cleaning .22LR : how often and how

When .22LR ammo was corrosive, cleaning was absolutely necessary. When non-corrosive ammo became more widely available, many shooters rejoiced and quit cleaning. That doesn't mean that not cleaning is the way to go.
 
I had a friend who has now passed that made the 1980 Olympic Team (Canada boycotted) He shot every day for a couple years leading up to the team trials. He told me that he cleaned twice a year, if he remembered to do it the second time. Anschutz prone rifle with a Hart barrel.
I know another shooter that has 3 Olympic under his belt and several World Cups. He cleans sometimes twice a day or more depending on how many rounds go down the barrel. He then fires a bunch of fouling shots to get it to shoot again. Tennex is rather expensive to use as foulers.
 
SIG FAN said:
I usually clean mine when they look dirty, the action is gritty, or reliability starts to suffer. It really depends on the gun. Some after 750 rounds, others after several thousand rounds.
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I'm with you. That said the 10/22 was acting up a bit last time we had it out so probably due for a bath. Guesstimate 600-700 rounds since last cleaning.
 
I used to not clean my 22's, then last range trip I was getting more fliers than I thought I should have. I also happened to buy a cheap bore scope, and now I need more cleaning supplies. I thought I was getting my guns reasonably clean with a quick brush and a couple patches, but the bore scope is a real eye opener. Going to try getting everything nice and clean, centerfire rifles too, and then I'll have some sort of a baseline to see when accuracy falls off. Most of my rifles I bought used or have had for many years, so this should be interesting.
Kristian
 
I always try to clean from the breach . I have heard about people damaging the crown and the rifle won't shoot as well anymore .
 
I tend to clean after going shooting more than 100 rounds. Clean guns are reliable guns. Except my cooey 60. It likes being dirty. After cleaning it it does not cycle very well so that one never gets cleaned.
 
Buckmark pistol sitting at 1700 rounds, can't remember last time when I cleaned it. Got a red dot mounted on it, so every time I think about cleaning, I think about zeroing my red dot afterwards. It travels with me every week to the range. Probably will clean it in the winter as I wouldn't be hitting the range as often.
 
nitroxace said:
I clean it after ever range session. A clean gun is a happy gun.
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I always say a dirty gun is a happy gun.. i might run a bore snake down the barrel.. but i don't break out the brushes until I can chip lead off the muzzle. Its stays accurate enough for what I do. (for my 22 anyways.. centerfire gets cleaned like a normal person)
 
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