Ughh
Member
Someone once told me that it's not necessary to clean you .22 rifle or pistol.
I don't remember who but is it true??
Do you clean your .22 rifle or pistol?
I don't remember who but is it true??
Do you clean your .22 rifle or pistol?
Do you clean you .22 lr rifle/pistol??
- Thread starter Ughh
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I have an R55 rifle and I have to clean it (especially in the chamber area) otherwise I get failure to feed issues.
stubbicatt
Member
Depends.
If using the wax coated "olympic" type ammo, it takes several rounds to get the barrel to shoot consistently. For that ammo, typically I clean every 3 to 400 rounds. The cleaning doesn't involve a bronze brush either, just patches and a nylon brush.
If the generic blaster ammo like Remington bulk pack, I clean after that stuff. Heck my 10-22 doesn't know the difference, but the action and chamber being clean have kept it reliable now for several years.
If using the wax coated "olympic" type ammo, it takes several rounds to get the barrel to shoot consistently. For that ammo, typically I clean every 3 to 400 rounds. The cleaning doesn't involve a bronze brush either, just patches and a nylon brush.
If the generic blaster ammo like Remington bulk pack, I clean after that stuff. Heck my 10-22 doesn't know the difference, but the action and chamber being clean have kept it reliable now for several years.
W.E.G.
Member
Just because .22 bores rarely need the same sort of cleaning that centerfire guns require, does not mean the gun doesn't get dirty.
You need to clean the bolt and breech area regularly.
If its a semi-auto, you will need to clean the trigger mechanism regularly.
Generally there is little need to clean the bore itself, as quality .22 long rifle ammo does not usually deposit bullet metal in most bores. You should inspect your gun to determine whether yours is abnormal. I acquired a nicely-kept Smith and Wesson "kit gun" revolver from a member here. The amount of lead accumulation at the breech end of the bore was alarming. The gun came with a partial brick of Winchester "Wildcat" brand .22 long rifle. Make your own judgments.
You need to clean the bolt and breech area regularly.
If its a semi-auto, you will need to clean the trigger mechanism regularly.
Generally there is little need to clean the bore itself, as quality .22 long rifle ammo does not usually deposit bullet metal in most bores. You should inspect your gun to determine whether yours is abnormal. I acquired a nicely-kept Smith and Wesson "kit gun" revolver from a member here. The amount of lead accumulation at the breech end of the bore was alarming. The gun came with a partial brick of Winchester "Wildcat" brand .22 long rifle. Make your own judgments.
.22 Semiautos are blow back weapons. In fact the breech opens up when there still is a little pressure left in the barrel.
Vaporized wax and unburnt powder will get vented into the action at unlock. Which will gum up the action.
Unburnt powder will attract water causing rust.
It may not be necessary to clean out the barrel as the wax bullet lube is surprisingly good as an unintended rust preventative. Still, I clean my barrels.
(I cleaned out a Stevens Crackshot. I doubt it had been fired in 40 years. Maybe longer. The barrel was not bright, but not rusted.)
Vaporized wax and unburnt powder will get vented into the action at unlock. Which will gum up the action.
Unburnt powder will attract water causing rust.
It may not be necessary to clean out the barrel as the wax bullet lube is surprisingly good as an unintended rust preventative. Still, I clean my barrels.
(I cleaned out a Stevens Crackshot. I doubt it had been fired in 40 years. Maybe longer. The barrel was not bright, but not rusted.)
41magsnub
Member
I clean my 10/22 only when it gets extra gunky and starts to affect function.
My manual action .22's get cleaned internally once every couple of years or so.
My manual action .22's get cleaned internally once every couple of years or so.
My 22 autos will crud up and start misfiring after about 500 rounds (put a couple of grandkids on the line with a few bricks of ammo, and a brick doesn't last long). I prefer to hose them out with Gun Scrubber, re-oil and go again.
I rarely clean the bores unless the accuracy goes south. My 17 HMR will go about 500 rounds before the groups start opening up.
BTW, the reason that Crackshot had a dark bore was probably because it spent the majority of its life shooting shorts loaded with black powder and not being cleaned. I bought one like that in Tulsa and had it relined. For about $100, you get a brand new barrel and chamber, and the outside looks the same.
I rarely clean the bores unless the accuracy goes south. My 17 HMR will go about 500 rounds before the groups start opening up.
BTW, the reason that Crackshot had a dark bore was probably because it spent the majority of its life shooting shorts loaded with black powder and not being cleaned. I bought one like that in Tulsa and had it relined. For about $100, you get a brand new barrel and chamber, and the outside looks the same.
Ughh
Member
How does lead bullets affect cleanliness and accuracy?
How does hollow points affect barrels and accuracy? I know in centerfire you should refrain from practicing with too many hollow points but is this the same case in .22 lr
I went to Wally World got some Remington 'thunderbolts' or something like that, that has lead round nose.
And I also got the Winchester 555 value pack that's jacketed hollow points.
How does hollow points affect barrels and accuracy? I know in centerfire you should refrain from practicing with too many hollow points but is this the same case in .22 lr
I went to Wally World got some Remington 'thunderbolts' or something like that, that has lead round nose.
And I also got the Winchester 555 value pack that's jacketed hollow points.
BMF500
Member
I clean all of my 22's after every outing, exept for the Rough Rider, it gets a bath about once a year. I'm sure it's not really needed, but cleaning the guns, regardless of caliber, before puting them away is a ritual I was taught as small child. I can't seem to break the habit.
Ughh
Member
You clean the bore, trigger mech, receiver, the whole shebang-a-bang?
Do you brush too, or often, hardly, never?
I hardly ever brush, I just use the solvent when I clean and let it do its work, then patch it a few times with solvent patches and oil it all up when it's clean.
mickeydim468
Member
If you have a Remington Nylon 66 rifle you DO NOT clean it. It won't work until it gets dirty again. Meaning FTF issues. Maybe swab the bore once every 1000 rounds or so, but other than that never.
I clean my single action 6 shooter after every range visit.
Mikey!
I clean my single action 6 shooter after every range visit.
Mikey!
Where did you hear that and what was the reasoning for it?
Uncle Mike
Member
Hehehehe, we get a steady stream of 'broken' 22lr rifles and pistols through the shop!
The only thing broken about them is a pound of waxy gunk strung all through the works...a good cleaning and like magic, they work fine.
The 22 is one of the nastiest cartridges out there, and the blow back type actions these firearms utilize lend themselves to gunking up quickly.
Yes, cleaning your 22 is paramount! A simple path through the barrel with a good solvent and a thorough action cleaning is all that is needed to enjoy hours of shooting pleasure!
The only thing broken about them is a pound of waxy gunk strung all through the works...a good cleaning and like magic, they work fine.
The 22 is one of the nastiest cartridges out there, and the blow back type actions these firearms utilize lend themselves to gunking up quickly.
Yes, cleaning your 22 is paramount! A simple path through the barrel with a good solvent and a thorough action cleaning is all that is needed to enjoy hours of shooting pleasure!
True, but if you put 5000-10,000 rounds of the best Black Hills match ammo through an AR without cleaning it, it would be pretty damned dirty, too!
(Yes, you'd also have to use a gallon can of CLP to keep it cycling. But say you didn't have to, just for the sake of discussion.)matrem
Member
"Someone once told me that it's not necessary to clean you .22 rifle or pistol."
Ever wonder where all those "good deals" come from ?
Ever wonder where all those "good deals" come from ?
Ohio Gun Guy
Member
I clean them.... not every time but often. If its going to be a while or I'm putting it away, it gets cleaned.
Uncle Mike
Member
LOL ! Exactly!
ShootingFool
Member
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I clean ever gun after I shoot it. Swap the bore, swab the bolt/action with a little solvent and lube everything up. I break down my pistol. I really have no idea if they need it or not, but its just what I was taught and I kind of like doing it.
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