Thread: 17hmr cleaning regime ???? Less or more ?

Hey team, having put around 150ish rounds through my 17hmr I got to pondering about cleaning.
I haven't cleaned it yet and the last 11 magpies I have shot can vouch to its laser like accuracy.
What I'm wondering is what does everyone else do as far as cleaning ? Is it like a .22 where you only clean it if accuracy starts to wain or do you clean it every time ? How hard out do you go with cleaning just a couple oily patches or do you strip clean with brake cleaner or similar, copper clean etc ?
So far after 150 rounds I haven't noticed a drop in accuracy.
Thanks

If your reasons for cleaning the barrel are to maintain accuracy and it’s still shooting great then youve answered your own question

I treat mine the same as any other centre fire in my stable since unlike a .22LR, the bullets aren't lubed and I am looked to protect the barrel from corrosion.

Originally Posted by hotbarrels

I treat mine the same as any other centre fire in my stable since unlike a .22LR, the bullets aren't lubed and I am looked to protect the barrel from corrosion.

This was my concern, however also was unsure if cleaning it everytime would mean it needed fouling before it hit accuracy again, my only other rim fire is a jw15 and I've never cleaned that and it's still as accurate or better than when I bought it, my 270wsm on the other hand gets cleaned fastidiously everytime I use it.
This is why I ask not because what I have done so far works.

I run my HMR dirty. When accuracy starts to wane I give it a good clean then shoot again. Accuracy comes again after a few shots.


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Have left mine alone for 2-300 shots, accuracy has dropped so gave it a good clean, waiting for the weather to inprove so i can go put 20-30 though to get it dirty again

As others have said, run until accuracy goes off and give it a good clean. They generally need fouling again before the real accuracy returns.

You just wanted to put 'another' picture up aye?

Originally Posted by Gibo

You just wanted to put 'another' picture up aye?

Couldn't possibly hurt , I'll have something else to post pictures of in a few weeks

Having seen the amount of crud left behind in the DPT can I use.
Which turns grey looks and smells decidedly nasty

I prefer not to leave that in anything for to long and clean after each shoot out.

Not noticed any Ill effects on accuracy after the first fowler

I do not like to leave crud in the barrel sitting for any long period of time. If its shot every couple of days I would be less inclined to clean it after every shooting as there isnt really any time for corrosion to set in.
But if I shot it, then put it away for a month or whatever I would want it sitting for a month with clean and oiled barrel, with no powder to attract moisture and no copper to react with the steel.

it's being shot pretty much every day at the moment, and if not daily the 5 times a week........bloody magpies

Normally just a bit of 3-in-1 oil around the moving parts and a snake down the barrel after use before putting it away if its had a bit of use (if I have only fired 4-5 shots in the session, probably leave it to the next time unless it isnt going to be used for some time). Thats it.

Hi Danny, you and I are both running Marlins by the looks ( mines a different model plus stainless ) and they have the reputation of running best dirty. Make sure the bolt is out and suppressor off when storing it, even over night.
I put a lot of rounds through mine here in Central and I would say I may do up to 500 - 800 rounds and even more between cleans .
Only if the accuracy drops off a bit do I clean it and even then the first thing I think may have moved is the scope ( it was once ).
Clean with a one piece rod as the bore is very fine, there's plenty of rifles that have lost accuracy due to over cleaning and damaging the bore or crown.

There it is "over cleaning has caused more rifles to permanently loose accuracy than fouling ever has.