10/22 Cleaning Hole. Finally Did It

[686 Shooter]

After a couple of years of wondering whether or not I should drill a hole in the back of my receiver to make cleaning my 10/22 rifles easier, I finally just went ahead and did it. I found lots of love and lots of hate for this on the internet. Now that I did it I am glad I did. I like it. Its not hard to do. Its a 1/4 inch hole centered left to right and .775 inches above the bottom of the receiver. I measured it out then used an automatic center punch to mark where to start the drill. I started with a 1/8 pilot hole and then followed it up with the 1/4 inch bit. It lines up perfectly with the bore.

I don't clean my rimfires often. Once a year or when they start to have problems. In my opinion this sure beats cleaning from the muzzle or removing the barrel. If any of you have been on the fence about doing this as well, my advice would be to go ahead and do it.

(And don't worry, I didn't clean the rifle with the scop clamped into the vise. I just set it like that for the photos.)

 

[LarryG]

Thanks for the encouragement and procedure. Sounds pretty easy. I now have less reason than ever to do the same thing.
I have been depending on the bore snake procedure and once in a while to use a delrin bore guide on the muzzle.

 

[Butcherbill]

Are you going to leave it open like that or plug it to keep dirt and debris from collecting?

 

[Jay]

Are you going to leave it open like that or plug it to keep dirt and debris from collecting?

I don't think it's necessary to plug it as it sits below the stock & is not visible...

I've been contemplating this mod, thanks for assessment on it being easy & to get off the fence op!

Cheers
Jay

 

[Suther]

Wouldn't it just be easier to use something like the OTIS ripcord to clean it?

Either way, interesting mod.

 

[Fastxr]

Lol, I have a related funny story. I am not an 10/22 expert by any means but recently built one using a DAR-22 barreled action from Dlask and wondered to myself what the hole in the end of the receiver was for, then the first time I went to clean it I had an epiphany and was like OMG the hole is to clean it! Fantastic!

Nice job on drilling yours sure makes things easier.

 

[686 Shooter]

Are you going to leave it open like that or plug it to keep dirt and debris from collecting?

No need to. Like Jay said, once the rifle is reassembled the hole is covered by the stock. So no dirt will get in there.

 

[horseman2]

I did both of mine. Flash light from the muzzle gave me a pretty good idea where to drill the hole.
STS . . . slicker than snot!

 

[savagelh]

You guys clean your 10/22's? The one I use the most has probably 4000 rounds since its last cleaning.

 

[AikiNut]

I've drilled a couple of 1022 recievers. Having witnessed a friend have a bore snake break while being pulled through with nothing sticking out to grab and retrieve, I haven't used one since..

 

[scuba52]

Wouldn't it just be easier to use something like the OTIS ripcord to clean it?

Either way, interesting mod.

Or the Otis cable

 

[Thumper69]

Whatever floats yer boat.My Dlask receiver has a hole,never use it.I use a pull thru that I made from a piece of grass trimmer cord.

 

[shredon]

I've drilled a couple of 1022 recievers. Having witnessed a friend have a bore snake break while being pulled through with nothing sticking out to grab and retrieve, I haven't used one since..

This...

a bore snake is a barrel replacement waiting to happen ... once that cord snaps.

Not a damn thing is going to get it out without destroying the barrel...

 

[Butcherbill]

Ah, good to know. I don’t own a 10/22 lol, carry on then!

 

[AMET]

This...

a bore snake is a barrel replacement waiting to happen ... once that cord snaps.

Not a damn thing is going to get it out without destroying the barrel...

Which is why you replace bore snakes before they break. Usually every 1-2 years depending on use.

 

[Sakoman .308]

Well done OP, those dimensions will help others wanting to do the Mod.

 

[armycat]

I bought a jig from Brownells that lines up to the receiver pin holes. Love this mod.

 

[stewbud]

I don't think it's necessary to plug it as it sits below the stock & is not visible...

Excellent write up by the OP.

I have always worried about how to get a broken pull through out of a barrel, so I will drill my old receiver for this modification.

I was concerned about tapping for a plug, but it looks like none is required.

 

[buji88]

I made a really simple jig which indexes off the barrel hole, I usually pull my 10/22 barrel once over the course of owning it to get in there and scrub the barrel well, such a great mod!

 

[Rod B]

Whatever floats yer boat.My Dlask receiver has a hole,never use it.I use a pull thru that I made from a piece of grass trimmer cord.

I do the same, been doing it this way for about 20 years without a problem.