For long rifles which is better to use....

A one piece cleaning rod or a bore smake?

What brand of one piece rod is the best?

I handload lead. Once I dial in a load I don't get any leading... but until then I couldn't live without a bore brush and a rod. (Shooting a couple jacketed round through after some lead test loads helps a lot, too)

Once I get the load dialed in I much prefer a bore snake. Easier. More portable.The only tricky part is then getting a good coat of oil down the barrel to prevent rust. For that a rod and jag is pretty much essential.

edit - damn. Too much gin in the tonic tonight and I didn't notice the "one piece" in the OP. I still use Hoppe's segmented rods brass. I like to have to stuff small and easy to store if I can - so I'm not really comparing one piece rods to bore snakes.

I'm of the opinion that bore snakes should be used for what they were designed for: quick, field-expedient cleaning.  If you're way up in the woods in an elk camp or something like that, they're wonderful, but they'll never do the job as well as a solid cleaning rod and a good set of jags. 

I use a bore snake cleaner at the range, old fashion rod and patch at home before storage.

If I had to have only one or the other, definitely rods.  Boresnakes have their place, and rods have theirs.  I feel rods have a wider range of uses, but are bulkier.

I use a bore snake cleaner at the range, old fashion rod and patch at home before storage.

+1 this.

I run a bore snake through my barrel while it is still warm at the range. then finish up at home. I use a one piece carbon fiber rod and only brass jags/patch holders and bronze or brass brushes.

Any of you use this Otis cleaning kit?

http://www.otistec.com/Products/cleaning_systems.asp?parent_category=F7C22671BB5C450CB7B4821FEEDF6983

Not as bulky as cleaning rods and pretty easy to use IMO. Each patch can be used up to 6 times and its kinda cool that it adjusts to different caliber sizes.

Any of you use this Otis cleaning kit?

http://www.otistec.com/Products/cleaning_systems.asp?parent_category=F7C22671BB5C450CB7B4821FEEDF6983

Not as bulky as cleaning rods and pretty easy to use IMO. Each patch can be used up to 6 times and its kinda cool that it adjusts to different caliber sizes.

I have its good . By the end of the day each rifle has two bore snakes . One old and one new . I run the old one down like 3 times with cleaner . Then once with the new and some lube . With bore snakes being cheap I replace the old one every 5 trips with the rifle .

I use both bore snakes and more traditional rod to clean and as others mentioned bore snakes are good for what they are, but they are not a replacement for a more traditional setup. One thing I do not like about them is you cant really use solvents or oils with the bore snake otherwise it is just going to soak all that stuff up.

Depending on what kind of rifle we're talking about here might dictate what you end up buying but I would definitely recommend investing in something like the Tipton carbon fiber cleaning rod with brushes and jags to fit your rifle. Many people also use the dewey coated rod. If its a bolt action a bore guide would be a great addition as well.

stay away from cleaning kits because you will just buy a bunch of crap you don't need. As well as aluminum multi-piece rods

I use both bore snakes and more traditional rod to clean and as others mentioned bore snakes are good for what they are, but they are not a replacement for a more traditional setup. One thing I do not like about them is you cant really use solvents or oils with the bore snake otherwise it is just going to soak all that stuff up.

Depending on what kind of rifle we're talking about here might dictate what you end up buying but I would definitely recommend investing in something like the Tipton carbon fiber cleaning rod with brushes and jags to fit your rifle. Many people also use the dewey coated rod. If its a bolt action a bore guide would be a great addition as well.

stay away from cleaning kits because you will just buy a bunch of crap you don't need. As well as aluminum multi-piece rods

This!  Those POS screw-together rods are not good for your bore.  Not to mention that a good one-piece cleaning rod will have ball bearings so the rod can easily rotate with the rifling.  The cheap-o rods require you to re-tighten your jag every pass or two, as the path of least resistance is to unscrew the jag, rather than rotating the whole rod.

The also make bore guides for AR-15s, which are nice because it makes it easier to start the rod without losing your patch, plus they have a port so you can use an eye dropper to apply solvent to your patch.  If you've got a good set of jags and a good one-piece cleaning rod, I'd also highly recommend some sort of cleaning rest.  They're a little spendy, but can be pretty easily DIY-ed.  Trying to run a rod through your bore with a tight fitting patch is an exercise in futility, and you'll be real mad when you bend your rod because you can't apply force in-line with the bore.

Any of you use this Otis cleaning kit?

http://www.otistec.com/Products/cleaning_systems.asp?parent_category=F7C22671BB5C450CB7B4821FEEDF6983

Not as bulky as cleaning rods and pretty easy to use IMO. Each patch can be used up to 6 times and its kinda cool that it adjusts to different caliber sizes.

I would say as long as it uses materials that allow you to fully clean the barrel without scratching the inside of the barrel or leaving slivers of metal like aluminum rods do then I would think it is a good kit.

Neither, Otis kits only for me.  Bore snake is good for a quick field cleaning (stuck muzzle in mud, etc.) but when I clean my guns I use Otis kits exclusively.  Only time I use a cleaning rod is to run a chamber brush into a AR or one of my SCARs.

I use a bore snake cleaner at the range, old fashion rod and patch at home before storage.

+1

Detail clean the standard long rod.  Quick cleaning the bore snake.

What brand rod and bore guides is everyone using?

What brand rod and bore guides is everyone using?

Dewey Rods FTW

What brand rod and bore guides is everyone using?

I use a non metallic graphite/fiberglas rod. 

I like Dewey

What brand rod and bore guides is everyone using?

for bore guides I am using a possum hollow I got from midway, they are pretty reasonable, Just make sure you choose the right one. Paid like 18 dollars for it, fits like a glove. Much better alternative than something that is "one size fits all" There is another one people really love made by a company called lucas that are basically made by one guy in his spare time, machined aluminum and specially made for your rod to align it perfectly, perhaps a little overkill. But if you got the cash, why not.