Barrel Cleaning and To What Extent

[Shynloco]

Good Morning Guys! Got a question for the Smallbore/.22Lr Target Shooters. I've only been shooting .22LR SERIOUSLY for around the past 6 months. And when I use the term "SERIOUSLY", by that I mean shooting for accuracy or in competition. Before that (and even nowadays), accuracy was my greatest concern in bigger bore rifles. But a friend got me into the .22lr kick and I've discovered alot of new fun and challenges. However, he and I disagree on barrel cleaning for this caliber of rifle and I was curious what you guys do or recommend.
So you get an idea of what the diagreement is, my friend says not to clean the barrel with so much as a patch. From what my owner's manual on for my Anschutz says and talking to a few other seriously shooters, I'm advisde not to use any brush that would scratch the inside of the barrel, but patches with a light/mild solvent shoudl be used each time you finish shooting for the day. What I have done, is to shoot around 200 rds of Wolf Match Target ammo to break in the new barrel and then brush it a few times using a nylon brush, followed by 4 dry patches and she's ready to go. After that, each time I shoot, I use either Federal Match Ultra, Eley Black or Red, Lapua or Wolf ammo that greases the barrel. I never shoot any of the cheaper jacketed ammo that doesn't have any of the greasing compound on it. But after each outting, I will run 4 patches, two having Prolix (a light cleaning and lubing solvent) followed by two dry patches and I'm done. I have not again ever brushed the barrel. And before doing anymore shooting, I will re-grease the barrel using Wolf Match Target before shooting for score with any of the previously mentioned ammo's.
What do you guys do or have found works the best in your rifles? Thx

Alex

 

[RonAKA]

I typically clean after 300 or so target rounds. When shooting gophers, I can put well over 500 through it in a day before cleaning. My method is just to use a bore snake, pulled through once for 200 rounds or so, and a couple of times if I'm up in the 500 round range. I don't worry about the brush at all in the boresnake, but am very very careful to pull the snake straight out of the bore, and not pull it sideways at all. My view is that the last inch or so of the bore and the edge at the muzzle are probably the most important factors affecting accuracy in a rimfire. An ideal barrel probably chokes down slightly in the last few inches.

I use a powder solvent on the snake in the brush area, and a bit of gun oil on the very tail end.

In short totally different process compared to a centerfire with jacketed bullets. No need to worry about copper fouling, even if you shoot the ones that have a copper wash on them.

 

[RichinKansas]

Here is an article that might give you some ideas:
http://www.aircapgunclub.org/Articles/RimfireAccuracy/Rimfire_Accuracy_Pt_I.asp
http://www.aircapgunclub.org/Articles/RimfireAccuracy/Rimfire_Accuracy_Pt_II.asp
The lube in the barrel is very important. Most manufacturers use their own concoction. I don't think mixing lubes is a good idea. With a clean barrel I think you need to shoot the ammo for lubing that you plan to use for record so the lube is the same. My idea being you shoot 4 or 5 shots of Wolf target to lube the barrel and then change to your record ammo. As you shoot your first 4 or 5 record ammo (eley, lapua etc.), the lube in the barrel is gradually changing, This will change the velocity and POI. I prefer to shoot my first 4 or 5 shots for fouling in a legal place on the target next to the sighter. The first shot may be way off but the next few will be close to where the gun will settle down. This gives me an idea if my sights are off a lot so I can make a rough adjustment before starting the sighter.

With regards to rimfire benchrest I clean after each target as 95+ percent of ARA shooters do. That way each target starts off with a known barrel condition. In rimfire 3p I start with a clean barrel. If I get a chance to practice the day before a 3p match I clean after I am finished and then shoot 5 shots to have it fouled for the next day. I shoot the whole course 120 shots record, 150+ total without cleaning.

Most rifles with a clean barrel obtain there best accuracy after 3-25 shots. Fewer end with custom barrels. Accuracy starts to taper off after 50 - 150 shots. Might not notice the slight drop off if shooting squirrels, but in a game where thousands count it is noticeable.

 

[SDHandgunner]

You have received some excellent information. I kind of do a combination of the above.

Once my barrel is seasoned with the ammo I am using for our indoor bench rest competition I just use a bore snake. I pull the bore snake through the bore twice after every shooting session (usually 100 rounds or so).

However if I am switching ammo I then use patches and solvent to totally clean the bore. I then season with the new ammo and revert back to the above until I switch brands & types of ammo again.

IMO the bore snake is removing the fouling but is leaving the bore coated with lube, which is what I am after. Not sure if this is a perfect procedure or not but it has been working for me.

Larry

 

[Shynloco]

Much thanks to all who posted response. You folks provided alot of good info and actually I can see you have a similar thought process for lubing up the barrel and then switching to different ammo and shooting around 5 rd or so as sighters that changes over to the lube provided on the match ammo I'll be using. And Ronaka, I really appreciate your comments, but don't know if I could afford to go shooting with you. Sounds like you chew up as much ammo in one outting as I do in a month of practice and competition (lol).
But again thanks to all for your input. I always like new ideas food for thought as well as practical application that provides more accuracy.

 

[Aussie_bob]

When you clean your barrel after shooting do not leave it dry and clean, run a oily patch through it then give it a wipe out before you shoot next.
I only clean my barrel right back after a few thousand rnds normaly just put a patch through to get rid of any junk.

 

[RonAKA]

And Ronaka, I really appreciate your comments, but don't know if I could afford to go shooting with you. Sounds like you chew up as much ammo in one outting as I do in a month of practice and competition (lol).

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Actually I only do the 500+ a day when gopher hunting, and for that I use Winchester Dynapoints at $18 per 500 bulk box. Not nearly so liberal with the $140 per brick Lapua Midas stuff. Lapua Super Club or Eley Target Rifle is my go to for target practice.

 

[Shynloco]

Hey Ron,
I was just teasing ya. I kinda figured you wouldn't be using the match stuff on those 500 rd days. I actually stay away from the ultra cheap stuff (or jacketed ammo) in my match and better barreled rifles. If I just feel like messin around and plinkin, I go shootin my old Remington .22 (that I've had since I was 14 yrs old/that was 40 years ago) and then I'd be pleased to join ya and go shootin whatever we see movin and then some.

And for Aussie_Bob, I never leave ANY of my barrels dry. I finish off all my rifle barrels with "Prolix", a bio-degradable gun cleaner solution that leaves a fine layer of coating to protect against moisture, rust, and pitting. You can even wipe off your stock to protect the finish.

Thanks again to all for your input!
Alex

 

[Travelor]

First, I clean after each shooting session, no mater how many or few shots fired. I have an Anschutz cotton wick Pull-though cleaning kit (labeled "ahg-cleaning kit" that consists of a cord with a loop and a number of 4" long wicks (cotton string pieces). I have found that putting Bore-Tech Rimfire Blend at the bend (front) of the wicks and Butch's Gun Oil on the trailing end of the wicks lets me clean and oil with one pull. As said above, I am VERY careful to pull the cord straight out the muzzle and avoid touching the bore.

I give all my RF's a thorough cleaning each year with Rimfire Blend and find I never need more that 5 rounds to have them back shooting at their best.

Bore-Tech RF Blend has no copper solvents as they are not needed for a RF barrel.

George

 

[DaveWhite]

In a lot of years of match shooting, I typically cleaned my old 40-x, 52 or the Anschutz at the end of the day, or if for some reason it just was not shooting where my calls said it should. Error on the conservative side and don't clean it too much, and never clean it with out a bore guide or a good rod.

For my varmint guns and other rimfires I have been using a boresnake and I see no significant advantage to the rod in those guns.

Good luck and hold center

 

[15Tango]

You guys have given me some interesting things to think about in regards to firing a rimfire match.

Thanks,

Wayne