How do I prep my BL22?

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paz

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I bought my first rifle, a Browning BL22. I've always wanted a lever action and while I sort through the other items on my list I thought this would be a safe bet for a starter and a keeper. I have shot the BL many times over the years and recently compared it with some Henrys to make sure it's a good fit for me.

I just wanted to ask on how and what to use to clean it before shooting. Also, when I do shoot it, what should I use in terms of ammo? Is some ammo better than others?

Just so the membership understands, first rifle so no cleaners or oils or kits related to guns in the house. At this point I only have a locked locker to keep things in, not even ammo purchased yet. This is a good time to build up a toolkit for firearms maintenance.

Suggest away and thank you in advance.
 
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I use Hoppes 9 (solvent) to clean out the really dirty parts around the breech and the bolt face. I also run some on a bore patch down the barrel every so often. Most everywhere else I use G96 as it both cleans, lubricates and has a very pleasant smell. Q Tips are great for getting into the tight spots. You will get 100 different recommendations of different cleaning and lubricating products from various members on here and for the most part, it boils down to personal preference and what you have available. Pretty much any product you can get at a sporting goods store that is meant for what you are doing, will work fine. Ballistol and CLP are some others that will accomplish the same task.

As for ammo, doesn't matter as long as it's what your rifle is chambered for. For my general plinking needs, I just buy the cheapest bulk pack i can find that isn't Remington Gold. Federal/CCI and Winchester have lots of great options. If you don't mind spending a bit more, CCI Mini Mags are the GM small block V8 of 22LR ammo. They are everywhere, they just work and they work well in darn near anything. If you are looking for accuracy, you will have to experiment with some of the more expensive, boutique brands and types.
 
Great, thanks for the info.

Any recommendations on a kit or snake to buy for cleaning and maintenance? I have Cabelas, CanTire, online and some local shops all available so finding things shouldn’t be a problem. The challenge will probably be wadding through all the options.
 
paz said:
Great, thanks for the info.

Any recommendations on a kit or snake to buy for cleaning and maintenance? I have Cabelas, CanTire, online and some local shops all available so finding things shouldn’t be a problem. The challenge will probably be wadding through all the options.
Click to expand...

Grab yourself a Hoppes Boresnake off Amazon, or a no name snake on Amazon for half the Hoppes price.
I have both and can't tell the difference.
 
Learn how to break the rifle in two (one screw to remove and reassemble it), particularly how to install the locking block correctly. Getting the ejector in place along with its little conical coil spring and keeping it there while replacing the bolt can be fun. Disassembled, you can clean the action thoroughly and wipe out the barrel using a rod from the breech.
Most any ammunition will work, some may perform better in your rifle than others.
 
Just as a possible point of interest for you. If you ever get tired of the ridiculously bad trigger pull, you can get a spring kit that will lighten it up considerably.
 
One thing to pay attention to is Carbon buildup in the chamber. I ALWAYS clean the chamber with Boretech C4 Carbon Solvent (buy online from sponsor ( Londero - $49.99) The 16 oz will last you 2-3 years (I'm on year 3 with some and I have 7x 22s to clean) !!
I personally soak a patch in the chamber for 15-min or so on a loop-jag. I insert the cleaning rod with jag from the muzzle and attach the patch after the jag protrudes into the ejection area, then put a few drops on the patch. I fill a Visine eye-drop bottle (or your fave) to apply small drops, the 16-oz is pretty big to handle. After the 'soak' I pull the patch on thru the bore, the repeat the process except putting 90% Alcohol on the second patch to remove any solvent. Then I repeat with oil on a third patch - I use Mobil-1 collected from the 'new jug after oil change on my car. Invert over a collection bottle for a day or so and get 1-2 ounces.
This process should be simple for you to access with the lever action. I'd avoid any 'Snake-thing' since they mostly include a brush "built-in" and unless you wash them every use you'll be dragging crap thru your bore, including the silicas from Primer crap.
As you see from the Alcohol 'wash' I'm fussy, but if you want to keep your rifle for years you should develop a bit of fussiness. The Browning is worth it. I do the same with my $150 rifles, as well as my CZ VMTR - ca $1500.
 
Been shooting more .22lr lately I take a .22 brass cleaning brush bend it 90 degrees attatch a short rod You can now easily clean your chamber when needed, then lightly oil the first part of a bore snake run through a couple of times. Works for me
CCI standard is decent ammo, fairly consistent and doesn’t gum up your chamber too badly
Have fun Very accurate rifle
 
Thanks guys.

So I need some solvent, oil, patches and a patchworm type thing, possibly a bore snake. I can probably save getting a twisty straight rod thing for now since I only have a levered 22.

Forgive my lack of knowledge and terms, I'm just learning this stuff.
 
Just to repeat from Post #8 -
" I'd avoid any 'Snake-thing' since they mostly include a brush "built-in" and unless you wash them every use you'll be dragging crap thru your bore, including the silicas from Primer crap. "
JMO , BUT I like CLEAN
 
Only part that seems to break is the firing pin. No harm having a spare.
When I had my shop, I liked pull throughs. Contributed billable hours to remove them. If you want a flexible system, get an Otis. Otherwise, get a good rod.
 
I bought a RangeMaxx all-in-one cleaning kit from Cabelas, I haven't opened it yet, and some Hoppe's solvent and oil along with some G96 triple-somehting. I think it should be ok. No bore snake or anything but a few folks said it was a great thing to have out in the field to use right after any sort of shooting and before taking a gun home to clean it properly.
 
UPdate 4-05 1PM Prices

Paz - I just wanted to add that Amazon .ca has Boretech C4 in 16-oz for ca $75, with ca. $10 Customs Included. NO-ONE in Canada Seems to have any, unless you have a LGS that carries it.
HOWEVER - I bought one in 2020 for about $50 (from Canada) and I still have ca 4-oz left - 4-years so far - So ONLY $15 per year, and I clean 3-4 22s each range trip, ca 20+ trips per YEAR. And use it on my SKS to help remove all the Chinese Crap, about 10+ trips for that one.
EDIT - The $15/year is for CURRENT PRICE. The "Old stuff" has cost me $10/year !! :cool:
 
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3 things to make life easy. A good cleaning rod, perhaps not the multi-piece ones but a solid rod like this:

https://www.cabelas.ca/product/158934/tipton-deluxe-1-piece-22-26-cal-carbon-fibre-26-cleaning-rod

Carb Out to clean the carbon ring, use every 500-1000 rounds. Once rifle is disassembled you put the Carb Out on a patch and soak the first 2-3” of the barrel at the receiver end for up to 5 minutes and then run a dry patch through.

https://sharpshootr.com/carb-out/

Last item is Wipe Out - a foam you spray from the barrel end until it foams out at the breech end, leave it sit for 24 hours or less. Run a patch thru and if blue, you still have copper, if black, you still have lead, and if clear, you are good to go.

https://sharpshootr.com/wipe-out/



Run a couple of dry patches thru, then a patch with a bit of oil and you’re ready for the range again. With the above cleaners no need for a bore snake which is the best way to clean a barrel, no pushing/pulling a cleaning rod through with a brass brush. The above will keep your barrel clean for many, many years. I shoot 10 different rifles and the Wipe Out lasts me at least 3 years, perhaps more. You can buy all of the above products in Canada. Carb Out and Wipe Out are about $30 a can.
 
no Bore snakes !!
get a good quality clean kit brass rod run a brush thru the bore use oil
then shoot about 5000 rounds thru it maybe then it will need cleaning
as for taking it apart well that's will be a exercise in patience a few parts that tend to be very tricky to install oh and can get lost easily
great little 22's
 
Paz, How's the BL doing ?? I've been reading about the 'less common' Henry Lever and owners are saying accuracy they expect is only ca 1-1.5" @ 50 yds. with a scope. Are you doing better and do you have a scope. My Savage B22 got avg 3/4" @ 50 with a 6-24x50 scope, but there was a 10+ klik cross-wind.
PS - If I had a bore snake I'd give it to someone I didn't like :p
 
Been watching this with interest, I know a guy who just got his first BL22 recently. (older one)

Re: rods vs. bore snake-I'm not a fan of boresnakes but have one for a sub-gauge shotgun, it's actually a pleasure to use but otherwise=not a fan. For rimfire/small centerfire, I have Pro-Shot rods in several sizes, jags/brushes etc. but truth-be-told, I almost never use them. I prefer this, especially for 22s;

https://patchworm.com/

They sell something called super-intensive felts (or close), a light green felt plug with fine brass wires woven-in. Add those to your order. Patchworm kits are less suited to people who never clean their guns, an actual brush will give you the authority to muscle allot of crud out if you've let it go too long. I never do, I give a quick clean after every session. I have trusted it on on really gummed-up guns too, used .22s that have crossed my path. I usually plug the bore @ the muzzle with something, put the barrel muzzle down and spray a foaming bore cleaner in from the chamber end. Drain, level the barrel, run a felt through. More felts with solvent until patches can take over. More soaking muzzle down if not, etc
 
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