I picked up a new bore snake today for my new S&W SD9, and wow, what a difference it makes. I was using Ballistol and Hoppers along with patches and my barrel just was not looking all that great. Two pass troughs with the new snake and whoa! Looks like a mirror inside. Much, much easier and faster.
I'd been using one on my .22 rifles, but I don't really have a good way of seeing inside the bore.
Those things really work!