.22LR Single Six: Should I clean it?

[DMK]

I browse Rimfire Central every once in a while and darn if somebody isn't saying every other post how they never clean their .22s except when changing ammo brands.

Man, it pains me to put away a dirty gun. What do you revolver guys think? Should I keep my Ruger Single Six clean or not?

 

[dfariswheel]

I'm old-fashioned enough that I like to protect even .22LR barrels.

What some of the "I don't clean 'em" boys fail to consider, is that although the lube on the .22 bullets can HELP protect the bore, they do NOTHING for the cylinder or chamber.
I have seen pristine bores and corroded chambers.

So, I run a patch soaked in CLP Break-free down the bore after a day at the range. This cleans out most fouling and protects the bore until next time.
For longer-term storage I do the whole solvent, brush, and patch routine.

 

[sm]

clean ?

I'm more concerned about chambers in anything, than most anything else. Add cylinders for wheels.

I don't know when one of us actually cleaned the model 18, chamber and cyls are after each session, with students, FWTW

 

[MacPelto]

Clean it. There are certain types of rimfires in which a bit of fouling can improve consistency, mostly 3-position rifles and bench guns. For plinkers...clean them, it's a good habit.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Dirt attracts moisture. Moisture promotes rust. Therefore, clean it. I'll be a happier buyer when you decide to sell it.

 

[DMK]

I'll be a happier buyer when you decide to sell it.

Ah, you'll have to pry the Single Six from my cold dead fingers.

OK, so clean it. CLP and boresnake or all out, cleaning rod, brush, Hoppes 9 and lube?

I guess the thing that makes me even question it is that you have to clean revolvers from the bore. All my autos get cleaned without a second though, but I worry about cleaning from the bore too much.

 

[Ledbetter]

Clean bore with lots of time soaking in CLP/Hoppes and very little actual brushing. You know to be careful of the crown. Rest of the gun, clean to your heart's content, especially the chamber and cylinders. Those guys on RFC are talking about preserving sub MOA accuracy in a .22 rifle barrel.

 

[J Miller]

Clean It!

Cleaning a gun is just part of general maintenence. If you neglect that eventually something will break, or rust, and do something it wouldn't if you took care of it.

Those who say they never clean their .22's are in my opinion lazy.

I have 2 .22 Revolvers, and 1 auto, and one rifle. They are cleaned after every shooting session.

A couple swipes with a bronze brush and Hoppes then the swabs till the bore and chamber(s) come out clean. Then light lube.

I've never had any problems that can be traced to cleaning. Anyone who says cleaning will wear out a .22 is mistaken.

 

[DMK]

OK, guys. You've convinced me!

Thanks for all the advice.

 

[cratz2]

All I have to say to that is that my 1973 Single Six is spotless. As are all my guns unless on the way home from shooting.

 

[Ledbetter]

Cl;eaning your

If you're happy with 1" groups at 50 yards, you will not care.

.22 primers contain very abrasive stuff, and improper use of a brush will damage the crown and scratch the rifling, especially if the brush or rod are allowed to get dirty or gritty.

Serious rimfire benchrest shooters will tell you that many more precision .22 barrels are ruined by cleaning than by shooting.

The cleaning method of choice for many is a CLP wet patch on the end of a length of weed eater line with a .22" ball on the end to hold the patch while the other end is pulled through the bore. The nylon line is wiped clean after every pass and the patch replaced with clean.

 

[ruger357]

I clean mine after each trip to the gun range, whatever I am shooting.

 

[MR.G]

Mine are cleaned after every shooting, just like any other caliber.

 

[RustyHammer]

Every gun, every time out .....

 

[Butch]

Those guys on RFC are talking about preserving sub MOA accuracy in a .22 rifle barrel.

I have an Anshutz model 54 target rifle that I clean each time I shoot it. I've heard the stories about how that will destroy the accuracy but if anything , mine just keeps getting better.

 

[JohnBT]

I bet though that you don't sit there with the rod going back and forth, back and forth, like my dear departed grandma churning butter.

I've seen people do it like they were mad at the gun for being dirty.

John

 

[Kahr carrier]

Clean It And Lube It.

 

[Jim K]

Good heavens! One of my rants is on over-cleaning, usually after reading about someone who takes his gun down to the tiniest piece and scrubs the barrel for an hour or two after firing a couple of shots.

But the other extreme is not sensible either. A good cleaning rod and patches with bore cleaner will clean a .22 very well with only a pass or two. The action should be brushed out and places like under the extractor(s) given special attention. Some guns are easier to strip than others, but almost all .22's are fairly easy to take down for normal cleaning every couple of bricks.

Jim

 

[Dennis Olson]

I consider ALL my guns to be long-term investments. I intend to give them to my kids when the time comes. So I clean them all. Every time.

 

[labgrade]

Wipe down so you don't get rusting.

Clean enough to prevent a possible malfunction, but never have & have never have.

 

[sm]

Jim Keenan

I agree. I seen people spend more time on cleaning, than shooting. Seen the 'parts' come into gunsmith and can't back together. Crowns-heavens what did they use?

Model 18 teaching students, q-tip chamber and cyls with a solvent, toothbrush extracter, wipe down -good to go. Overlube a big problem I see also.

Otis pull through I use for range because I never know what cal I may encounter with a student. I don't hurt crown this way. Sometimes the .75 round utility brush from a auto parts store I use to brush bore and chamber-focus on chamber.

Always though they should include a muzzle protect with every firearm...course my gunsmith wouldn't get to re-cut as many if they did.

Which reminds me I gave all my lubes and solvents I've won and collected, to a Scout Troop and CCW students. Guess I may need to pick something up someday for around the house.

 

[GeorgeH]

Clean it.