Oly Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 This came up in an earlier thread and I've decided to put it in a new topic as it's a question I would really like answered. Do copper plated rimfire rounds put excessive wear on a barrel primarily designed for lead? Also, how do you clean the barrel for this ammunition? The same as if you were shooting lead, or as if it were a centerfire, or something totally different again? Cheers, Oly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P03 Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 Why clean it? If it's shooting straight leave it alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trevor Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 Why clean it? If it's shooting straight leave it alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham M Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 Most copper .22 rimmy ammo’ is nothing more than a lead bullet with a copper “wash†over it which is there as nothing more than a lubricant. Most of this ammo’ is mass produced to allow cheap and cheerful plinking, but I don’t find it accurate enough for anything serious. If you want a cheap and fairly accurate sub-sonic round for target use try Eley “Clubâ€. Cheap, pretty good as far as consistency is concerned and fairly accurate (if you aren’t shooting top class competitions that is). G.M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oly Posted March 23, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2007 Many thanks, was looking the velocitors for extra hitting power in the field. Otherwise I only put Eley Match EPS through it in the range for competition shooting. For those who are saying why clean it As per other comments and threads in this forum - lack of cleaning means that you don't notice dangerous bulges etc in yuor barrel - which can lead to maiming and even killing - just because it's a .22 rimfire doesn't mean it doesn't happen...it does!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted March 23, 2007 Report Share Posted March 23, 2007 I only ever use subs through my .22, so I don't bother cleaning the barrel. If I used HV's (which aren't lead) then surely you would clean it the same as a centrfire, no? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter_HMR Posted March 23, 2007 Report Share Posted March 23, 2007 A rimfire never needs oto be cleaned like a centrefire the bullets are not traveling fast enough and do not copper or any other foul. I've a 17 which i clean ever 150 rounds but that only gets an oily mop and a boresnake a few times nothing major at all. HV .22's certainly woundlt need such treatment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P03 Posted March 23, 2007 Report Share Posted March 23, 2007 I don't clean the barrel of my .243 until it starts shooting off (normally about every 200 rounds) and I know a bloke who insists that he has never cleaned his Blaser .243. As for bulges and blockages.....I said "don't clean it" not "don't inspect and look after it". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oly Posted March 24, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2007 I don't clean the barrel of my .243 until it starts shooting off (normally about every 200 rounds) and I know a bloke who insists that he has never cleaned his Blaser .243. As for bulges and blockages.....I said "don't clean it" not "don't inspect and look after it". I guess it's your life! Just hope you don't have any dependants! Copper wash is nearly as soft as lead so cleaning is the same as if for lead - centrefires use solid copper jackets - hence the extra cleaning & solvents required Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palombier Posted March 24, 2007 Report Share Posted March 24, 2007 Oly Graham M is right supersonic .22 rimfire bullets are coated with a wash/paint, they are not copper. You do not need to clean a .22 rimfire as you do a centrefire. I don't think I've ever cleaned mine and it is just as accurate as the day I bought it. Regards P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted March 24, 2007 Report Share Posted March 24, 2007 I don't clean the barrel of my .243 until it starts shooting off (normally about every 200 rounds) and I know a bloke who insists that he has never cleaned his Blaser .243. As for bulges and blockages.....I said "don't clean it" not "don't inspect and look after it". I guess it's your life! Just hope you don't have any dependants! Copper is softer than lead so cleaning is the same as if for lead - centrefires use brass - hence the extra cleaning & solvents required Oly What a load of tosh Get your facts right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oly Posted March 25, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2007 I don't clean the barrel of my .243 until it starts shooting off (normally about every 200 rounds) and I know a bloke who insists that he has never cleaned his Blaser .243. As for bulges and blockages.....I said "don't clean it" not "don't inspect and look after it". I guess it's your life! Just hope you don't have any dependants! Copper is softer than lead so cleaning is the same as if for lead - centrefires use brass - hence the extra cleaning & solvents required Oly What a load of tosh Get your facts right Charlie, about what cleaning or the risks if you don't clean?? I put on average over 3000 rounds through my Anschutz rimmy per year through shooting competively and in the field, I shoot with many who shoot similar numbers. I also know people (and have heard many similar stories) who have fingers missing as a result of unnoticed bulges going bad...so what's your evidence to the contrary?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jb1 Posted March 25, 2007 Report Share Posted March 25, 2007 I don't clean the barrel of my .243 until it starts shooting off (normally about every 200 rounds) and I know a bloke who insists that he has never cleaned his Blaser .243. As for bulges and blockages.....I said "don't clean it" not "don't inspect and look after it". I guess it's your life! Just hope you don't have any dependants! Copper is softer than lead so cleaning is the same as if for lead - centrefires use brass - hence the extra cleaning & solvents required Think you will find copper is harder than lead and centerfire bullets are copper jacketed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham M Posted March 25, 2007 Report Share Posted March 25, 2007 Oly, I have only ever seen one bulged barrel in my life and that was CAUSED by cleaning. The chap in question shoots a Gemini rifle with a stainless barrel and whilst cleaning his barrel with those bloody awful felt cleaning plugs he left one of them in the bore. The result was a bulge that was able to be seen quite clearly, and that was on a match barrel one inch thick. I used to shoot over 5000 rounds a year when I shot for City of Birmingham, but since the range was closed down I haven’t shot anywhere near that number. The only time I used to clean was if the rifle started to go off and I couldn’t explain it. Others used clean every time they shot, so it all depends on what you prefer I suppose. G.M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kip270 Posted March 25, 2007 Report Share Posted March 25, 2007 I don't clean the barrel of my .243 until it starts shooting off (normally about every 200 rounds) and I know a bloke who insists that he has never cleaned his Blaser .243. As for bulges and blockages.....I said "don't clean it" not "don't inspect and look after it". I guess it's your life! Just hope you don't have any dependants! Copper is softer than lead so cleaning is the same as if for lead - centrefires use brass - hence the extra cleaning & solvents required Centrefire rilfe's use BRASS CASES NOT BRASS BULLETS :( :( They are COPPER COATED Think you need to get more info, and find out the facts, nothing but the facts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted March 25, 2007 Report Share Posted March 25, 2007 Oly I think everyone else has answered your question for me. Everything you stated was tosh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oly Posted March 30, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2007 Edited to get the facts right - sorry fellas, was having a bad day/week at work - guess it spilled over into the forum as well! Crazy thing was that I had only just spoken to a guy at Sportsman's about these rounds! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kip270 Posted March 30, 2007 Report Share Posted March 30, 2007 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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