what's minimum maintenance for a bolt action 22LR in your opinion?
- Thread starter huntershooter
- Start date
Personally: wipe down with Ballistol every time, run an oily patch every 500 rounds or every year just for storage, scrub the bore with the copper brush only if it needs it- I think I've done the one I shoot most often once in the last 5 yrs and there was maybe 5000 rounds shot through it by that point. That would be minimum to me because that is what has proven satisfactory. However, I've also only shot copper jacketed bullets through my .22s for the last ten years probably. It is my understanding that scrubbing a bore too often does more harm than good.
Also, I would strongly recommend a Dewey cleaning rod, they are nylon coated steel so they are stiff and strong but will not damage the bore. Not cheap, but good quality and will last.
Also, I would strongly recommend a Dewey cleaning rod, they are nylon coated steel so they are stiff and strong but will not damage the bore. Not cheap, but good quality and will last.
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I just picked up three 22's, two over a hundred years old, and one probably 70 years old. A quick inspection and fired a few rounds out of each, two functioned perfectly (bolt actions) , the third misfired on first pull but I'm sure a basic cleaning will get it working. Can't vouch that any modern 22's would be the same, but they just work. Keep them dry and away from grit and have fun. Clean as much as you feel comfortable.
I'd say cleaning requirements depends on the shooting discipline you are involved in and the type of rifle you shoot. In the bench rest game "If you ain't cleaning you ain't winning." The loss of accuracy that would cause a bench rest shooter to lose a match wouldn't even be noticed by a pop can plinker. The effects of the "carbon ring" that builds in the chamber are noticed sooner in match chambers as they are tighter in dimension. A looser sporter chamber allows more room before such fouling build up will contact and affect a bullet. A bolt action will be less fussy over cleaning regime than a semi auto, the last thing anyone wants is an out of battery discharge in a semi auto due to fouling build up preventing the bolt from fully closing keep those semi chambers clean folks!
Oil the outside, couple carbon cleaning patches in the bore, I find they shoot better fouled. My S&L takes about 20 rounds on a clean bore to settle in.
When really dirty, nylon brush only, with some carbon/lead remover. But that's only once a year or so.
When really dirty, nylon brush only, with some carbon/lead remover. But that's only once a year or so.
