Cleaning 17 HMR, how do you do it?

Ryan500

Ryan500

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I have been searching for the best way to clean my Savage 93R17 and unfortunatly you can find anything you want to hear on the interweb!

I picked up a new savage and since it is the most accurate rifle I own I would like to know the best way to clean the barrel? I think the rifling is only .002" so 1 little nick could probably ruin things for me! Should I boresnake it? 1 peice rod? Rod guide?

What are you doing?

Thanks.
 
stubblejumper said:
Buy yourself a good .177 rod,and a bore guide.I use a Dewey rod myself,and I don't use brushes in my 17 Mach 2,and rarely in my other rifles.
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+1. Plastic coated rods are the best and aren't that expensive compared to ruining a good barrel. Whatever you do, don't use a boresnake, they are the devil's instrument when it comes to destroying rifling.

Mark
 
mmattockx said:
+1. Plastic coated rods are the best and aren't that expensive compared to ruining a good barrel. Whatever you do, don't use a boresnake, they are the devil's instrument when it comes to destroying rifling.

Mark
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I was wondering about that, I have a boresnake for my rem 597 in 22 and I don't like the way it feels coming down the barrel if that makes any sense! Maybe i'll stick to the rods on that one too.

So one peice rod, no brushes seems like the way... any others?
 
The otis cleaning kits are nice.
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I carry a similar flexible rod in the field in case of emergency,but I have yet to use one on any of my guns.I don't want any type of flexible rod or pull through rubbing on the rifling,or on the muzzle.
 
Wipeout

Use Wipeout - about $18/can. Spray it down the barrel, leave it sit for 1-2 hours or 1 day, depending upon how dirty. Put a rag on your cleaning rod, and when it comes out as white as when you put it in, then the barrel is clean. 1 can should last a year or two, depending upon how many rifles and cleanings you do.
 
I can't see how vinyl covered cord could do anything to the metal bore.
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It's what becomes embedded in the vinyl that can damage a bore.That is why you want as stiff a cleaning rod as possible ,so it doesn't flex against the rifling.
 
If I am forced to use a rod I use a plastic coated one, I prefer Dewey because it has a thick plastic coating to prevent any possible scratching plus it has bearings to prevent hang up. My favorite is still the Hopes .17 HMR bore snake, its the fastest and safest method. You dont have to worry about damaging the crown or worrying about which way to enter with.
 
My favorite is still the Hopes .17 HMR bore snake, its the fastest and safest method. You dont have to worry about damaging the crown or worrying about which way to enter with.
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Actually,unless you clean the bore snake after every single pass down the barrel,you can do damage to the crown.The bore snake picks up contaminants from the barrel,and every time the bore snake is pulled through a barrel,those same contaminants are pulled through the barrel.Some of those contaminants are abrasive.A clean patch,on a stiff cleaning rod,using a bore guide,are superior to any bore snake.
 
I've never used a "bore snake", but have used one of these on one of my .22s

http://20-20.8m.com/patchworm.html Is there any reason why their .17 HMR kit wouldn't be a good choice? I'd like what's best for my new .17 HMR, please post links to some of these rods, and whether or not you know of a dealer in Canada (ideally Ontario) who sell them.

Thanks!
 
Just stay away from metal rods... and remember that cleaning a barrel is the #1 way to ruin it - so take care.

I personally believe carbon-fibre rods with a free-rotating handle are the very best to choose from; According to what I've read (and subsequently seen), these remove as much risk as possible when using a cleaning rod.

Metal rods can get bent and then scratch the inner-barrel, but they don't pickup contaminants. Plastic coated rods won't destroy your barrel near as badly (or at all, according to some), but they tend to pickup contaminants that get stuck in the plastic and become abrasive. Carbon-fibre provides the benefit of both without the drawbacks of either.

http://www.battenfeldtechnologies.com/tipton/catalog.asp?family=deluxe-cleaning-rods
 
GD7 said:
I'd love to see some pictures of rifling or a crown damaged by a boresnake.
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Feel free to keep using your boresnake, but be aware that after the first pass it is like dragging a piece of sandpaper down the bore. Ask any precision shooter what they use and it won't be a boresnake.

bcode is correct, cleaning is often harder on a barrel than the shooting is. It helps to have good equipment, keep it clean and use care when cleaning.

Mark
 
Sound like the only way to be safe is to leave it in the safe. Maybe i'll just sell all my rifles...


Seriously though thanks for the input!
 
Sound like the only way to be safe is to leave it in the safe. Maybe i'll just sell all my rifles...
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It all seems to come down to those people that like the simplicity of the Bore Snake type devices,and those people that will not allow a bore snake in their rifles.:D
 
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