Have always used a cleaning rod for cleaning pistol barrels, but am considering moving to a bore snake for some of my cleaning efforts. Any pros and or cons would be helpful
Thanks

I've got 3 or 4 bore snakes and I'd say they do a fair to so so job. 
For really getting worst of the carbon out; cleaning rod is way to go IMHO.  Although I've always heard that most people cause more damage to their barrels cleaning them than from shooting them.  I try to be very careful but I'm kinda particular about cleaning a firearm pretty respectably before putting it back in the safe.  Spend a lot of money on these things and want to keep them in tip top shape in the event they're unexpectedly needed.  Or on the unlikely event, I decide to sell or trade one for something else. 

IMO, bore snake is a decent start.  If I carried a particular firearm everyday, it'd probably run bore snake through it occasionally to make sure everything was in decent shape.  However, for serious cleaning.....  It's a decent start if the firearm is filthy but then I move on to something else for the detail work. 

YMMV

Thanks Rojo27, the same school of thought I subscribe to

I use a cleaning rod with the bronze brush with a fitted patch wrapped around the brush, place few drops of Hoppe's #9 benchrest on the patch and swab the bore.
The patch carries the cleaner in while picking up the debris.  Let it soak some and swab again.  After that I replace the patch with a clean one, swab again.  Replace with a clean patch again wit a few drops of gun oil to lightly coat the bore, the take that patch and wipe the surfaces with light oil coating.

Thanks Wade, very similar to my cleaning strategy for years, and has worked very well

Ken

I have never used a bore snake.  Rods with brushes and patches have always worked well for me.

Absolutely, pitching my newly acquired  snake. Thanks for the input my Friend!

a couple of years ago I got on the Bore Snake kick. bought them for almost every caliber I own. they work good but I gravitated back to the ole fashioned cleaning rods. come to think of it, I don't remember when I last used a Bore Snake.

Lol, I've decided I don't like the snake concept much either...live and learn I guess