Bore Boss Bore Cleaner Review
Russ Chastain 08.20.18
Back when I first discovered the Bore Boss, I was pretty excited about it. Here was a better idea than the BoreSnake, at a more affordable price. I posted about it here, and most folks liked it. And now that I’ve had some some to work with it, I like it just as well (if not more).
Here’s what you get with the 9mm/357/38 model of the Bore Boss. Outside diameter is 3-1/4″ and it’s about an inch thick.
Peel back the outer red rubber portion to get the Bore Boss out of the transparent polycarbonate case, which doubles as a handle.
Once you flip the cover back, the Bore Boss is set free.
The Bore Boss itself is, of course, simple. You get about one foot of cable with a 3/16″ ball molded to one end, and a bore brush secured to the other end. The bore brush is attached to about 8.5 inches of woven/braided fabric “mop” for wiping the bore.
This is a handgun model, so of course it’s shorter than a rifle or shotgun version.
The caliber is emblazoned on the brush base.
Use is simple: Feed the cable through your barrel from rear to muzzle.
Slip the cable through its slot in the handle.
Pull the ball into its pocket in the handle.
The cable lies in the groove while you pull the Bore Boss through your barrel’s bore.
The handgun version allows me to fit three fingers through the handle. The Bore Boss is a good snug fit in this 9mm barrel, so the handle really helps you pull it through.
As you can see, you can get a good secure grip on the Bore Boss handle. I left the red rubber cover “open,” but you can flip it back into the closed position if you wish.
I like the Bore Boss — a lot. I own several BoreSnakes and I’ll keep using them, but I like the Bore Boss better. It is priced lower for one thing. The integrated handle in the one-piece case makes it easy to use, the handle and Bore Boss are plainly marked with the caliber/gauge, and the handle/case helps protect it between uses.
BoreSnake did begin including a handle with their newer BoreSnakes after the Bore Boss hit the market, but their handle is part of a two-piece package that takes up more room in your cleaning kit than the Bore Boss.
I also have a 12 gauge Bore Boss which I like. It lives at my hunt camp where I do most of my shotgunning.
Available sizes:
- 22 Cal.
- 223/5.56mm
- 243/260/6.5mm
- 270/280/7mm
- 30/308/7.62mm
- 357/38/9mm
- 40/41 Cal.
- 44/45 Cal.
- 20 Gauge
- 12 Gauge
MSRP for all ten sizes is $9.99… although the 12 gauge is currently priced at $11.72 on Amazon.
I don’t use this type of cleaner for all cleaning. For me, a pull-through cleaner is for occasional use, just knocking most of the crud out of a bore, and saving more serious cleaning for home with real cleaning rods, patches with jags, etc. In this limited role, the Bore Boss has worked quite well.
In the end, there can only be one winner in the pull-through bore cleaner world, and for me that’s the Bore Boss. You can learn more about them at the Real Avid website, and click/tap this link to buy one.
Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer.
