Smallbore cleaning question

[robert37803]

I am new to smallbore shooting. I just received my new .22LR Compass Lake service rifle upper to practice this fall and winter. I have the normal cleaning products, bore guide, and one piece cleaning rod for my .223 upper. My question is what size rods, bore guide, and jags do I need to purchase for normal cleaning? This is the only .22 firearm I own.

 

[bouddha]

The rod you have should work, but the .224 sized jags are too snug in a .22LR barrel. See if you can find a proper rimfire jag and you'll be in good shape, IMO.

 

[Recko555]

I haven't put a rod through my Compass Lake match upper, but i made my own patch worm and it is doing well. I do use a brush in the chamber to remove the carbon ring though.

 

[DOGCAPPER]

On smallbore use 17 cal carbon fiber rod and jag with slightly larger patches. Rod does not rub rifling like a 224 and larger patch carries more cleaner. LT

 

[SilverDuck1]

You might want to go easy on the cleaning for a 22; supposedly, it's a different world from centerfire. I just bought a new Anschutz and was startled to find that the mfr recommends 1000 round intervals for heavy cleaning!

 

[dickn52]

On smallbore use 17 cal carbon fiber rod and jag with slightly larger patches. Rod does not rub rifling like a 224 and larger patch carries more cleaner. LT

What he said. I use nothing but .17 rod and jags. Then add patches until snug. NO abrasions at all. Chamber to muzzle. Done.

 

[Thauglor]

I took the advice of the top shooters at the smallbore silhouette competitions, most never clean their smallbore rifle bores. They also only shoot lead ammo through their rifles. So do I and I have found no loss in accuracy in my 22lr rifles.

 

[dickn52]

I forgot that all the patches I have shoved down my barrel are DRY.

 

[Fotheringill]

Each to his own, BUT

to not clean a bore, in my humble experience will result in a degradation of accuracy.

In my CZ's, after about 150-200 rounds, in my Anschutz 54, after 75-100 rounds. The difference is subtle, but it is there.

You will develop a carbon ring, lead buildup and all the rest.

A clean rifle is a happy rifle.

 

[1S2K]

I clean the chamber only with a brush after about 250 rounds but I use the patch worm to clean the barrel if I change ammo or about every 250 rounds. I never shoot copper washed ammo in my target rifles. Not saying copper wash hurts anything but that's just my quirk! I've never had the dreaded "ring" buildup in a rifle.

 

[artbosco]

I am new to smallbore shooting. I just received my new .22LR Compass Lake service rifle upper to practice this fall and winter. I have the normal cleaning products, bore guide, and one piece cleaning rod for my .223 upper. My question is what size rods, bore guide, and jags do I need to purchase for normal cleaning? This is the only .22 firearm I own.

Call the folks at Dewey Rods. They'll help you out. I've used their rods and cleaning gear for years, for the .17 HMR and up.

 

[Tim s]

The saga of rimfire cleaning misinformation seems never ending. Most serious BR shooters clean on a regular basis. Use good .22 solvent, occasional brushing with a quality bronze brush and Boreguide is
frequently used.

 

[kapt]

I shoot IR 50/50 and ARA. I like most clean after every relay (30-50 shots). Shooters choice followed by two dry patches. Works so far.

 

[dogdude]

^^^^^ is what most competitive rimfire shooters do.

 

['Freak]

Read a precious plenty on how and what it is dirtying up your rimfire and how best to rectify the situation here:

http://www.rrdvegas.com/rimfire-cleaning.html

 

[Cagie1]

Anybody use Bore Tech Rimfire Blend ? Can you give me some feedback .

 

[Fotheringill]

Cagie-

I have used it and about twenty others. It will do the job. You will get ten answers and ten recommendations as to which product to use. My only suggestion is to avoid ANYTHING with an abrasive, no matter how mild it may be.

Be aware that BoreTech also has a dedicated carbon cleaning and a dedicated copper cleaner, which individually, will give you better result in getting rid of that particular residue in the barrel than with the overall cleaner.

 

[kapt]

It is doubtful you will ever get two answers the same on this subject.
So having said that, I will throw in my $.02.

I shoot IR 50/50 , ARA and 100 meter rimfire matches. I have watched the amateurs as well as the pros (the ones that are in the top 10 in the country).
I am not in that elite group but around 50'th.
The general practice and I follow it with good results is:

FIRST: A GOOD BORE GUIDE
Use a .20 Cal rod and jag.
One patch soaked with shooters choice ( or your favorite ) , wait 5 minutes.
Two dry patches
THIS AFTER 30 to 50 SHOTS , or one card..
Then, 4-5 fouler shots before starting record targets. ( this is rifle specific, may be more or less )
One of my 54's needs about 6 fouler shots , my 40 x about 3 , my other 54 around 10.

All I can say is that it works for them and myself...

Good luck , and good shooting...

 

[Fotheringill]

kapt-

Sound advice.
On a side note, I have an Anschutz 1913a that needs five foulers and two CZ 452's that need 9-12 each. Then again, I had a Norinco JW-15 that needed an unlimited number of foulers (and probably still does. I would have to ask the current owner if I knew who he/she might be).

A good fitting bore guide, as you stated is important. Also, don't use a patch that will not easily go through the guide and the barrel on the tip of a jag. For my 22lr's and a .223 Savage Target rifle, I use the 1" ROUND patches. They do the job and the rod never bends.

 

[dickn52]

I use a .17 Tipton with a wrap of patch. Works fine and you can make it as snug as you want with extra wraps of the patch.