Depends on what type of snail you're seeing.
If the snail has an operculum, or "trapdoor" it can close, AND it's quick to do so when the loaches approach, it can survive. The larger and older the snail, the tougher its operculum, and the better its learned response to close the "door" quick!
Football shaped shell generally are pond snails. They have no operculum, so they're like bonbons..... tasty AND easy! If your loaches aren't eating these they may be ill.
Round ramshorn snails (aka "Red Ramshorn", the most common to hitch a ride in on plants) have a flat, disc-like spiraled shell. Most types don't have an operculum, but can pull themselves WAY in their shell if properly motivated. It is feasible that a large one has enough spare room in his or her shell to do that. If they pull in further than the loach can reach in, they'll survive.
Columbian Ramshorn Snails (the striped, large ones) DO have an operculum, and may survive loach molestations, much like the Trapdoor snail below.
Japanese Trapdoor snails have a chunky squat cone of a shell, and the trapdoor or operculum their name suggests. They'll close up (quickly if they know what's good for them) and eventually the loaches will tire of playing Loach-Soccer with them and move on. They can then resume their routine until the next round of maurauding loach fun.
Brigsii ("Mystery") snails have an operculum, but aren't as quick to close up, so may lose their antenae-like feelers.
Trumpet Snails have an elongated spiral shell. They have a very tough operculum, and most burrow (to different degrees) in the substrate, so are the most impervious to loach attacks.
So, depending on your type of snail, your loaches may be getting thwarted, or just plain lazy. If well fed, and faced with ramshorns that pull way into the shell, they may be letting a few survive.
If you have any cichlids, especially those with downward facing mouths, they can crush the shells, and will make quick work of the snails, trapdoor or not.
Hope this helps!
-Jane
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