I've cleaned all my firearms the same for ever. I usually just solvent + patch till clean with Hoppes Elite or MPro 7, then just lube the areas that need lube and call it good. I realized for a long time I used to spray one spray of solvent in the barrel, and let it sit while I'm cleaning the rest. For both my AR and pistols. Then I'll run a bore snake through it a few times till I feel like it's clean and dry.

I just realized I might be the only person doing that. Should I avoid spraying solvent directly in the barrels in favor of just putting some on the bore snake and giving it a few runs?
Also, is it cool to use the same solvent that I use to clean the rest of the firearm? I see some people use dedicated bore cleaning solvents, and just want to make sure I'm not neglecting the barrel by using normal solvents to clean it. Thanks!

Spraying a little cleaning solvent down the barrel will not hurt a thing.

Cool, thanks

If you don't replace the oils you've removed with that solvent, and the part CAN rust, it will. So in that sense you can hurt things. But otherwise... whatever floats your boat. I'd say about 1/2 my Slip2k use is as a rust prevention method rather than lubricant. I rarely use it as a cleaner, preferring Bore Tech for that.

The way I see it is some of the solvent will go into the gas tube and you'll have some either rolling into the barrel or into the bcg. If you keep it down you'll likely see some liquid or blue color liquid drain out after a few hours. I always use some brake cleaner to spray out the gas tube then the bore.

Ditch the bore snake and use a 1 piece coated rod with jag and patches. The snake just keeps pulling the dirt back thru that you're trying to remove.
Jon