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Hoppe's 9 Boresnake Viper Den Cleaning Kit for Pistol/Rifle
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John23's Review of Hoppe's 9 Boresnake Viper Den Cleaning Kit for Pistol/Rifle
I have to recommend against the .22 version of the "Boresnake Viper Den Pistol" for .22LR pistols & rifles. In addition to the item that I ordered from (and returned to) OP, I also obtained a second version from another retailer. Both items had the same issues:
1) The weight on the lead is TOO LONG for a .22LR chamber. (It looks like it might be the right length for a .22 Mag chamber.) Even so, it can be wiggled into some .22LR chambers. In my case, I was able to get it into a Thompson Center T/CR22 (10/22 clone) rifle chamber, and a Ruger Mark IV pistol chamber, but not a S&W Victory chamber.
2) But, in both cases, the brushes were SO TIGHT, that it was VERY DIFFICULT to pull through the barrel. The first time I used this (I think on my T/CR22), I slipped the weight into the box top handle to be able to pull harder ... and pulled the weight off the lead ... this is why I returned it. I was afraid that the snake was stuck in my rifle ... but, by wrapping the lead around my hand and pulling a few inches, and wrapping again and pulling a few more inches ... I was eventually able to pull it all the way through. Because I never learn from just one failure, I tried this again on a Mark IV pistol ... same experience. In both cases, I pulled it through three times (sometimes I am too stubborn for my own good), and it was easier after the first pull.
Since it seemed to get easier with each pull, on another day at the range I tried again with both guns. Once again it was so hard the first time that it was ridiculous. On this occasion, an RO friend saw me and tried to help. He held down my rifle while I pulled. We must have been a sight. After we finally got the snake through, he shared with me that he had the same issues with one he bought from a brick & mortar store, for his .22LR Henry.
You may not be aware that .22mag, in addition to being longer than .22LR, it is slightly "fatter" than .22LR. I believe that this boresnake was designed for .22mag, or maybe .223, and has incorrectly been marketed as just ".22".
1) The weight on the lead is TOO LONG for a .22LR chamber. (It looks like it might be the right length for a .22 Mag chamber.) Even so, it can be wiggled into some .22LR chambers. In my case, I was able to get it into a Thompson Center T/CR22 (10/22 clone) rifle chamber, and a Ruger Mark IV pistol chamber, but not a S&W Victory chamber.
2) But, in both cases, the brushes were SO TIGHT, that it was VERY DIFFICULT to pull through the barrel. The first time I used this (I think on my T/CR22), I slipped the weight into the box top handle to be able to pull harder ... and pulled the weight off the lead ... this is why I returned it. I was afraid that the snake was stuck in my rifle ... but, by wrapping the lead around my hand and pulling a few inches, and wrapping again and pulling a few more inches ... I was eventually able to pull it all the way through. Because I never learn from just one failure, I tried this again on a Mark IV pistol ... same experience. In both cases, I pulled it through three times (sometimes I am too stubborn for my own good), and it was easier after the first pull.
Since it seemed to get easier with each pull, on another day at the range I tried again with both guns. Once again it was so hard the first time that it was ridiculous. On this occasion, an RO friend saw me and tried to help. He held down my rifle while I pulled. We must have been a sight. After we finally got the snake through, he shared with me that he had the same issues with one he bought from a brick & mortar store, for his .22LR Henry.
You may not be aware that .22mag, in addition to being longer than .22LR, it is slightly "fatter" than .22LR. I believe that this boresnake was designed for .22mag, or maybe .223, and has incorrectly been marketed as just ".22".
Pros:
- Pretty
Cons:
- Weight too long
- Brushed TOO tight
Best Used for:
- NOT .22LR
Would Recommend:
No
3 of 3
found the following review helpful.