleaning cord can become heavily soiled—the nylon threads and spaces between the threads accumulating not only carbon, but also anything else picked up when pulled through a gun bore. These might include dirt or rust and any cleaner/solvent or lubricant. To increase your BoreSnake’s ability to dislodge and remove debris from the bore, you must clean your BoreSnake regularly. Wipe it with a clean, dry cloth after every use and wash it by hand or machine once it begins to show soil buildup.
Items you will need
Water
Mild detergent
Bucket
Microfiber cloths
Toothbrush
Clothes hanger
Clothespin
Clothesline (optional)
Non-rubber band (optional)
Long white cord or shoelace (optional)
Hand Wash
Fill a bucket with warm water and enough mild detergent to make the water soapy.
Place your Hoppe's BoreSnake in the water and soak it based on the amount of dirt, cleaner/solvent or lubricant on it. If dealing with a dry or only slightly dirty cord, soak it 15 to 20 minutes. If dealing with an extremely dirty or oily cord, soak it 30 to 40 minutes.
Swish the cord around in the water with your hand. Wipe the braided floss section—excluding the bronze bore brush—with a microfiber cloth and run a toothbrush lightly over the bore brush to remove dirt clinging to the bristles.
Pull the cord out of the bucket and rinse thoroughly under running tap water or with a hose until you no longer see any soap.
Hold the BoreSnake in front of you vertically over a sink or bucket by the pull cord with your non-dominant hand. Squeeze the first portion of the floss lightly, bypass the bore brush area and continue squeezing the floss in a downward motion to remove excess water.
Blot away any remaining excess water from the cord with a dry cloth, then hang the cord across a clothes hanger or fastened with a clothespin on a line to air dry.
Machine Wash
Place your BoreSnake in the Hoppe's wash bag or roll the BoreSnake and secure it with a non-rubber band, long white cord or shoelace.
Set your washing machine to its smallest delicate load setting and allow the machine to fill with water.
Add a few drops of mild detergent to the water—enough to make it soapy—and then soak your BoreSnake 15 to 20 minutes for light dirt or 30 to 40 minutes for heavier soil. After it soaks, turn your machine on.
Remove your BoreSnake from the wash bag or unroll it after the cycle ends and then hang it on a clothes hanger or clip it to a clothesline to air dry.
Warnings
- Never rub a sponge or textured microfiber cloth over the bronze bore brush as doing so can leave behind sponge pieces or threads on the bristles. A colored band, cord or shoelace used to band your BoreSnake for washing may leave stains on the nylon material. Use a white or light tan cord. Never band a rolled BoreSnake for washing with the pull cord attached to the brass weight. Any knots used to secure the roll may tighten during washing, making it impossible to unknot the cord without cutting it. Cleaning your gun's bore with a damp BoreSnake can damage your gun. Always wait until the BoreSnake has air-dried thoroughly before re-use.
References
Warnings
- Never rub a sponge or textured microfiber cloth over the bronze bore brush as doing so can leave behind sponge pieces or threads on the bristles. A colored band, cord or shoelace used to band your BoreSnake for washing may leave stains on the nylon material. Use a white or light tan cord. Never band a rolled BoreSnake for washing with the pull cord attached to the brass weight. Any knots used to secure the roll may tighten during washing, making it impossible to unknot the cord without cutting it. Cleaning your gun's bore with a damp BoreSnake can damage your gun. Always wait until the BoreSnake has air-dried thoroughly before re-use.
Writer Bio
Based in Southern Pennsylvania, Irene A. Blake has been writing on a wide range of topics for over a decade. Her work has appeared in projects by The National Network for Artist Placement, the-phone-book Limited and GateHouse Media. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Shippensburg University.
