shinybum Posted June 7, 2015 Report Share Posted June 7, 2015 what are the methods used for cleaning the barrel on 17hmr? i have several larger caliber rifles with plastic coated cleaning rods, the 17 rod i have is steel with no apparent coating, i am concerned about barrel damage using such a rod. Your thoughts please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted June 7, 2015 Report Share Posted June 7, 2015 I wouldn't use it. How much is a rod ? How much is your rifle ? I think mine are parker hale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted June 7, 2015 Report Share Posted June 7, 2015 Buy a Dewey rod for a hmr . I have a parkerhale and I struggle getting bits for it. The Dewey is 17 calibre not 177 like the parkerhale . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted June 7, 2015 Report Share Posted June 7, 2015 Mine is a dewey the other's are all parker hale. Just checked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hyflier Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 I use a steel rod with a spear tip jag and a clean patch each time. Pushing through from breech to muzzle, I put about 4/5 patches through then put it away. I have found that too thorough cleaning affects accuracy for the first few rounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savhmr Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 Nothing wrong with a steel rod if used properly. I use a 1 piece steel rod. Just make sure that you use a bore guide to avoid cock eyed rod entry (ooh-err). I use a brass jag, and patches soaked with bore cleaner (PH 009 spray in my case) before then using some copper removal agent (Hoppes M-Pro 7) followed by a dozen or so dry patches and finally a little gun oil followed by another dry patch. Accuracy goes off for the first 4 or 5 rounds and then the groups tighten up again. I dry patch clean after every 20 rounds or so then the full cleaning regime after 50 rounds or so. Cleaning too often is a bad thing for an HMR barrel imho. I know some that don't clean for 100 rounds or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 I am normally a rod cleaner on centre fires and make good efforts to get them spot on each time. With the HMR, I have found a regime that works for me, after every use, I give it 2 pulls through with a bore-snake. That is it. Mine is wonderfully accurate. Others will disagree with this cleaning regime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savhmr Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 I am normally a rod cleaner on centre fires and make good efforts to get them spot on each time. With the HMR, I have found a regime that works for me, after every use, I give it 2 pulls through with a bore-snake. That is it. Mine is wonderfully accurate. Others will disagree with this cleaning regime. I thought about a boresnake until I spoke with my local RFD about it, and he told me that he's had to pass a lot of HMRs to the gunsmith for removing boresnakes from the barrels following the pull string snapping in the field. He also mentioned that the brass bristles in the boresnakes prematurely wear the shallow rifling in a 17, so warned me off them. I've always regarded the boresnake as a shotgun cleaning aid, from where its origins came but maybe there's some who can disprove the worries who may have shot many 1000's of rounds using only a boresnake for cleaning the HMR? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redditch Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 (edited) I've pur about 3,000 rounds through my HMR, and the first 2,000 used only a bore snake, but now have a full length one piece rod set too. I generally clean after every outing (one pull of the bore snake for every 25 rounds) and a thorough clean now with the rod and brass brush plus copper solvent after 250 rounds Edited June 8, 2015 by Redditch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 I am mindful of this as I've heard about the snapping. However, I use a Hoppes which is long enough to pull it out from the other end if it snaps. I also lube the snake. I do wonder if some dry pull their snakes. I am struggling to see how a the brass wears the steel barrel rifling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 Dewey rod and CARE when cleaning! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savhmr Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 (edited) I am mindful of this as I've heard about the snapping. However, I use a Hoppes which is long enough to pull it out from the other end if it snaps. I also lube the snake. I do wonder if some dry pull their snakes. I am struggling to see how a the brass wears the steel barrel rifling. This might help and is an excellent reference for experienced and novice alike when it comes to rifle cleaning in general: http://www.rrdvegas.com/rimfire-cleaning.html The issues with bronze brushes are that whilst they're softer than the steel, they can react with copper de-fouling chemicals and the lands on the edges of the rifling are worn by them ( just as you have to sharpen kitchen knives when chopping veg on wood or plastic boards, as the edges may be hard but can still be dulled). Point is, wear happens to the rifling lands which can affect accuracy. The issue with boresnakes is twofold: many dont bother ever cleaning them so end up pulling all the crud removed back through the barrel which increases wear, and secondly, they do little to properly clean the chamber which needs to be kept spotless for all the reasons mentioned in the article above. The best recognised way for cleaning is to do it sufficiently regularly (every 50 shots or so with an HMR) and before storing a rifle for any length of time, using a decent one pice rod, jags and either wads or cleaning pellets with the correct solvents/barrel protection oils. I use a bronze brush for cleaning the chamber only and clean this first, before the barrel. A boresnake is still a useful tool for the off field pull through, providing it's washed after every outing. Edited June 8, 2015 by Savhmr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitchiet123 Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 I am normally a rod cleaner on centre fires and make good efforts to get them spot on each time. With the HMR, I have found a regime that works for me, after every use, I give it 2 pulls through with a bore-snake. That is it. Mine is wonderfully accurate. Others will disagree with this cleaning regime. +1 Rod and patch seems even more tight than the Hoppes Boresnake! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 I use felt .177 pellets for airguns instead of a jag. Push through with rod. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrDaveO84 Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 +1 Rod and patch seems even more tight than the Hoppes Boresnake! I bought a tetra gun .17 cleaning kit and I can't even get the jag and patch into the chamber, The rifles new and I've only put 50 rounds through it so not too bothered about a thorough clean yet, I've just pulled a bore snake through it twice but I will have to clean it properly soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 I bought a tetra gun .17 cleaning kit and I can't even get the jag and patch into the chamber, The rifles new and I've only put 50 rounds through it so not too bothered about a thorough clean yet, I've just pulled a bore snake through it twice but I will have to clean it properly soon :hmm: Something seems strange there! I use a Dewey rod, Pro-Shot Jag and Brush and cut my own patches...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BangBangNik Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 Excuse the hijack bit I'me fairly new to rifles, how come everyone seems to clean the HMR but most people don't touch their .22lr? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savhmr Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 The round has more fouling from the powder (more powder which leaves more residue) plus is copper jacketed so leaves coper fouling within the bore. It's a tiny bore to begin with so soon gets mucked up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luckyshot Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 Excuse the hijack bit I'me fairly new to rifles, how come everyone seems to clean the HMR but most people don't touch their .22lr? The 22 only has lead going through it not copper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 (edited) Excuse the hijack bit I'me fairly new to rifles, how come everyone seems to clean the HMR but most people don't touch their .22lr? That is down to the individual and situation, but plenty don't clean their HMR from what I see here. Both are dirty rounds, the .22lr dirtier, but it isn't anywhere near as fast as HMR, even the HV .22lr, and MUCH of the .22lr is lead, and not copper coated. As far as I'm aware all HMR is copper coated and will leave a trace along the barrel with every shot. This cleaning malarkey is a contentious issue, I was brought up in the target/competition world and learned to clean, I still clean all my rifles religiously, they all work and they don't need loads of fouling shots. Some will argue they clean nothing and they work fine, it's up to you. Edited June 8, 2015 by Dekers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 The 22 only has lead going through it not copper. I think that is an over generalisation! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrDaveO84 Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 :hmm: Something seems strange there! I use a Dewey rod, Pro-Shot Jag and Brush and cut my own patches...... HMRPatches1a.JPG Not sure what's up with it either dekkers, it is a 17 cal cleaning rod that's for sure, I looked for a dewey rod but no where had them in stock so went for the tetra kit. I do have a bore guide tho so no poking it about ruining the chamber, but it just will not go in even with the tiniest patch. I cut some even smaller than the ones in your pic and it still won't go in. I put reasonable pressure on the rod but I don't want to jam it in and then it gets stuck or ruin the rifling either. It's a cz452 American btw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savhmr Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 (edited) The other thing to consider for all those who don't clean their barrels, is that the powder residue and most especially the primer residue is corrosive and can cause barrel pitting and rusting. I've seen plenty of evidence supporting this. Even if bore cleaner isn't used, it pays simply to dry patch after every outing. When I was still in the army, we had to strip and clean our rifles after every range shoot or exercise (7.62 in those days). Rifles had to be kept meticulously clean. I'm not sure where this "don't bother cleaning" regime has started from, but I do see more HMR users stressing over the issues than practically any other calibre user, partly because some rifles only seem to settle grouping down when they've had a few rounds through them (mine included). That doesn't stop me at least dry patching mine after every shoot. Edited June 8, 2015 by Savhmr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 I don't think I've cleaned mine since I've had it, so rule of thumb, don't buy a rifle off me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shinybum Posted June 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2015 thanks for all the replies, my 17 has become inaccurate and is certainly not shot out so wondering if damage has been caused by cleaning with a steel rod. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.