help a n00b out? (cleaning/overkill?)

[bjorndalen]

Hi all, I'm pretty new to firearms ownership having picked up an Izhmash 7-4 Biathlon this past year so that I can compete in biathlon racing. I've been reading up on as much as I can soak up on just about all subjects firearms related, primarily here but also at TFL. With specific reference to cleaning and maintenance, I've picked up the impression that cleaning my rifle without a good bore guide and a high quality rod is just begging for trouble down the line as I will likely do more damage during the process than the cleaning, good. That said, the makers most often recommended for their bore guides (Lucas, Jeff Madison) don't make one to fit my rifle.

Biathlon is shot at 50m with a 45mm prone target an a 115mm standing target. Have I been sucked into one of those "true, but diminishing returns" types of thought processes/arguments that would probably make sense for a bench rest marksman but not a biathlete? What parameters aside from internal barrel diameter are required to fit a bore guide? Can anyone recommend a guide for me, or should I just forget about it as the differences I've been reading about are not really measurable for someone shooting at biathlon targets/range/accuracy?

(for the record my rifle did come with a rod but it's pretty flexible and not a tool that inspires great confidence... I've been looking to pair a Denny rod with either a Jeff Madison or a Lucas guide)


Thanks for your help,

 

[CZguy]

Welcome to the high road bjorndalen.

Go on over to Rimfirecentral.com for more info on cleaning rim-fires, but the general consensus is not to clean the bore of a rimfire until accuracy falls off. This can be an annual occurrence, depending on how much you shoot.

Many bench rest shooters have found that a clean barrel isn't as accurate. I just wipe down the outside surfaces with an oily cloth, to prevent corrosion.

 

[punkndisorderly]

Generally, if I shoot it, I clean it when I get it home. It's not a necessitiy unless you're out in the elements or it starts to malfunction or lose accuracy, but it makes me feel better and also makes finding parts wear/breakage more likely before they become an issue.

 

[madcratebuilder]

First, my hats off to you with your biathlon racing. You must be a very disciplined person.
Damage at the crown of the barrel can effect accuracy, I think we all agree on that. You could use a nylon coated rod, that well not damage the crown. It's been my experience that it takes a pretty good 'nick' right on the edge of the crown to effect accuracy.
I have several bore guides like this one. They are cheap and get the job done. I'm sure there are more elaborate bore guides at more elaborate prices.
When I do clean the barrel of my rimfires I clean from the chamber end. Between cleanings I may run a bore snake through the barrel every few hundred rounds. I like to put about a half dozen 'fouling' shoots through the barrel after a complete cleaning.

 

[bjorndalen]

Thanks all - I went over to rimfirecentral and picked up on a key point that I had overlooked in my "quest for the best" (though a few people here mentioned it as well) - that being the cleaning needs of a rimfire vs a centerfire.

I still haven't found a good bore guide to fit but think that I'll likely be happy with the PatchWorm I just ordered.

When I get sucked into other shooting sports, I'll undoubtedly be looking for these things again to clean my new [insert weapon here].

 

[benEzra]

It's hard to tell from looking at the photo, but if it's a bolt-action, i suspect the bolt removes for cleaning, allowing you to clean the barrel from the chamber end rather than from the muzzle end, which reduces the risk of damage to the muzzle. And as others have pointed out, .22's do not need barrel cleaning that often; wiping accumulated crud out of the action by hand with a few cleaning patches and a little Hoppes #9 powder solvent, cleaning the bolt face and extractor, lubricating the bolt, and lightly oiling the exterior surfaces with Rem Oil or CorrosionX to prevent rust will take care of most maintenance concerns.