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This may sound like a stupid question but do you clean your .22
I've had it drilled into me that my .270 and 12g shouldn't go back into the cabinet till they've been cleaned but i've heard from multiple people that i shouldn't clean my .22!
Is there a reason for this or is it just bad advice?
RR
I clean, lubricate and function test all of my firearms after use - .22 included.
Most people only clean the bore if the groups start to get bigger.
That's why so many 22s have rust pitted bores.
+1Quote:
Originally Posted by hawkfish
Then put about 10 shots through to get the accuracy back. Clean bore they all seem to shoot all over the place. Once the wax or whatever has built up again the accuracy is silly accurate again.
I generally give mine a wipe with a rag and some oil most times it goes back but don't really clean the barrel.
Hmm, I'd never heard of not cleaning .22 before. Learn something new every day! If my action is not properly cleaned and lubricated it will jam after x amount of rounds. I usually shoot 100 rounds + per session, always CCI subs. Should I not clean the barrel - seems to be a lot of articles on the internet saying not to.
Why though - what's the rationale behind this?
Yeah you still need to give it a wipe over to prevent rust and keep it clean, but you dont need to chemically clean the bore unless the groups start to spread out.Quote:
Originally Posted by Toby
Thats my opinion anyway ;)
Yup. This. I think the main reason is because the .22 gets used more then anything so why clean it all the time. Thats my reasoning for itQuote:
Originally Posted by hawkfish
Mine gets a oiled patch after any use.
It might sit in the safe for a couple of years,better than a rusty bore.
+1 im with him.....Quote:
Originally Posted by veitnamcam
I've got a ruger 10/22.
I run a boresnake or oiled patch thru it after use.
Full strip and clean of the working parts on condition or every 3 months.
Trigger group once a year.
My experience mirrors (some of) those above .. a clean barrell sprays the rounds around the bull. Not saying dont clean, just let it settle back in before using on something you want to hit !!
From what I gather the 22lr rounds have a wax coating and that builds up in the bore and provides a lube. The projectiles mostly have a copper wash also which avoids lead build up and they are not going fast enough for copper build up in the bore. With the Marlin semi the action gets cleaned and a very very light dry lube each use.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan
Thanks, I believe that we have the same type of rifle (795)? I'm doing some shooting this weekend so will put this idea to the test.Quote:
Originally Posted by gadgetman
Sure do, though I mainly use the bolt action 980s. I wondered why I kept missing then got told not to clean the barrel. After a mag it was back on aim.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan
Interesting topic ... lots of opinions, which makes for interesting reading. I’ve spent a couple of hours trolling some overseas forums and attempted to answer this posting based on a summary of their views not mine as I have no idea.
One thing we all know is we should always clean our weapons if we want them to retain their value and be safe and operate without risk or failure.
The question is how often do I clean the bore? Before I answer this, there appears to be 4 rough groups of .22LR shooter who therefore usually own different quality rifles and do completely different shooting.
1. The expert target shooter who can be a tad fussy and knows it
2. The frequent weekend warrior who nails a lot of vermin and hangs out on forums like this
3. The very part-time plinker who needs to get out more or simply shoots other rifles as a preference
4. The guys who don’t really give a toss about cleaning their (t)rusty old .22
Group 1 - these guys clean their bores every 100-200 rounds and sometimes less if they notice a drop off in accuracy. They use all sorts of cool and expensive foamy products & processes to do the job perfectly. Interesting that they all shoot between 12-50 ‘foulers’ before they enter another comp, which settles the bore back into a ‘normal’ accurate state.
Group 2 – these guys clean their rifles every 500-2000 and use the normal products and processes like most of us probably do. There is a common thread that they use a dry patch before/after every shoot just to clean out powder residue without loosing the accuracy, therefore no ‘foulers’ required.
Group 3 – these guys clean their rifles inside and out and basically prep them for storage. They run a couple of dry patches through before use. They shoot so little that they probably miss a couple early in the shoot and put it down to a lack of practice, however some ‘foulers’ might have helped.
Group 4 – these guys probably shoot well as their rifles are in a 'normal' accurate state but they just need to think about their own & others safety and at least give their .22’s a clean every year. Keep safe lads.
A coupe of comments - if you change your ammo brand or model then give the bore a good clean & do plenty of ‘foulers’. When storing our rifles, always relieve the firing pin spring pressure in the bolt so as to rest it properly. Get your gun shop to show you how or check out YouTube if unsure how. Don't get obsessive about your brass brushing. Always use a dry patch before you go out as it’s a good compromise but more importantly confirms the bore is clear of obstructions. Always clean & oil the outside, mag & action, even if it’s just a quickie. Read your manual, as that is probably a good reference. Take particular care of your crown at all times!
Anyway … that’s the guts of about 30 different posts. Cheers Gunzrrr
Hi All
This thread has me questioning what I do now. I own a .22mag and always run 3-4 patches through after each hunt. Light oil on the first couple then a dry on the last to absorb the excess. This isn't going to affect the rifles accuracy is it? It's currently sitting in the safe with a clean bore and it has me worried as to what I might have done.
Cheers
Interesting reading.
I have always been told and under the impression that 22lr ammo is pre-lube and therefore leave a lining in the bore protecting to some extent. I still lube and clean the bolt group/action and trigger group frequently but only drag a bore snake through when it looks like there's a fair bit of crap built up in the barrel.
I don't "clean" mine as such each use just an oiled patch.
See so many beautiful old 22s with rooted bores cos "you don't need to clean a 22"
As far as a full clean of the bore i have only done once in my jw and accuracy defiantly went to shit for 20 off rounds.
Wow. And the pieces of the puzzle just click into place.. gotta stop being a cleaning nazi.
Sent from my GT-I9300T using Tapatalk
nz_hunter ... no worries for you as the .22Mag is completely different. This is purely discussing .22LR's which are usually lubed in a waxy substance, usually with lead projectiles and possibly cheap powder. You're fine with your shiny spout!Quote:
Originally Posted by nz_hunter
Yup ... I'm a cleaning nazi ... I find it relaxing ... my wife bakes cakes to relax - I clean guns to relax. Clearly I'm going to be limited to one dry patch per clean for my .22LR bores. Boring ...
Quote:
Originally Posted by deepsouthaussie
You mean one oiled patch.;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Gunzrrr
Maybe lightly oiled after a shoot ... 1 dry patch before a shoot ... sound good ??
iv got my dads 10/22 that he used when possum shooting for a living.(in the 70's, only head shots as they skinned them.) he never owned a cleaning kit. the bore never got cleaned, maybe just a wipe down on the outside. I could only guess how many thousands of rounds it fired.
I got it a couple of years ago, at that stage I didn't have .22 brushes and didn't know how to clean a semi, so I asked dean maisey to clean it when he was lightning the trigger.
I didn't notice it shooting any better, maybe just a little, but I would have put that down to the lighter trigger making it easier to hold steady while squeezing.
I wont be cleaning it again, I do pay strict attention to my centrefires though.
Just look down the barrel ( from the safe end ) up to you if you want to clean the crudd.
Mine gets a clean with the brass brush and inox patch after every use, have done for at least a couple years and is still a tack driver
Modern .22 ammo has a projectile with a lubed coating that will protect the bore from corrosion .
22 mag is different and has a jacketed projectile and should be treated like a centerfire rifle .
Target shooters have different opinions about cleaning .22 rimfires , but they all clean them .
.22 rimfire benchrest shooters clean their bores after a card + sighters ( maybe 60 - 70 shots )
They are the accuracy champions of the rifle world , if you think you know better and can shoot better than them , well "good luck to ya "
Ken
Mine only ever shoots 1 inch groups at 50 meters, no matter if it was cleaned yesterday or last year.
I don't clean my centre rifles very often either, hanging around too many shooting forums the general consensus from target shooters is that improper cleaning can cause damage to your bore. That along with many target shooters going hundreds of rounds before cleaning, led me to believe my 5-30 shot shooting sessions didn't need me too clean my rifle each time. My accuracy certainly has not suffered. I'll oil the bore to stop any rust happening, but wont bother cleaning it. My shotgun has gone almost a year without being cleaned and being in a dehumidified environment, no rust has formed.
my .22 gets a clean and stripdown after every shoot other wise i find i tends to jam up
use a bit of brake clean to blast the crap out then oil it up and your good to go for the next time
I clean my old TOZ17 rifle about every 500 rounds or if Im going to not use it awhile. I make up a solvent called EDs red which has to be about the best stuff Ive ever used. I pull a bronze wool wad thru the bore and the amount of lead that comes out isnt so much as it used to be. After using EDS red you can store a rifle for a year or so with no rust issue. The TOZ has particually good steel and has always been a tack driver. I used to shoot with a guy back in the 70's and we shot a lot of possums ,all head shots thru the right eye. He used a 10/22 and never cleaned it untill he started needing 2 shots.Ive put several hundred thousand rounds thru this TOZ and have kept it while getting rid of the others. I think it pays to keep your firearms clean and in good condition. A regular cleaning will show up any developing problems. That reminds me, anyone got a spare mag for a TOZ.