Cleaning .22 Rimfires

[alkpon]

The bullet is OUTSIDE lubricated lead. They are not super alloy, designed to go 3000 fps and withstand 40X the sun's heat. Just pull a Snake through them every once in awhile.
More rimfire barrels have been ruined by "overbrushing" than any rounds shot through them.
They actually "clean" with each shot. Up to a point.

 

[wetidlerjr]

The bullet is OUTSIDE lubricated lead. They are not super alloy, designed to go 3000 fps and withstand 40X the sun's heat. Just pull a Snake through them every once in awhile.
More rimfire barrels have been ruined by "overbrushing" than any rounds shot through them.
They actually "clean" with each shot. Up to a point.

Hmmm... well...OK :mrgreen:

 

[Ale-8(1)]

"More rimfire barrels have been ruined by "overbrushing" than any rounds shot through them."

That line has been kicking around for as long as I can remember, and that's a looooong time.

I have yet to see any guns so ruined or see any documentation for this claim.

 

[Snake45]

I have yet to see any guns so ruined or see any documentation for this claim.

Similarly, I have yet to see a rusty .22 bore, except one I bought at a yard sale that had sat under a leaky roof and had rust in the last inch at the muzzle.

I once ran an accuracy test on two bolt action .22s. Started with both clean, checked accuracy every 200 rounds, both were shooting much better after 500 rounds uncleaned and were maintining that accuracy well on the far side of 1000 rounds through each, when I got bored with the project.

I clean .22 actions, bolts, and so forth, but never the bores unless accuracy drops off.

 

[GRAMPS 51]

Hi I would just add to check once in a while if you happen to get some crappy ammo and it leaves residue it will collect moisture and it will not take long to start rusting

GRAMPS

 

[blume357]

I kind of have to agree with the original poster .... about all I ever do is run a bore snake through mine every once and a while.... clean it whether it needs it or not.... Kind of like that queen of England that took a bath once a year whether she needed one or not...

as for the ruining the barrel by over brushing.... compared to 10's of thousands of rounds going through it.... I think that would have to be some serious brushing and one would have to go through a lot of 22cal brass brushes to even make a dent....

more likely to dent the crown than anything else.

I think cleaning the bolt, chamber and workings in the receiver are much more important.... but as I said, might as well pull a snake through the barrel while you are doing this.

I'm pretty sure I've got an owners manual for either a Marlin or a Remington rim fire rifle that says not to clean the barrel...ever.

 

[Rick Courtright]

More rimfire barrels have been ruined by "overbrushing" than any rounds shot through them.

Hi,

Ever seen one of 'em?

If I counted the fingers and toes right, this year marks 50 of 'em since I first got to shoot a .22 (which makes me a newbie compared to some guys here.) In the intervening half century, I've read and heard that "overcleaning" story untold numbers of times. I've shot more than a few .22 rifles and pistols, and helped do my part to keep the .22 ammo mfrs' business healthy. I've worked for, with and around gunsmiths, and ran a range for some years. I've looked thru barrel after barrel and asked and asked and asked for someone to show me one of those "worn out" barrrels.

I'm still waiting...

As for all the rest of the stuff about cleaning .22s, well... now that's a topic to bring up anytime the conversation lulls! Everybody's got their opinion and method, which is "right", of course, and everyone else's is so far off base it's a wonder their gun hasn't just fallen apart from abuse. Or so it seems...

Fortunately the average .22 is a tough little bugger that can survive most of its owners.

Rick C

 

[Fox Mike]

I am 73+ and have been shooting since I can remember. The ONLY shot out barrel I have ever seen was off an M-60.

 

[jimd441]

Rick Courtright,

Fortunately the average .22 is a tough little bugger that can survive most of its owners.

I really like that line, thanks for sharing.

Jim

 

[Gizmo42]

I clean mine when I get around to it after a day of shooting (could be months later and several trips to the range). I just dont like leaving my stuff dirty forever and enjoy cleaning them once in a while. I have a really hard time believing that brass brushes and aluminum rods used several times a year are going to wear out a barrel faster then thousands of rounds going through the barrel. If for some reason you are using steel brushes that are harder then the barrel steel I could see it.

 

[alkpon]

Y'all are correct. I was annoyed about reading so many posts on cleaning a .22 Rimfire. Perhaps "overbrushing" was an overstatement. Don't use steel rods or coat hangers. I have seen burned out barrels on the M60 and Minigun (UH-1 Crew Chief). The cause is heat. The .220 Swift was supposed to be hard on early barrels, but I have no experience with that one. Keep the action clean, poke a stick down barrel every once in awhile for mud daubers.

 

[Cholo]

blume357 "Kind of like that queen of England that took a bath once a year whether she needed one or not..."

Good one and a great analogy! :lol:

"more likely to dent the crown than anything else."

I've read where a dirty (aluminum) cleaning rod can damage the crown. Never seen it, but I think it could. I swab my .22 bores with Hoppe's. I just like the smell I guess. I never use a bronze brush. I swabbed the bore of my Rem 581 about a month ago. It hadn't been cleaned in years yet still shot well. It was just so dusty sitting by my back door for so long.

Maybe there's some truth about cleaning rods damaging the crown/rifling. I once shot at Texas with a .22 and hit Chicago in the *** :wink:

 

[alkpon]

If I knew how to post pictures, I would show y'all my Clements Bearcat.
Has adj. rear sight and new front sight. It's a doozy and a tack driver.
Clements does some damn fine work.

 

[CraigC]

You're supposed to clean them???

 

[hpman66]

The bullet is OUTSIDE lubricated lead. They are not super alloy, designed to go 3000 fps and withstand 40X the sun's heat. Just pull a Snake through them every once in awhile.
More rimfire barrels have been ruined by "overbrushing" than any rounds shot through them.
They actually "clean" with each shot. Up to a point.

A little fact check:

1. In hyper velocity .22lr ammo, about the fastest velocity is between 1700 to 1800 fps(Aguila Super Max).

2. The temperature of the sun is about 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit times 40 equals 400,000 degrees Fahrenheit on the sun. On the earth, if it's a 50 degree Fahrenheit day, that's still 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. The melting point of lead is 621.5 °F.

3. Lead bullets can be shot in centerfire rifles/pistols and usually are made of a hard alloy or have a gas check attached to them to prevent leading.

 

[Fox Mike]

If I knew how to post pictures, I would show y'all my Clements Bearcat.
Has adj. rear sight and new front sight. It's a doozy and a tack driver.
Clements does some damn fine work.

Not trying to be a smart a-- , but what has this to do with cleaning a .22 rimfire? :?

 

[alkpon]

I don't know. I posted the cleaning because I was "fed up" with all the posts about cleaning your .22RF for accuracy. I regularly read postings but have never participated until "mental blow up".
I do have a Clements Bearcat with his adjustable rear sight and front sight. It is a gem. But, I am computer ignorant. I have pics of it on my cellphone, but no idea as to how to post on forum.
Just thought I would show pics as there seems to be a lot of Bearcat fans.

 

[hpman66]

I don't know. I posted the cleaning because I was "fed up" with all the posts about cleaning your .22RF for accuracy. I regularly read postings but have never participated until "mental blow up".
I do have a Clements Bearcat with his adjustable rear sight and front sight. It is a gem. But, I am computer ignorant. I have pics of it on my cellphone, but no idea as to how to post on forum.
Just thought I would show pics as there seems to be a lot of Bearcat fans.

You might try O-N-E topic per post. Makes it a little neater and much easier to follow one train of thought.

 

[alkpon]

I apologize. Actually, I had hoped someone would explain how to post pics on the forum. Should that occur, I promise to not post my Clements Bearcat on "Cleaning .22 Rimfires".

 

[Chief 101]

I apologize. Actually, I had hoped someone would explain how to post pics on the forum. Should that occur, I promise to not post my Clements Bearcat on "Cleaning .22 Rimfires".

Try reading this thread on posting pics, http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=51390
and when you are done I would like to see your special little Bearcat...and if you wipe it off real nice you can post it here on the "clean thread".

Chief aka Maxx Load

 

[hpman66]

The bullet is OUTSIDE lubricated lead. They are not super alloy, designed to go 3000 fps and withstand 40X the sun's heat. Just pull a Snake through them every once in awhile.
More rimfire barrels have been ruined by "overbrushing" than any rounds shot through them.
They actually "clean" with each shot. Up to a point.

I believe this was your opening post(OP) and I believe that it was entirely on cleaning the barrel. The you went to posting pictures. Then you went to the bearcat. I know you are new on the forum and I am not trying to flame you or give you a hard time. You just might keep in mind:

You might try O-N-E topic per post. Makes it a little neater and much easier to follow one train of thought.

It is a lot easier to ask one question per post rather than trying to ask several different questions in/on one post that will go on and on. Makes it nicer for people to follow and make use of the information that comes on the forums. It often happens that a thread will drift completly away from the original question asked and go to completely unrelated information(I have been guilty of doing this myself). If you are trying to find information, the "search"(above in the heading) is a very good tool to dig information out. If you can't find it there, then feel free to as a question on the forum. Good luck on getting your pictures posted.

 

[Cheesewhiz]

Here's a youtube video on a Ruger 22/45 that had a couple of hundred rounds of Thunderbolts shot thru it. I won't comment on the presentation, some should just not make videos. I also don't completely agree with the conclusions made on the video by the maker.

....but this is one messed up barrel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjbsuJhr_zE

 

[alkpon]

Thanks for pic posting info. I'll take some pics, transfer, AND, hopefully put on this "Cleaning Thread", just for my buddies.
And, "THAT'S ALL FOLKS"...

 

[alkpon]

Friendly bunch.....some helpful, some so-so.