What to clean with? and Went to the range yesterday

[ljs12]

I have a 22 and would like to know what I need to clean it with. I see quite a variety on gun cleaning kits and wondered what was neccessary.



Spent a few hours at the range yesterday (25 yard). Went through about 300 rounds. My gun works well with cci ammo. Had a great time, Looking forward to going out again

[Ron AKA]

Good to hear you had fun. I just got a new .22 and did not have the cleaning equipment for it, so I did a bit of research. You will find and hear a lot of things. Don't use an aluminum rod, don't use a 3 peice rod, don't use even a coated rod without a guide, don't use brass bore brushes, clean it every 5 rounds until the barrel is "broke in",.....

My conclusion is that most guns are overcleaned and potentially damaged by careless cleaning. In the end all I bought was a Boresnake. I pulled it through once to clean the new gun, once after 300 rounds or so, and once when I got home to store it after another 300 rounds or so. Will continue to do the same. It is a stainless barrel, so I don't even bother to put oil in the barrel.

On caution with the Boresnake or any other device, is to be very careful not to drag the cord with any force against the edge of the muzzle end bore. This is a very critical part of the gun for accuracy and the area most likely damaged by cleaning. If you do go with a rod, you should always clean from the chamber end.

Cabela's -- Hoppe's BoreSnake

Ron

[wunhunglo]

My understanding was you only needed to clean 22's twice; once when you bought it and again, just before you sell it. (Of course you might need to do it again in between should it jam or something!)

[scoutman]

i use a bore snake in the barrel of my model 60 and i did not know that the bore snake could harm the edge of the muzzle the cord can harm the metal? and i take the action apart and i spray and wipe out the receiver and i spray the trigger assembly out with birchwood casey every 100 rounds or so and i clean the bore often cuzz its a new gun

[meatloaf]

I havnt seen any damage from my boresnake. I have one for every caliber I own and I use it from both the front of the berrel back and the receiver forward. I also fail to see how any damage can possably occur if what you are using is softer than what the barrel is made out of.

[STITCH]

I clean my ruger .22 everyother time I use it. I only do that cuz I go out in the woods to shoot small game with it and sometimes it gets mud in it. But I wouldnt see why you would need to clean it to often unless it is semi-auto. in that case just whip the action down a little and put some oil on it.

[andrew cochran]

If you really think you need to clean it or accuracy is suffering just buy a boresnake. I know they aren't the best for cleaning but one rimfires they do fine! Less damage to the rifleing.

[Deep13]

0.22 is an especially dirty cartridge. They need to be cleaned every 100-150 rounds or so.
Use a steel rod with a brass jag to push a patch through (the breach end if possible) saturated with Shooters Choice. Don't use Hoppe's #9 as it does not dissolve copper and leaves varnish.
Once the loose crud is pushed out, switch from the jag to a .22 rimfire bronze brush and saturate it with Shooter's Choice. Don't worry, it will wear out from friction long before the solvent dissolves it. Run it through a few times. (Really you are suppose to run it through one direction, remove the brush, pull out the rod, reattach the brush and do it again--but I never do that.) Steel will require more brushing than chrome. Replace the brush with a jag and run patches through until they come out clean. Rinse with something like Outers Nitro Solvent and dry with a patch. For carbon steel, run an oiled patch through the bore, otherwise you are done.
Plastic brushes are harmless, but they don't do a very good job either. Bore Snakes only work well when they are brand new. The second time it is used is like cleaning with a dirty patch. I use a Bore Snake for my .22 revolver chambers, but that's all.
Of course the action has to be cleaned and reassembled too. I usually use toothpicks, Q-tips and brushes with Shooter's Choice and then rinse with the Nitro Solvent.
Guns are expensive and mine are cleaner than my kitchen utensils.

That break in period for barrels seems rather silly to me. What is it supposed to do besides wear it out early? One thing I have done is season the barrel. Shoot it until it is hot and then spray Rem Oil down the bore. It is kind of like seasoning a cast iron pan.

[knightRider]

CLP

[rfc357]

Tie a piece of nylon monofilament around a patch. Soak patch with Hoppe's #9. Pull through bore from action to muzzle. Repeat with a couple of dry patches. That should be all the cleaning a sporter .22 will ever need. Poor man's bore snake.

[andrew cochran]

I have to say that .22 LR does not need a thuro cleaning all the time. You will most likely wear one out by over cleaning before not cleaning at all. Just a thought.

[Sooner Shooter]

I understand that care must be taken especially when cleaning from the muzzle. I need some explanation as to why a three piece aluminum rod shouldn't be used. Unless you use it like a chisel and I'm not sure even then would it scratch or do anything to a steel barrel. Why are brass/bronze bristles bad? Again they are softer than the steel. Maybe the overuse of brass/bronze bristles could be undesirable for a barrel but sometimes the copper needs a little help. I'm certainly no expert on gun cleaning but would really like to know more of the "whys" on some of these methods.

[billy]

my cz452 has never seen a cleaning rod and most probably never will.
i hit it with a boresnake about every 500 rnds.
same with my custom 10-22

they both shoot really well and i am terrified of damaging the crowns

[Big Dog]

Everyone has their particular favorite 'snake oil' for cleaning their guns.
I do use multi-section rods. Sparingly.
A rimfire needs cleaning when accuracy falls off, or when changing types of ammo and shooting for group.
The ONLY time I use a brush is when I buy a new-to-me rifle and do a 'first cleaning' to remove gunk. Then, it only gets a patch thru it - wetted with a good bore cleaner if it's really dirty, dry otherwise.
I clean from the reciever end if possible - bolties and a few semis - from the muzzle otherwise. As long as you aren't slamming the rod handle on the muzzle end, you will NOT wear it out or damage it. Most 'worn' rimfire bores are actually leading - remove the leading and voila! A shiny 'new' bore.
The receiver needs cleaning and lubing, even when I don't touch the bore. I use a variety of snake oils - sometimes RemOil, sometimes CLP, sometimes something else. They all work.

[DWARREN123]

If not a higher priced target rifle then a rod, brush, patch tip, patches and a cleaner that removes lead and fouling (don't need copper remover) and a lube. You can get away with just a Bore Snake instead of a rod or use it in the field.
Clean the bore only when accuracy starts to go away, clean the action when dirty. Lube the outside lightly and then wipe down.
The 22lr is a dirty round compared to most centerfire rounds.

[Deep13]

I don't mean to be quarrelsome, but there is no way that a cleaning brush is going to wear-out a barrel. If a thousand lead pellets traveling faster than sound don't wear the barrel out, then a brush isn't going to do it. It is necessary to be careful with the crown when cleaning from the muzzle-end in guns that can only be cleaned from that end like an auto-loading rifle or a revolver.

[Ron AKA]

Originally Posted by meatloaf

I havnt seen any damage from my boresnake. I have one for every caliber I own and I use it from both the front of the berrel back and the receiver forward. I also fail to see how any damage can possably occur if what you are using is softer than what the barrel is made out of.

I would be worried if you rub the cord hard against the sharp edge of the exit bore. Nylon or polyester, or whatever they use has to be pretty tough and it will accumulate abrasive material over time. I don't think it is a critical concern. Just keep pulling straight out of the bore and not at any angle or force on the bore edge.

Originally Posted by Sooner Shooter

I understand that care must be taken especially when cleaning from the muzzle. I need some explanation as to why a three piece aluminum rod shouldn't be used. Unless you use it like a chisel and I'm not sure even then would it scratch or do anything to a steel barrel. Why are brass/bronze bristles bad? Again they are softer than the steel. Maybe the overuse of brass/bronze bristles could be undesirable for a barrel but sometimes the copper needs a little help. I'm certainly no expert on gun cleaning but would really like to know more of the "whys" on some of these methods.

The logic is that the steps on the rod where they are screwed together can damage the barrel. Some think the brass bristles cause wear. Not sure copper is a problem in rimfires with lead bullets.

I take these with a grain of salt, but it is important to realize that lapping is a machining technique to produce very flat surfaces in steel -- somethimes very hard steel. It is done by putting an abrasive lapping compound on a lap. The lap most often is a softer material than the part being lapped. The abrasive beds in the soft material and abrades the hard material. So it really comes down to abrasive materials being present, or the user being very careless in handling the rod. I believe the current thinking is one piece coated steel, but realistically it could bed abrasive material as well and cause wear. Boresnake is simple and easy.

Ron

[mossbergman]

My take here is there is way too much overkill on damaging the crown. I have dozens of 22 rifles that have been cleaned the unholy way for decades from the muzzle and most with 3 pc aliuminium rods to boot. Most i've purchased used and abused and they shoot super. (I mean dime size holes @ 50yds maybe better if i do my part.) Rifles I've had for 45 yrs still shoot like new. The boresnakes are great as far as I'm concerned. Note the 22LR is not a copper jktd' bullet,the copper colored one are just a copper wash lube, the others have a more traditional waxy lube, the lube protects the bore.This is why so many old barn found 22s all cruddy looking have pristine bores.. no one cleaned them. On the Hoppe #9 not being a copper solvent,I disagree. I've got plenty of green copper out with old #9 . Grant it today there are better choices. most of the Foam wipe out types cleaners work real well on Copper. But Copper not really a concern on the LR only rhe WMR.....---JMJ--

[Big Dog]

Mossbergman, you are indeed right! The .22 bullet lube CAN protect the bore. I have an old Mossberg M146b that I bought from a range buddy - it had sat under his recently deceased Grandfather's trailer for who know's how long. It was a crusty rusty wreck! I figured to use the stock for a project and junk the rest, and bought it cheap.
For giggles, I ran a patch thru the bore - it came up clean and shiny! Good rifling! So I stripped it and now it looks and shoots like new! Even the S130 peep sight cleaned up nicely. It's my favorite 'squirrel rifle'.
That waxy .22 lube is good stuff! Don't be too quick to clean it out.
I find a rimfire shoots best with a lightly fouled bore - it 'seasons' it. once cleaned, it can take several rounds to setle back in.

[mossbergman]

Originally Posted by Big Dog

Mossbergman, you are indeed right! The .22 bullet lube CAN protect the bore. I have an old Mossberg M146b that I bought from a range buddy - it had sat under his recently deceased Grandfather's trailer for who know's how long. It was a crusty rusty wreck! I figured to use the stock for a project and junk the rest, and bought it cheap.
For giggles, I ran a patch thru the bore - it came up clean and shiny! Good rifling! So I stripped it and now it looks and shoots like new! Even the S130 peep sight cleaned up nicely. It's my favorite 'squirrel rifle'.
That waxy .22 lube is good stuff! Don't be too quick to clean it out.
I find a rimfire shoots best with a lightly fouled bore - it 'seasons' it. once cleaned, it can take several rounds to setle back in.

SHHH!!! that old mossberg is probably one of your best shooting rifles. the 146 models are really good shooters.--JMJ--