How often do you clean your 22???
- Thread starter darcy32171
- Start date
hometownhero
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Toon Town, Sk
For bolt action 22 rifles every few thousand rounds. Some 22's on the farm have never been cleaned since new(old cooeys with no serial #)
- Location
- south of Detroit
10/22>When it stops working, its time to clean it.
It all depends on what sort of 22 rimfire we are talking about, and what discipline we are shooting.
If it is a super-accurate bench rest unit, you will be cleaning more frequently.
Generally, if you want to shoot high scores, cleaning will be done every 2-300 rounds or sometimes less.
If we are talking your "plinker" or "grouse-getter" the cleaning interval may be quite long.
I have seen many 22's that have not seen a decent cleaning for thousands of rounds.
Semi-auto rifles need more frequent attention simply because the blowback action types used contaminate the bolt and action area.
One thing that many rimfire shooters are not aware of is the "ring" that is deposited just ahead of the case mouth in the chamber/leade area.
This ring is composed of lead and carbon, and has a marginal effect on standard chambers, but is deadly to match chamber accuracy, and must be removed quite often.
Some BR shooters clean it out after every 50 shot string.
In cleaning a rimfire, one must be careful to not damage the rifling since 22 rimfire barrels tend to be fairly soft.
Boresnakes are not great to clean any rifle with unless you wash them between each use. [You just drag dirt and grit back through the bore unless they are clean]
Boreguides and properly sized, one-piece rods are essential. [I prefer a coated rod, myself]
Aluminum is a poor metal for cleaning rods since aluminum oxides that form on the rod occasionally are very hard, and will scratch the bore easily.
As a last thought, I would never clean a 22 from the muzzle if it was humanly possible to clean it from the breech.
Regards, Eagleye.
If it is a super-accurate bench rest unit, you will be cleaning more frequently.
Generally, if you want to shoot high scores, cleaning will be done every 2-300 rounds or sometimes less.
If we are talking your "plinker" or "grouse-getter" the cleaning interval may be quite long.
I have seen many 22's that have not seen a decent cleaning for thousands of rounds.
Semi-auto rifles need more frequent attention simply because the blowback action types used contaminate the bolt and action area.
One thing that many rimfire shooters are not aware of is the "ring" that is deposited just ahead of the case mouth in the chamber/leade area.
This ring is composed of lead and carbon, and has a marginal effect on standard chambers, but is deadly to match chamber accuracy, and must be removed quite often.
Some BR shooters clean it out after every 50 shot string.
In cleaning a rimfire, one must be careful to not damage the rifling since 22 rimfire barrels tend to be fairly soft.
Boresnakes are not great to clean any rifle with unless you wash them between each use. [You just drag dirt and grit back through the bore unless they are clean]
Boreguides and properly sized, one-piece rods are essential. [I prefer a coated rod, myself]
Aluminum is a poor metal for cleaning rods since aluminum oxides that form on the rod occasionally are very hard, and will scratch the bore easily.
As a last thought, I would never clean a 22 from the muzzle if it was humanly possible to clean it from the breech.
Regards, Eagleye.
ALBERTA BOY
Regular
- Location
- Edmonton, AB
Never, yet. The marlin 60 manual specifically states you NEVER have to clean the bore.
I don't get it - Honestly! I find that my .22s are the filthiest of all my guns, due to the lack of "hot" cartridges leaving lots of unburned powder around, and often the bullet lube sticks around, too.
If I DON'T clean a semi-auto .22 after every use, I feel like a blasphemer. One stoppage is one too many.
Apparently, I suffer from some sort of O.C.D.
If I DON'T clean a semi-auto .22 after every use, I feel like a blasphemer. One stoppage is one too many.
Apparently, I suffer from some sort of O.C.D.
- Location
- Edmonton,AB,Canada
I usually clean after every outing; it's not unheard of to put over 1000 rnds through the beast in a day. Personally I don't enjoy seeing the HUGE amount of crud in the barrel that .22s leave, especially Remmys. Shot 400 Remmy Game loads and 200 Remmy high speed something-or-other through 2 rifles last time and things got REAL dirty. The bolt gun, Cooey 60, started to get stiff to operate. Still shot great tho! I find that a couple of passes with a bore snake and Eds Red, clean the bolt/action, and I'm good to go. YMMV.
Cheers!!
Cheers!!
I see large carbon particles after firing a single shot. I can't believe these particles are not swept down the barrel by the next shot and simply replaced with the same number. Other than micro sized carbon that becomes imbedded in the barrels pores, I can't see how carbon accumulates after hundreds of shots.
I can see how on a semi auto, the blown back carbon particles accumulate within the receiver. That's a different issue, and one that needs addressing before the action becomes inoperative.
I can see how on a semi auto, the blown back carbon particles accumulate within the receiver. That's a different issue, and one that needs addressing before the action becomes inoperative.
