22LR / Rimfire and barrel cleaning

[wright brothers]

After ultrasonic, rounds slip into my 22 revolver cylinder, easier.
Surprised me.
For what that is worth.

 

[PhilD]

I used to scrub mine clean after every match and practice session using bore-tech C-4 and a nylon Iosso eliminator brush and at least a dozen patches. However, I shoot long range and noticed it could take up to 50 rounds of $21 ammo to settle down my velocity and extreme spread after a bare steel cleaning. I decided to extend my cleaning schedule and only clean after every two matches (400 rounds). That led to feeding and extraction issues due to the carbon and lube buildup in my tight match chamber. I saw a YouTuber Pursuit of Accuracy video where he concentrated on thorough cleaning of the chamber and carbon ring only. Which reduced my warm up round count to 10 rounds.
I push one dry patch through the bore. Then I soak a swab with C4 and let it sit in the chamber and throat area for ten minutes. Next I wet a iosso brush with C4 and insert it 2” into the bore on a short chamber rod. I’ll spin it by hand 20 or so turns then send one dry patch all the way out the muzzle. Then I’ll insert the borescope and ensure the carbon ring is gone. It usually is…as .22 Rimfire carbon is very soft and easy to remove. Lastly I’ll use a plastic dental pick and patch to remove lube from extractor groves and a wet patch to wipe lube and power residue off the breech face and crown. Lastly 1 more dry patch down the bore reinsert the cleaned and lubed bolt and I’m ready to go.

 

[Brian.Egeberg64]

Funny, this topic has been thrashed on RFC a bunch! Here’s my recommendation, it’s unique!

Do what you believe is best. Yep, that’s it.

I only clean breach if a carbon ring happens and groups start getting bigger, maybe pull a cloth through the barrel once a year or so. I season with 5 shots anyway when I start shooting or switch ammo types.

The key is don’t damage the barrel with what you’re cleaning it with. You cannot wear one out shooting it but you can damage it with chemicals and steel on steel contact cleaning it.

 

[1813benny]

……You cannot wear one out shooting it but you can damage it with chemicals and steel on steel contact cleaning it.

Sorry, but you can - and many serious competitors do - wear out barrels by shooting them.

 

[xswanted]

You’re supposed to clean them?

 

[Brian.Egeberg64]

Sorry, but you can - and many serious competitors do - wear out barrels by shooting them.

It would be pretty tough to do so, there’s documented reports of competitors going 450,000 rounds before retiring a barrel. Dan Lilja reported they one with over 200,000 rounds before accuracy fell off. The silica in the primer is the abrasive.

 

[1813benny]

200k rounds is not difficult at all. A dedicated 3-p competitor can train 500+ rounds a week. Add in matches and it adds up quickly.

I only had one barrel reach 200k before laying down. That was a Schneider barrel installed by Karl Kenyon and at the end it wouldn’t hold 1.2” at 100 yards.

It all depends on one’s accuracy requirements.

 

[PWNolan]

It all depends on one’s accuracy requirements.

Yep! Not too many RFBR shooters using barrels with 200K through them. Sure be nice if they shot at a high level that long

 

[Tim Slater]

It would be pretty tough to do so, there’s documented reports of competitors going 450,000 rounds before retiring a barrel. Dan Lilja reported they one with over 200,000 rounds before accuracy fell off. The silica in the primer is the abrasive.

I'd say those are the exception, and the reason that round count is reported. From friends who have rebarreled, 100k-150K is more common. That's shooting prone on the 1989 NSRA/ISSF targets.

 

[Brian.Egeberg64]

I'd say those are the exception, and the reason that round count is reported. From friends who have rebarreled, 100k-150K is more common. That's shooting prone on the 1989 NSRA/ISSF targets.

Ok, sounds like it is possible. Keep in mind those who do wear one out are the extreme minority when it comes to shooting 22 rifles. 99.5% of shooters won’t shoot a 150,000 rounds in their lifetime. I personally have right at 60,000 22 LR rounds sitting in my garage and that will last easily the next 20 years. I shoot and hunt with many calibers however.

So for the guys who wear 22 barrels out, how do you clean them? That’s what the op of this thread is asking.

 

[grauhanen]

So for the guys who wear 22 barrels out, how do you clean them? That’s what the op of this thread is asking.

To be fair, the OP is not asking a question for guys who wear out .22LR barrels. It appears to be more basic. He's concerned about shooting as accurately as possible and knows the chamber area can be cleaned regularly. His question is should the barrel be cleaned regularly or is that unnecessary.

Guys who measure their accuracy on paper targets at distances where accuracy is uninfluenced by randomness typically clean the bore regularly. These are shooters in 3P (ISSF/Olympic style) and RFBR.

 

[TRSR8]

Ok, sounds like it is possible. Keep in mind those who do wear one out are the extreme minority when it comes to shooting 22 rifles. 99.5% of shooters won’t shoot a 150,000 rounds in their lifetime. I personally have right at 60,000 22 LR rounds sitting in my garage and that will last easily the next 20 years. I shoot and hunt with many calibers however.

So for the guys who wear 22 barrels out, how do you clean them? That’s what the op of this thread is asking.

Free tip. 60,000 in garage…….one of the single worst places to store it.
Lot’s of it will be toast long before you shoot it.

 

[Brian.Egeberg64]

Free tip. 60,000 in garage…….one of the single worst places to store it.
Lot’s of it will be toast long before you shoot it.

Thanks for the tip! I’m up North a bit and keep it heated to 60 degrees in the Winter and the Summers here are nice with low humidity. I have heard this before but after 40 plus years of doing it with all my ammo ( I reload a lot) I haven’t experienced so much as a misfire with any ammo.