I looked down the barrel today with a bore scope. my first impression was there is very little rifling in this barrel. rifle has about 700 rounds since new. would lead build-up do this. what lead remover do you use to clean it out? Is this normal for these Anschutz rifle barrels?
barrel rifling in anschutz 64 rifle
- Thread starter rar
- Start date
Blastattack
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Winnipeg MB
How does it shoot?
- Location
- Western Manitoba
rar - is what I experienced the first time that I used a bore scope - I had nothing to compare to - did not know what to expect. I did eventually get a couple of new unfired barrels - one by Schultz and Larsen and one by McGregor - so I have opportunity to see what "good" looks like in a bore scope - others maybe do not have that opportunity. Cleaning out a bore - if you have a bore scope - is almost "life changing" - lets you see if the concoction or technique that you are using actually does anything positive in there for you or not.
My own thought is much like Post #2 - until or unless you see change on target, is not much to worry about - however, getting some quality lead dissolving products, getting proper bore brushes and a cleaning rod that lets the brush rotate with the rifling, and then LOTS of patches that fit snuggly with a good jag, will get you cleaning well. But nothing says that a "spic and span" bore will shoot better than a fouled bore - within reason - is a lot up to the shooter ... Is some shooters will tell you to expect to have to "season" a cleaned bore with a number of shots to get to that barrel's best performance - and then, at some point, that performance will drop off due to fouling - might be 10 good shots; might be 250 good shots; might be 1000 good shots - up to you to determine.
Also need to understand that rimfire ammo is likely ALSO depositing soot - carbon - from the ash of the burned gunpowder - and is typical that a different product is needed to efficiently remove carbon - and that stuff may not touch the lead - and vice-versa. Is other threads on CGN about cleaning the bore - likely you want something specific for each contaminant - I do not know of any products that will do everything well - despite what the advertisements will claim.
It also should be not unexpected that the stuff is laid down in layers - you will get some lead, then some carbon, then more lead, and so on - you will probably see that in your bore scope. So switching out products or techniques might make you think as if you are starting all over again - which you might be, if that fouling is really bad.
My own thought is much like Post #2 - until or unless you see change on target, is not much to worry about - however, getting some quality lead dissolving products, getting proper bore brushes and a cleaning rod that lets the brush rotate with the rifling, and then LOTS of patches that fit snuggly with a good jag, will get you cleaning well. But nothing says that a "spic and span" bore will shoot better than a fouled bore - within reason - is a lot up to the shooter ... Is some shooters will tell you to expect to have to "season" a cleaned bore with a number of shots to get to that barrel's best performance - and then, at some point, that performance will drop off due to fouling - might be 10 good shots; might be 250 good shots; might be 1000 good shots - up to you to determine.
Also need to understand that rimfire ammo is likely ALSO depositing soot - carbon - from the ash of the burned gunpowder - and is typical that a different product is needed to efficiently remove carbon - and that stuff may not touch the lead - and vice-versa. Is other threads on CGN about cleaning the bore - likely you want something specific for each contaminant - I do not know of any products that will do everything well - despite what the advertisements will claim.
It also should be not unexpected that the stuff is laid down in layers - you will get some lead, then some carbon, then more lead, and so on - you will probably see that in your bore scope. So switching out products or techniques might make you think as if you are starting all over again - which you might be, if that fouling is really bad.
Last edited:
More rimfire barrels have been "worn out" or just plain damaged by overly frequent and/or incorrect cleaning than have ever been "shot out". There is no need nor benefit to a 100% clean bore and a borescope will just goad you into damaging the thing through cleaning.
The ONLY thing that is important is how the rifle shoots. If the accuracy is fine, then LEAVE IT ALONE.
The ONLY thing that is important is how the rifle shoots. If the accuracy is fine, then LEAVE IT ALONE.
X2, I would NOT be shooting velociter or stinger ammo in any of my .22s that I was shooting for accuracy... What ammo have you shot through it?
Try some Center-X, Exact, SK match or RWS50 if you can find it... those have all shot very well in the multiple Anschutz rifles I have owned.
I'll bet A- doesn't say to shoot cra* ammo, tho. Sk8snwmx has the right idea, with the "high-priced spread".
And ask "Competitive shooters" about cleaning . . . many only go 30 to 50 rounds b4 cleaning, "Seasoning" be dammed. It all depends on what you 'expect' and how long you want to keep the barrel. For a "Quality" rifle I'd spend some money now for ammo . . .
And ask "Competitive shooters" about cleaning . . . many only go 30 to 50 rounds b4 cleaning, "Seasoning" be dammed. It all depends on what you 'expect' and how long you want to keep the barrel. For a "Quality" rifle I'd spend some money now for ammo . . .
- Location
- Nova Scotia
I checked my 64. Its low round count as well.. You might be able to catch a land with a tooth pick. I know mines not abused. I think rimfires have shallow rifling to begin with.
I'm going to go with Glenn and say it's not a problem.
I'm going to go with Glenn and say it's not a problem.
- Location
- Nova Scotia
Yea, and many competitive shooters change out a barrel after way less than 1000 rounds. I have several "shot out" match barrel take-offs that have 400-600 rounds through them. I got them cheap from a local benchers champion. Some day, when my 6BR has ten thousand or so rounds through it and has been set back a couple of times, I'll spin up one of those "shot out" match barrels.
What a competitive shooter does has little bearing on what an ordinary shooter does. Competitive shooters have the proper equipment and know how to properly clean a barrel without damaging it.
- Location
- Western Manitoba
Go here - pages 14 and 15 - https://saami.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/ANSI-SAAMI-Z299.1-Rimfire-2018-Approved-2018-06-13.pdf. SAAMI calls out 0.0025" depth of rifling for either Sporting or Match chambers (.222" groove and .217" bore) - I do not know if Anschutz follows SAAMI or not. But is not much depth to the .22 Long Rifle rifling!!!! For reference, most computer printer paper will be circa 0.004" thick.
None of those loads are known for excellent accuracy standards aside from maybe the Eley HP, which isn't in any of their accuracy/competition oriented product lines. Try Eley Sport, Club, Team, all of which are very reasonably priced relative to their performance. Try SK and Lapua if you can get your hands on it too.
Borescopes tend to cause more problems from a perception standpoint than they do good. I wouldn't worry about what you're seeing until you do some accuracy testing with ammunition known for accuracy and consistency. I just shot 30rds of Eley Team across a Labradar chronograph, and it had a MAX velocity spread of 19fps, and a Standard Deviation of 5... it shot extremely well.
- Location
- Nova Scotia
Okay, mine likes 18-20 ish. I have less than 1500rds thru mine. But I dont think your barrel is shot out. Mine has shallow rifling, but then again I'm just holding the rifle up to light, not using a bore scope.
Cheapest ammo I shot out of mine was tac 22 and that groups like 7/8" to 1" at 50. Fed auto match 5/8" ish.
