Cleaning HMR

[kyska]

After searching and finding so many answers to this I thought I'd try and get a general idea by the use of a poll.

 

One RFD I use says to clean everytime, due to copper build up, another says not to bother, so over to you guys.

 

I've included my vote of everytime, I do this through trusting my regular RFD and it doens't seem to have any major accuracy issues, and I'm worried about knackering my barrel, although this may not happen, I'm a newb to rimfire.

Edited January 1, 2010 by kyska

[albob]

i`m very surprised at the people who have voted for after every 50 shots...mine takes up to that amount to get it accurate again after a good clean(cz varmint barrel) .

i think most people do their centrefires that amount.

unless they mean cleaning with a pull through,which then changes what we call cleaning,ie..deep cleaning or just to clear the barrel of any loose bits.

maybe the poll is confusing in that respect,sorry to say.

both are classed as cleaning but,not the same..something to think about i guess.

al

ps,

just to add.i clean mine if accuracy goes off(full clean and never seen copper deposits on the patches i use),shoot up to 50 bullets to get it accurate again and then use a boresnake after shooting 1 or 10 shots..this keeps my rifle accurate and never had to change this routine.

the above is from every shooting trip(pest control)which is 2 or 3 times a week.

Edited January 1, 2010 by albob

[Billy.]

I do, but I don't. I can't remember the last time I cleaned my HMR. However I do find the accuracy starts to go after about 500-600 shots, so a quick pull string cleaner through and all done.

[stevethevanman]

I clean it usually after having gone through usually about 500 rounds or sometihng around there.

 

However, when I clean it, I pull though with a bore snake, and then use some hoppes bench rest 9, copper solvent, to clear away the bits of bullet jacket in the rifling

 

I only lubricate the bolt ect....however never down the bore as this affects accuracy

 

If you lube down the barrel, you will find that it usualy takes a magazine or two, to get the rifle back on usual zero, a common rookie mistake here is to suddenly change the turret adjustments. However with your rifle, you should always shoot a few gorups to get a good idea

 

I find cleaning every "X" number of rounds a waste of solvents and patches.

 

Steve

Edited January 2, 2010 by stevethevanman

[Billy.]

I would be interested to find out if those who clean every 10-50 shots have an accuracy problem, as you tend to lose the zero for a few shots after cleaning.

[Frenchieboy]

When I first got mine I tried cleaning it every time I went out thinking that it was caring for the gun, unfortunately I found that I couldn't hit a thing till I fired a few "fouling rounds" through the barrel, usually a magazine full. Now I have opted to only clean it when I start to lose accuracy, something that I have not come across yet as the gun is still "settling in" having fired less than five or six hundred shots from new. As it is I am now finding that the rifle is becoming even more accurate than earlier and never ceases to amaze me with it's capabilities for range and accuracy especially with head shot rabbits form 80 to 120(ish) yards, boy does it make a mess of a rabbits skull!

Maybe you could have clarified between a quick "pull through" and a full "deep clean" in your poll as there is quite a difference between the two. (I've not had to do a full "Deep Clean" on mine yet and will not until accuracy starts to suffer)

[Luckyshot]

Well it looks like I'm the only one. I clean mine after every 500 rnds, just pull the bore snake through a couple of times. Never gave it a proper clean before as my accuracy has never suffered enough to warrant a full clean. But saying that Ive only put 3000 rounds through her since new.

[kyska]

Thanks for the replies guys, its looking, only marginally, that people only clean when its really neccesary. I might try this and see if it improves my shooting. To be honest although I'm not doing too badly I thought it was down to me not ever having shot as such a distance.

 

I'm going out today for another paper/zero session and I'll not clean it when I get back, as I've said I've been cleaning everytime. My shots are not anywhere near what they should be, sub 2 inch @100yrds, which has prevented me hunting with it for the time being, maybe, just maybe I'm better than I thought and I'm letting the gun down by cleaning. I'm bang on, as good as my 30 yard .177 air rifle, with my .22lr at 60 yards.

 

Food for thought, thanks and keep replying if you haven't already please.

[kyska]

i`m very surprised at the people who have voted for after every 50 shots...mine takes up to that amount to get it accurate again after a good clean(cz varmint barrel) .

i think most people do their centrefires that amount.

unless they mean cleaning with a pull through,which then changes what we call cleaning,ie..deep cleaning or just to clear the barrel of any loose bits.

maybe the poll is confusing in that respect,sorry to say.

both are classed as cleaning but,not the same..something to think about i guess.

al

ps,

just to add.i clean mine if accuracy goes off(full clean and never seen copper deposits on the patches i use),shoot up to 50 bullets to get it accurate again and then use a boresnake after shooting 1 or 10 shots..this keeps my rifle accurate and never had to change this routine.

the above is from every shooting trip(pest control)which is 2 or 3 times a week.

 

Yep, I see your point, by cleaning I mean solvents, patches and jag and all the biz.

[Beardo]

after 500 or so with me usually

[albob]

Yep, I see your point, by cleaning I mean solvents, patches and jag and all the biz.

 

 

in that case i only use a boresnake after shooting and never clean it again unless the accuracy goes off and then i use solvents etc(i regularly test zero)

 

al

Edited January 2, 2010 by albob

[njc110381]

When I had mine I cleaned it when the groups started to open up. Not all that regularly, maybe every 500 or more. Buy yourself a bore snake. If the gun gets damp or cold then when you get home, warm it up and pull the snake through it. I used to spray a little napier oil just on the short length of snake before the brush but leave the rest dry. That way you put a little oil on it then wipe it clean again.

 

The rifling on the .17s is very fine, be careful with the rods when you do get thorough with it.

[DJLeslie]

I clean mine after 2- 300 rounds with kleanbore kit, rod and copper cutter etc.

and pull the bore snake through after every time i have her out.

 

After a proper cleaning with the rod it does take a good 10- 15 rounds before she

wants to group well again, also the mod gets full of spent powder quickly so i don't

use mine anymore.

[optomist]

I must confess to being a regular cleaner after 50 shots or so with wire brush and solvent and pads under the beleif that it would prevent corrosion if left for a few weeks with residue in it, not really noticed accuracy prob on 100 yd range managing 1 inch groups which open up as barrel warms during heavy target session.

Does anyone know if corrosion is a problem? I note that manufacturers alway state the need to clean after a good session?

optomist

[Dekers]

I would be interested to find out if those who clean every 10-50 shots have an accuracy problem, as you tend to lose the zero for a few shots after cleaning.

 

 

Basically I clean mine after every use, but that will also normally equate to 10-50 shots.

 

I NEVER use a Bore snake on it, it's always done properly with brushes, solvents, patches, oils until I am safisfied the job is done. Tiny little bore, fiddly job and quality tools and materials required, as well as care!!

 

I never have to wait up to 50 shots to get accuracy back, I usually hit the ground with one shot just to make sure the barrel is properly flushed and it's sweet!

 

Job done.

 

It is apparent there are many views here, and everyone does it "right"..but I could not live with a situation of waiting 50 shots to get accuracy back OR waiting to clean it until the accuracy goes off!!

 

Mine gets a clean and stays accurate......

 

......whatever suits is the answer, including NEVER cleaning it by a few!!!!

[Browning GTS]

I clean mine after 200 + if i am useing it a lot, but if i go out and do say 20 shots and then not going to use it for a few weeks i clean it so as its not left in the cabinet dirty. All i ever do is pull it throgh with a bore snake