17 HMR vs boresnake?

[karlbird]

Does anyone use a boresnake successfully on an HMR?

I use them post shooting on my CF rifles prior to them being properly cleaned when I can get round to it.

I bought a cheap fake one off the auction site and it's crap, the weight is either not heavy enough or the friction too much as it does not go down the barrel.

Anyone use one that works, or is the barrel just too small?

 

[palmer_mike]

Use a hoppes one all the time with no issues. Wouldn’t risk a cheap one, be a nightmare is it snapped!

 

[Sprocker101]

I have the same issue. I have found that the build up in the barrel is to blame and goes through ok after a proper clean (not very useful I know!). The 17 is known to be a particularly ‘dirty’ round

cheers

 

[FGYT]

Weight is to fat when it's been crimped to the string
Take it off either pull it off or cut it and burn the end to seal this will tread down the barrel

 

[timbrayford]

I use the genuine Hoppes boresnake and clean the barrel after each use, I haven't encountered any problems.

 

[karlbird]

Thanks guys, looks like I will try to get a genuine one.

 

[nun_hunter]

I had one and found that it was hard to get down the barrel when it was dirty as it's such a small hole. I also found that the HMR shot better with a dirty barrel until about 200 rounds then needed a deep clean so not much use with a bore snake!

 

[MarkT]

I find a boresnake handy just to get rid of the surface muck in the barrel after an evenings bunny bashing . Like nun_hunter my hmr shoots best when dirty .
A little tip , when usin a bore snake use a 2" piece of drinking straw .Split it down the side and slip it over the string part when first passed through and push into the barrel end .This helps prevent damage at the Crown as you pull through and will pop out when the thick section reaches it .

 

[jimo]

Weight is to fat when it's been crimped to the string
Take it off either pull it off or cut it and burn the end to seal this will tread down the barrel

I filed the fat bit down and it goes through with a bit of jiggeling. Do it every time I use it but never clean with solvents etc unless the group really opens up.

 

[Blackwood Outdoors]

I filed the brass weight down, to reduce the diameter of it, I also cut it in half.. Drops through much easier now.

 

[Pedro]

It seems to me, the bigger the bore, the better the bore snake, rifled or not. They are ideal for shotguns and are pretty good for rifles, getting more and more annoying the smaller the hole in the barrel is.

In any case, perhaps shotguns aside, they are only ever a stop gap between proper cleaning sessions. To be honest, although I've got one for my .17hmr, I find that a good rodding is easier!!

 

[Alistair]

I find a kit like this:

Universal Rifle Pull Through Kit

Isn't terrible for smaller bores and the plastic coating allows it to slide through easier. I used to use one a lot on .177 and .22 air rifles. Similar to the hoppes boresnake thing I reckon. Still no substitute for a proper cleaning rod though.

 

[Cooter]

As others have noted, the HMR is a dirty round.

I have a genuine Hoppes and it is always awkward the first time I try to drop it through the HMR barrel. Drops straight through on a second pass.

 

[Kernow_Stalker]

I cut the weight off and tied a bit of fishing line to the end. The fishing line passes through really easy and then you can pull through the proper string to them pull through the bore snake. Makes it dead easy and zero faffing then

Ks

 

[FISH BOY]

Definitely would invest in a decent one which has got a stronger/thicker lace.

Bought a cheap one first time round that the lace was so thin that it cut my hand across the palm. Now always wear gloves.

 

[Border]

Patchworm kits work well. I have universal kit from 22-12bore and a 17-20 cal kit.