SMA
Member
I just bought a basic .22 rimfire rifle. What is the suggested way to break in the rifle? I did purchase a gun cleaning kit but I'm quite clueless on the subject. Any help would be appreciated.
Break-In Period
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Fatelvis
Member
Dont worry about breaking in your rifle. Just take it to the range, shoot it, and clean it afterwards. If you have to clean the barrel from the muzzle, be very careful not to damage the crown with the cleaning rod. Have fun!
cratz2
Member
Proper break-in process for a rimfire:
1. Buy rifle.
2. Buy brick of ammo.
3. Shoot stuff... safely, of course.
4. Repeat #2 and #3 until you're out of $$$ or until your fingers hurt.
1. Buy rifle.
2. Buy brick of ammo.
3. Shoot stuff... safely, of course.
4. Repeat #2 and #3 until you're out of $$$ or until your fingers hurt.
SMA
Member
So there is really no need to break in the barrel? On the manufacturer website it seemed pretty technical and time consuming.
A .22 rimfire rifle requires no "break-in". If you want, you could run a patch soaked in some Hoppe's thru the barrel to remove any machining chips that might be in there, but even that is not necessary.
I have shot many thousands of rounds thru .22 rimfires and almost never clean the bore. .22 rf is dirty, though, and the powder residue builds up in the action, under the extractor, and in the firing chamber. Some Hoppe's on a Q-Tip remedies this.
Good shooting and have fun!
Edit afterthougt: If you don't have a cleaning rod, and don't want to take a chance damaging the rifling or the crown, try this-
Attach a patch to a piece of weed whacking line and run thru the barrel.
I have shot many thousands of rounds thru .22 rimfires and almost never clean the bore. .22 rf is dirty, though, and the powder residue builds up in the action, under the extractor, and in the firing chamber. Some Hoppe's on a Q-Tip remedies this.
Good shooting and have fun!
Edit afterthougt: If you don't have a cleaning rod, and don't want to take a chance damaging the rifling or the crown, try this-
Attach a patch to a piece of weed whacking line and run thru the barrel.
30Cal
Member
I wipe down the exterior and occasionally clean the breach end. Never done the barrel. The wax on the bullets supposedly protects the bore from rust and I don't have any evidence contrary to that.
I shot .22LR on a team in college and the coach freaked out one time when he saw me with a cleaning rod. He locked them all up saying, "you won't need this unless I tell you so."
I shot .22LR on a team in college and the coach freaked out one time when he saw me with a cleaning rod. He locked them all up saying, "you won't need this unless I tell you so."
WhoKnowsWho
Member
What basic rifle did you buy that had extended break in instructions anyways?
I quit cleaning the bores on my .22LR guns awhile back and have seen no degradation in accuracy.
There is quite a bit of controversy about breaking in centerfire rifles, with some of the biggest names in the gun/barrel making business saying that it's a bunch of baloney while a few manufacturers and gun writers still say it's an absolute necessity.
I've never heard a single expert say that .22LR break-in is required, and a good deal of them recommend against ever putting a rod down the bore of a rimfire whatever the reason.
There is quite a bit of controversy about breaking in centerfire rifles, with some of the biggest names in the gun/barrel making business saying that it's a bunch of baloney while a few manufacturers and gun writers still say it's an absolute necessity.
I've never heard a single expert say that .22LR break-in is required, and a good deal of them recommend against ever putting a rod down the bore of a rimfire whatever the reason.
SMA
Member
I purchased the Savage Arms Mark II-FXP. Below is what the recommnded barrel break in procedure is as listed on the savage site.
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A. Although there may be different schools of thought on barrel break-in, this is what Precision Shooting Magazine recommends:
STEP 1 (repeated 10 times)
Fire one round
Push wet patches soaked with a powder solvent through the bore
Push a brush through the bore (5 times in each direction)
Push dry patches through the bore (2 times)
Push wet patches soaked with a copper solvent through the bore
Push a brush through the bore (5 times in each direction)
Push dry patches through the bore (2 times)
Push a patch with 2 drops of oil through the bore
STEP 2 (repeated 5 times)
Fire a 3 shot group
Repeat the cleaning procedure from STEP 1 after each group
STEP 3 (repeat 5 times)
Fire a 5 shot group
Repeat the cleaning procedure from STEP 1
They recommend the use of a patch with 2 drops of oil after the cleaning so that you are not shooting with a dry bore. It is also advisable to use a powder solvent and copper solvent from the same manufacturer to be sure they are chemically compatible.
-----------------------------------------------------
A. Although there may be different schools of thought on barrel break-in, this is what Precision Shooting Magazine recommends:
STEP 1 (repeated 10 times)
Fire one round
Push wet patches soaked with a powder solvent through the bore
Push a brush through the bore (5 times in each direction)
Push dry patches through the bore (2 times)
Push wet patches soaked with a copper solvent through the bore
Push a brush through the bore (5 times in each direction)
Push dry patches through the bore (2 times)
Push a patch with 2 drops of oil through the bore
STEP 2 (repeated 5 times)
Fire a 3 shot group
Repeat the cleaning procedure from STEP 1 after each group
STEP 3 (repeat 5 times)
Fire a 5 shot group
Repeat the cleaning procedure from STEP 1
They recommend the use of a patch with 2 drops of oil after the cleaning so that you are not shooting with a dry bore. It is also advisable to use a powder solvent and copper solvent from the same manufacturer to be sure they are chemically compatible.
SMA
Member
So if i shouldnt be shoving things down the barrel and what not, what if any is your recommended cleaning procedure? Or do i just shoot and go home?
sm
member
I'm in the camp that says make sure the new gun has no machine chips in bbl, load and shoot the durn thing. Save the monies for cleaning stuff and the worry - for ammo to see what the gun likes and concentration on target and fun factor.
Of course I don't really clean bores on anything, unless mud, snow, rain...I do pipe clean chambers and extraction - this is the reliable part. This includes centerfire, even rifles.
Folks have a tendency to clean stuff that IMO is the wrong priorty. Barrel so clean you can eat off it...chamber extraction, trigger group never gets any inspect and attention.
Most folks use too much lube, especially with 22lr guns. all you want is thin film, you don't see it, barely feel it...all you need.
You get rained on...patch bbl to displace moisture, wipe off and check the exterior and metal to wood/syn - stock fit.
Voquarthsen ( sp?) recommends to NEVER run a bristle brush thru the bore. Pull a Patch Worm ( tm) or Otis (tm) with patch only from chamber to muzzle. This is IF rain, mud snow...
Look at this way, they have to put "something" about maintenance in the owners' manual...otherwise all there would be is lawyer-talk in the manual.
No offense, but folks worry too much about cleaning and lubes...the marketeers are so proud...
Of course I don't really clean bores on anything, unless mud, snow, rain...I do pipe clean chambers and extraction - this is the reliable part. This includes centerfire, even rifles.
Folks have a tendency to clean stuff that IMO is the wrong priorty. Barrel so clean you can eat off it...chamber extraction, trigger group never gets any inspect and attention.
Most folks use too much lube, especially with 22lr guns. all you want is thin film, you don't see it, barely feel it...all you need.
You get rained on...patch bbl to displace moisture, wipe off and check the exterior and metal to wood/syn - stock fit.
Voquarthsen ( sp?) recommends to NEVER run a bristle brush thru the bore. Pull a Patch Worm ( tm) or Otis (tm) with patch only from chamber to muzzle. This is IF rain, mud snow...
Look at this way, they have to put "something" about maintenance in the owners' manual...otherwise all there would be is lawyer-talk in the manual.
No offense, but folks worry too much about cleaning and lubes...the marketeers are so proud...
Generally more harm is done by over cleaning a .22 . There are exceptions though. I bought a Savage-Anshcultz for $85 from a guy who should have known better. A trip to the range with several different brands showed me why it was cheap. One inch groups at 25yds ! Put the Outers Foul out on it and left the room , returned in 15 minutes and the light was on. Rod was completely coated ! After cleaning it will really shoot tight groups. Proof to me a .22 will lead the barrel.
SMA
Member
Im still a little confused about what to clean... So far it seems to be of a general consensus not to shove anything down the barrel. What SHOULD i clean if anything?
Dave Markowitz
Member
SMA,
I think that Savage's instructions re barrel break-in are more concerned with their centerfire rifles, not their rimfires. That being said, it's disputed whether even centerfires need this done.
Anyway, with any new gun it's a good idea to run a patch through the bore from chamber to muzzle, just to make sure that it's clear and any heavy preservative that the maker put in is gone. You need to be careful with .22s, however, because the rifling is somewhat delicate.
You can make a pull-through type of cleaner with weed-whacker string or heavy monofilament fishing line. Put a small loop on one end of the line. Drop the other end through the bore, starting at the breech, then pull a patch or two through the barrel, out the muzzle.
In my opinion, though, a Hoppe's BoreSnake is the cat's pajamas for the minimal cleaning a .22's bore needs. They run about $15 at place's like Dick's Sporting Goods or MidwayUSA. They can be washed when they get really dirty.
Once you're done with the barrel take a look at the action. With the bolt removed, make sure there aren't any machining chips left in the receiver, and also that the bolt and especially the bolt face are clean. Lightly oil the bolt and the inside of the receiver.
When you're finished shooting, wipe the bolt face with a lightly-oiled patch or an old toothbrush with some oil or solvent on it. Pay particular attention to the extractors and make sure there's no buildup of crud under them. Then wipe down the exterior of the gun with a lightly oild cloth or a silicone gun and reel cloth.
It should take only a couple of minutes after you're finished shooting to clean the gun.
I think that Savage's instructions re barrel break-in are more concerned with their centerfire rifles, not their rimfires. That being said, it's disputed whether even centerfires need this done.
Anyway, with any new gun it's a good idea to run a patch through the bore from chamber to muzzle, just to make sure that it's clear and any heavy preservative that the maker put in is gone. You need to be careful with .22s, however, because the rifling is somewhat delicate.
You can make a pull-through type of cleaner with weed-whacker string or heavy monofilament fishing line. Put a small loop on one end of the line. Drop the other end through the bore, starting at the breech, then pull a patch or two through the barrel, out the muzzle.
In my opinion, though, a Hoppe's BoreSnake is the cat's pajamas for the minimal cleaning a .22's bore needs. They run about $15 at place's like Dick's Sporting Goods or MidwayUSA. They can be washed when they get really dirty.
Once you're done with the barrel take a look at the action. With the bolt removed, make sure there aren't any machining chips left in the receiver, and also that the bolt and especially the bolt face are clean. Lightly oil the bolt and the inside of the receiver.
When you're finished shooting, wipe the bolt face with a lightly-oiled patch or an old toothbrush with some oil or solvent on it. Pay particular attention to the extractors and make sure there's no buildup of crud under them. Then wipe down the exterior of the gun with a lightly oild cloth or a silicone gun and reel cloth.
It should take only a couple of minutes after you're finished shooting to clean the gun.
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