Dead-Eyed Duck Posted June 23, 2006 Report Share Posted June 23, 2006 hmr owners out there - how often should I clean the barrel? When I bought my Anschutz I was recommneded to run a bore snake through the barrel every 10 shots, plus a regular cleaning rod clean every 40 rounds. Now I find this hard to believe, even though rimfires leave more crud in the barrel than a centrefire. Advice please, as often barrels have to be 'run in' for a few rounds after a proper clean. Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webber Posted June 23, 2006 Report Share Posted June 23, 2006 Have you found the rod then? webber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axe Posted June 23, 2006 Report Share Posted June 23, 2006 I think most people would say wait until it goes off and then clean. I have found this to be about 200 rounds. But I tend to run a patch through every 50 rounds. I dont use bore snakes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnGalway Posted June 23, 2006 Report Share Posted June 23, 2006 Removed. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted June 23, 2006 Report Share Posted June 23, 2006 I run a bore snake through every 100 rounds or so, then rod it every 200. I have to say on the basis it takes a few rounds to settle down after cleaning every 10 rounds is very excessive. maybe if you're target shooting but on game its overkill. I've not actually found accuracy drop off even after 150 rounds so i guess you have to work out what works for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted June 23, 2006 Report Share Posted June 23, 2006 I think most people would say wait until it goes off and then clean. I have found this to be about 200 yards. Axe, does that mean any shots closer then 200yards are still OK with a dirty barrel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunganick Posted June 23, 2006 Report Share Posted June 23, 2006 i actually posted on this same subject about 1 year ago and got completely slated for saying about every 50 shots, people told me this was stupid and no barrel could possibly require this frequent cleaning. Well even though ive never owned one, ive known enough people with them to know that if your after your tightest groups then you clean every 30-50 (seems to depend on the gun) No gun needs to maintain bench rest accuracy for field work, so its possible to leave the gun hundreds of rounds and probably only notice a slight drop in accuracy, but not enough to effect those chest shot rabbits @ 140 yrds. Bore snakes seem to have a reputation as barrel killers, not used them before so cant comment from experiance, but some of the guys on here have had damaged barrels due to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axe Posted June 23, 2006 Report Share Posted June 23, 2006 I think most people would say wait until it goes off and then clean. I have found this to be about 200 yards. Axe, does that mean any shots closer then 200yards are still OK with a dirty barrel Oops! What can I say, I had to work to 1am this morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham M Posted June 23, 2006 Report Share Posted June 23, 2006 I was told to clean mine every 10 shots or so. And like a paper-hat I believed them and cleaned the thing, and then couldn’t understand why I could not get the rifle to shoot anything like consistently. The first three shots were in the same group but then the next few shots were higher and so on until the group formed three or four inches high. I then had to clean the barrel and the process started all over again. It finally dawned on me that it was taking the rifle half a dozen shots to start shooting properly and only then could I sight it in. I now clean only after @ 200 rds and I think the rifle shoots much better . I just put a shot through it when I get onto the farm prior to setting off. A bit like putting a fouling shot through a centrefire. G.M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdubya Posted June 24, 2006 Report Share Posted June 24, 2006 I fell for the "you must clean it trick" my marlin was shooting VERY well however after some earbashing from the experts in the world of guns! I gave mine a thorough clean ie rod and patch job, then took it back to the range, expecting the gun to be "off" and needing to settle down after a few shots? I set about getting it back on song. However seeing groupings that could be bettered with a catapult,and no consistency after an almost full box of ammo used ( yes I did let the barrel cool etc) and no I did not bang them off like a machine gun, I packed up and took home a gun that was practically useless to me in the field, then after waiting a few weeks for the wind to actually stop blowing a holigan every time I was able to get to the range, I eventually got the sod to "settle down" which was well into the second box of ammo!!!!, since then I have put 200 through it and at 100yards I can confidently expect to hit a 1" bullseye just about every time, using federal Vmax ( £8.50) for 50, so my conclusion for MY gun now is if it aint broke dont fix it, ie I will only clean it when it goes "off" cheers KW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dead-Eyed Duck Posted June 24, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2006 Thanks for all your advice guys, and I intend to clean it as and when I think that the accuracy falls off. Methinks that the same rumour is being spread by various gunshops to aid the sales of bore snakes etc. I also think that there are lots of 'experts' out there who don't own hmr's, and couldn't hit a barn door if they were leaning on one. Yes, I was a sucker to believe, when I should have known better. Thanks again. Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deadeye ive Posted June 24, 2006 Report Share Posted June 24, 2006 To clean or not to clean .........That is the question HMR.........I Leave mine well alone until I feel it's neccessary Centre Fire ..........I'm still undecided Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Posted June 24, 2006 Report Share Posted June 24, 2006 To clean or not to clean .........That is the question HMR.........I Leave mine well alone until I feel it's neccessary Centre Fire ..........I'm still undecided Simple Ive, Rimfire: Clean when accuracy goes to pot. (allways when it gets wet ) Centerfire: If in regular use, (every other day at most) Clean after 10 - 20 rounds, every 5 if its a .17 rem. If not in regular use ( only used once a week or more) clean everytime its used. (again, allways when its wet) :yp: Will this help Ive? :yp: Frank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham M Posted June 24, 2006 Report Share Posted June 24, 2006 Just got home after a wonderful evening out with the .17hmr. Stood in the corner of a field taking shots at the bunnies at rages from 50yds out to 120yds. Not a breath of wind at all and everything was as still as a mill pond, which made the shooting almost effortless. And then just as I was about to call it a day a nice vixen came into the field and began quartering back and forth until she stopped around 50yds out and grabbed one of my rabbits. She was just about to run off so I gave a little cough which made her stop in her tracks and turn to look towards me….end of story. Yup….with CCI TNTs this hmr is an absolutely cracking little rifle. G.M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Posted June 24, 2006 Report Share Posted June 24, 2006 Just got home after a wonderful evening out with the .17hmr. Stood in the corner of a field taking shots at the bunnies at rages from 50yds out to 120yds. Not a breath of wind at all and everything was as still as a mill pond, which made the shooting almost effortless.And then just as I was about to call it a day a nice vixen came into the field and began quartering back and forth until she stopped around 50yds out and grabbed one of my rabbits. She was just about to run off so I gave a little cough which made her stop in her tracks and turn to look towards me….end of story. Yup….with CCI TNTs this hmr is an absolutely cracking little rifle. G.M. Any pics G.M? Frank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham M Posted June 24, 2006 Report Share Posted June 24, 2006 Don’t bother with piccies any more Frank, too much trouble taking the camera. Mind you, my good lady has just bought me a new fangled phone with a camera on it, so as soon as I get the carrying case I will be able to give my old one to my granddaughter and use the new one. Don’t know about pictures though……don’t know how to use the flamin’ phone yet. G.M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deadeye ive Posted June 24, 2006 Report Share Posted June 24, 2006 Centerfire: If in regular use, (every other day at most) Clean after 10 - 20 rounds, every 5 if its a .17 rem.If not in regular use ( only used once a week or more) clean everytime its used. (again, allways when its wet) :( Will this help Ive? Frank. In a word Frank no :yp: :( .................fullbore can have you hanging from a light flex if you let it ,If you know what I mean ............I'm just to critical for my own good and always looking for supreme accuracy but not at the expense of consistancy ...........Sometimes after a thorough clean there is no effect on accuracy at all with the first shot ,nor any shot after that ........BUT! even following the same procedure the next time it can take several fouling shots :yp: ............I'm running dirty at the moment Don’t bother with piccies any more Frank, too much trouble taking the camera.: G.M. Know what you mean Graham ..................camera is the last thing I think of when I go out .........You had a good day and the memories are your own Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Posted June 24, 2006 Report Share Posted June 24, 2006 I'm running dirty at the moment O, ...... :yp: :yp: Frank. Don’t bother with piccies any more Frank, too much trouble taking the camera.Mind you, my good lady has just bought me a new fangled phone with a camera on it, so as soon as I get the carrying case I will be able to give my old one to my granddaughter and use the new one. Don’t know about pictures though……don’t know how to use the flamin’ phone yet. G.M. No worries G.M. At least you had a great evening and a productive one at that, thats all that matters. Frank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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