Should I Clean My 22 Rifle Ever

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  • forummastah

    Member
    Sep 24, 2013
    12
    I leaded off with a post on breaking in rifle barrels and it seems there is no need and there is evidence it may actually do harm. I think I'm going to shoot my Ruger 10/22 without cleaning it at all over the next several years and record my range results monthly.

    Anybody done anything like this? Maybe I'll be surprised. I've heard old timers say they never cleaned their 22s and could still hit a tin can at 50 yards after 30 years.
     

    tomandjerry00

    Ultimate Member
    Apr 12, 2013
    1,744
    I haven't cleaned my remington 597 since I bought it 5 years ago and it still shoots less than 1" groups at 50 yards and not much larger at 100.
     

    dreadpirate

    Ultimate Member
    Mar 7, 2010
    5,521
    Cuba on the Chesapeake
    I have heard that unless you use corrosive ammo, you really only need a protective coat of oil (against rust) and to keep the barrel and action free of obstruction. Some claim that cleaning rods actually damage your barrel and impact accuracy. I would think the cable / string type cleaners are better. I always clean my rifles.
     

    mbz300sdl

    Gone living free now!!!
    Apr 12, 2010
    10,644
    South Carolina
    I only clean the receiver on my 22's unless I shoot a lot of lead bullets which I haven't in a long time. I agree with the cleaning rod comment use a bore snake if you must clean it
     

    trickg

    Guns 'n Drums
    MDS Supporter
    Jul 22, 2008
    14,598
    Glen Burnie
    The general consensus seems to be that a person can do more harm than good trying to clean a .22 barrel with the wrong cleaning rod, and that it should be avoided.

    In my case, I try to split the difference - I don't clean mine often, but when I do, I use a Hoppe's bore snake, which seems to do a pretty good job, and is very easy on the bore and crown of the barrel.
     

    kstone803

    Official Meat Getter
    Feb 25, 2009
    3,924
    Ltown in the SMC
    I don't except maybe once every 2 years with a patch or 2 of wipe out. I remember an article where a guy shot an MP 15-22 like 50,000 rounds without cleaning it. It was dirty but I don't think it failed. Can't find the link right now.
     

    BRONZ

    Big Brother is Watching
    Jan 21, 2008
    1,648
    Westminster, MD
    I was talking to some guy who heads up a competitive rimfire group. He said they dont compete. Unless their barrels have 500 fowling shoots through them. If they clean them they go through another large amount of fowling again.
     

    ToBeFree

    Ultimate Member
    Oct 5, 2011
    2,614
    Highland Cnty-Va
    wow

    I am old school and always clean up after shooting.
    Sometime that week or so.
    Maybe just run a patch through a couple of times.
    Habit I suppose.
     

    Rapture

    Total Loser
    Jun 5, 2013
    1,094
    In the woods
    I usually just oil and clean the receiver. Every 1000 rounds or so, I'll run a boresnake through the barrel and oil it, prior to storage.
     

    wilcam47

    Ultimate Member
    Apr 4, 2008
    25,976
    Changed zip code
    22s tend to get filthy and jam up. If it is running smoothly, I wouldn't worry about it.

    :thumbsup: 10/22 will jam up eventually depending on the ammo you use...the bore I rarely clean/ed the other receiver parts I try to clean up 500-1000rds and spray out the trigger assembly...you'll feel it getting gritty when you pull the trigger. Then you know its time to clean.
     

    Sirex

    Powered by natural gas
    Oct 30, 2010
    10,380
    Westminster, MD
    I think there was a link to a thread where some one put either 10k or 100k thru a M&P 15 22 and didn't clean it. As far as my semi auto .22s, I use a wood dowel, some special cloth patches I get at work, and clean the bore after every shoot. I don't break them down unless I have shot a lot or they are getting gunked up.
     

    smores

    Creepy-Ass Cracker
    Feb 27, 2007
    13,493
    Falls Church
    From a gunsmith: inspect the bore to insure you have no leading or obstructions before shooting.

    I've replaced dozens of .22 barrels that were bulged or completely obstructed because of lead buildup.

    Si vis pacem, para bellvm.
     

    forummastah

    Member
    Sep 24, 2013
    12
    Looks like a lot of people don't clean their 22s and still shoot good groups. My 223 AR-15 is almost the same caliber. Do I need to clean my AR barrel or should I just leave it alone until the accuracy decreases? I usually just use Walmart Federal ammo through it.
     

    covertpanda

    Penguin Hunter
    Sep 10, 2013
    324
    Carroll
    I have a Rem 514 from the late 50's; it's still shoots dead on with zero cleaning of the bore. Just a little lube every now and then.
     

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