Cleaning Advice

[jonno1968 5]

So, when I shot in the cadets at school we religiously used to clean the rifles after use. However, i was once told not to clean my 22 or my 223 after every use as its not necessary. Is this true? Which should i do?

[charlie caller 3,654]

Dont clean the .22 and clean the .223 every 50 -100 rounds or so, that will do nicely the only thing I will say is clean the chamber, bolt face on your .22 as the waxy shi*e that comes off rimmy bullets can gum up your action if left unattended, now wait for all the conflicting advice from other members, who are also right in what they tell you

Edited October 5, 2014 by charlie caller

[shropshire dan 467]

+1 CC. Never cleaned my .22 just the chamber and bolt. And my .22-250 is cleaned every 50 rounds. Obviously all guns get a wipe over with oil and rag after every outing.

[jonno1968 5]

Thanks for the advice. Pretty consistent too! Cheers.

[celticrusader 78]

Yes its old army discipline jonno and its taught not for the reasons you'd expect lol, as CC and Dan have said is bang on.

[walshie 2,804]

I never used to clean my rimfire, but like CC said, the waxy coating can gum stuff up pretty fast so I run a brush round the chamber now and again. My 223 gets a clean every 5 or 6 outings or it's got wet.

[Coypu Hunter 486]

No!!! Clean your .22LR after EVERY SESSION!!!!!

 

 

Just kidding. I don't find the bolt face clogs up, but after a couple of hundred shots, you will find there's a ring of carbon build-up inside the breech, just beyond the chamber. If you keep shooting beyond that point, you can even feel bits of carbon being dragged out of the chamber with the empty casing.

 

A blast of Ballistol down the barrel, then a few patches through it until they come out clean, sorts it out pretty quickly.

[celticrusader 78]

My semi auto .22 is a hell of a mess after a couple of boxes lol...I take down which is simple then wd40 the innards then dry and oil then gun grease that bolt a bit as the carbon clogs and drys everything up and that's job done.

Barrels not effected tbh.

Edited October 7, 2014 by celticrusader

[Elliott 436]

Was told by my RFD to clean the bore of my .223 after every use due to the corrosive propellant used in centrefire ammo

[charlie caller 3,654]

Was told by my RFD to clean the bore of my .223 after every use due to the corrosive propellant used in centrefire ammo

Shows what he knows then, I have a mate who has never cleaned his .222 in around 18 years of owning it, and it is still a very very accurate rifle, more rifles have been ruined by over enthusiastic "cleaning" than shooting.

[celticrusader 78]

Being ex army I can see how that happens as well CC, constant brushing and wearing down of the coatings and the finish.

I think sometimes people forget you've gotta remove the muck and carbon but not everything else.lol

Edited October 7, 2014 by celticrusader

[slipper 116]

Just my little bit lol I have been experimenting, when I bought my 223 I spent a fair bit on cleaning gear and cleaned the rifling every time I got back, even if I had only had one shot, but over the last month to six weeks or so I have not cleaned it and I am quite surprised on how the groups are getting smaller and smaller, so I am not going to bother untill I need to

[celticrusader 78]

I think it depends on your method of cleaning as well slipper, as opposed to a copper wire brush down the barrel try oily patch or some solvent designed for carbon and copper removed and pass a few through and then do it with dry patches until done.

I think over brushing is something that's the main problem to what CC is on about...correct me if I'm wrong mate.

[shootlodge 145]

I clean my rifles every outing , whether 1-100 shots, all calibres including 22Lr, all are 10p group accurate @ 100yds. Taking no more than 5 shots until cooled. For competition I clean & pull thru the bore every 5 shots.

 

Its preference, & im out there daily

[charlie caller 3,654]

I think it depends on your method of cleaning as well slipper, as opposed to a copper wire brush down the barrel try oily patch or some solvent designed for carbon and copper removed and pass a few through and then do it with dry patches until done.

I think over brushing is something that's the main problem to what CC is on about...correct me if I'm wrong mate.

Correct pal, I never use a brush on mine, just a pull through with some kitchen roll soaked in Phillips barrel cleaner (that is not meant to remove copper fouling) then patch out until clean, the bore is always sparkling clean afterwards, I have cleaned the .243 like this every 30-50 rounds for the last 9 years, it will shoot a ragged one hole group @ 100 yards if I do my bit, in other words, it works for me