Frenchieboy Posted September 15, 2009 Report Share Posted September 15, 2009 I have just read the thread titled: Barrel damage due to over oiling in this section so now I will make myself look a complete plonker with this question! I am relatively new to FAC rifle shooting only having been involved with air rifles and shotguns up till a short while ago. I have 2 rifles, both second hand and quite old, (A Winchester 290 .22 semi auto and a BSA .22-250 Bolt Action with a very heavy barrel) but they were the best I could afford, they work well and I love using them. After reading the previously mentioned thread would anyone like to offer any advice to realtive newcommers on the best way to clean their rifles in order to protect them and keep them in the best and safest condition possible? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted September 15, 2009 Report Share Posted September 15, 2009 Rifle cleaning is yet another very subjective topic, but here are my own views: I do not clean the bores on my .22 LRs, although I keep the action and bolt race immaculate. .22LR barrels do not experience the gradual build up of copper deposits that afflict centrefire barrels. I found that cleaning my rimfires will throw the POI way off, until the usual level of wax and gunk has accumulated in the bore once again. I put tens of thousands of rounds through my .22 LRs each year, and this regime of mine hasn't caused any problems at all. I rod out my .22-250 about every 20 shots, as it is quite picky with cleaning requirements. I use a patch dipped in meths to swab out the worst of the gubbins, before blasting some Forrest Bore Foam through the bore for general cleaning. I leave that to fester for 30-odd minutes, and then patch it out until clean. I don't use bronze brushes. I deep-clean my centrefire rifles with KG-12 solution about every 100 rounds. Some of my rifles are very undemanding in terms of cleaning; some are fussy. Some will shoot to POI from a cold, clean barrel; some require a fouling shot. It's horses for courses. I have a Bore Snake for each calibre, which I keep close to the rifle in case I need to swap out the barrel in the field, or as I am running out of the door. I'm not convinced that Bore Snakes have any merit for CF use, so it's probably more for my own benefit. If I was you, I would keep shooting the .22-250 until accuracy tails off, and only clean it at that point. That may be 10 or 100 rounds, possibly even more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted September 15, 2009 Report Share Posted September 15, 2009 (edited) There are two thoughts on rifle cleaning . Those who do and those who dont . I am in the middle with centre fire rifles and only clean when wet or twice a year . Using a good barrel cleaner and bronze brush . You must make sure all cleaner residue is out of the barrel before shooting again . I use lint patches pushed throug untill they come out clean . If the gun is to be stored for a while or is not used regulary then a small amount of oil can be used to keep the barrel free of any damp ,but the oil must and I repeat must be cleaned out before shooting again . As fot the .22 rimfire I never clean unless wet . I just clean the the ramp and the entrance to the chamber to remove the bullet lube which can build up . I might just add that I dont shoot to many rounds through my .308 stalking rifle ,proberbly 100 per year including zeroing . Harnser . Edited September 15, 2009 by Harnser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted September 15, 2009 Report Share Posted September 15, 2009 I have just read the thread titled: Barrel damage due to over oiling in this section so now I will make myself look a complete plonker with this question!I am relatively new to FAC rifle shooting only having been involved with air rifles and shotguns up till a short while ago. I have 2 rifles, both second hand and quite old, (A Winchester 290 .22 semi auto and a BSA .22-250 Bolt Action with a very heavy barrel) but they were the best I could afford, they work well and I love using them. After reading the previously mentioned thread would anyone like to offer any advice to realtive newcommers on the best way to clean their rifles in order to protect them and keep them in the best and safest condition possible? I dont think that you can over oil a barrel as such but you will cause damage if there is any oil in the barrel when you shoot it . Harnser . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted September 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2009 (edited) Thanks for that guys. I realise that it is quite subjective which is why I was asking for general advice so that I can make up my mind after weighing up the "pros and cons". I am happy to leave my .22RF alone and just give the mechanism a periodic clean as it is fully removable in my gun. As for the 22-250, I am not sure how the rifle has been treated throughout its life so I have given the bore a good clean through with "Brunox Turbo Spray" and the bronze brush, then I have cleaned it with a very lightly oiled mop before running a clean dry mop through it several times. It now looks like I will have to run a few "fouling shots" through it and check the zeroing! Any more advice, hints or tips will be most welcome! Edited September 15, 2009 by Frenchieboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted September 15, 2009 Report Share Posted September 15, 2009 Bore snakes are the best thing since sliced bread. Get one for every calibre you think you will have - get the proper Boresnakes not the wikky copies that are poo. After shooting when barrels are still warm, give it a pull through two or three times and it's job done. They are also machine washable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted September 15, 2009 Report Share Posted September 15, 2009 Its interesting my .223is new to me and I found after 40 shots it went off zero, clean and 1st shot back was spot on so I could presumably clean it each time and expect it to shoot straight immediately, though I think I'll probably clean about the 20 round mark and see how it goes. My HMR hardly ever gets cleaned that seems to go at least 200 rounds before starting to wander. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted September 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2009 OK Guys, so please correct me if I am wrong but the general consensus of opinion is that on Cenrte Fire Rifles the general indicator that the bore could do with a clean is when it starts to wander from the usual POI. Is it the general feeling that I should leave my 22-250 alone until that starts to happen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted September 15, 2009 Report Share Posted September 15, 2009 Yes, that's my belief, and how I worked out the cleaning intervals for my rifles. See how things progress. Did you ever deep-clean the rifle when you bought it? Incidentally, al4x, my old CZ .17 HMR didn't need cleaning until it had shot over 400 rounds, sometimes nearly 500. But then it took nearly 30 rounds to get back to the intended POI. Very fickle... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted September 15, 2009 Report Share Posted September 15, 2009 the only issue is you don't want to miss that 300 yard fox so once you find when it starts to wander clean it before that point next time. Yep mine takes up to 10 to get back on form after that its back to business with a vengeance. Just need to get the drilling done and emerged so we can see tramlines and we'll be back out, we hardly see any on stubble round us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted September 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2009 Yes, that's my belief, and how I worked out the cleaning intervals for my rifles. See how things progress. Did you ever deep-clean the rifle when you bought it? No, I didn't deep clean it when I bought it but I have recently. That'll teach me to leave well alone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted September 15, 2009 Report Share Posted September 15, 2009 Just need to get the drilling done and emerged so we can see tramlines and we'll be back out, we hardly see any on stubble round us You need to get yourself an ATV or quad, sir... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George1990 Posted September 15, 2009 Report Share Posted September 15, 2009 With my HMR I just run a patch through to get the worst out, but don't deep clean it. Then it only needs or two to get back on target. After a few hundred rounds I may deep clean it, but I have only fired a couple of hundred through it. I imagine copper residue will build up like in centre-fires? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted September 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2009 (edited) Well I got out this morning to try the 22-250 after my "Deep Cleaning" and what a surprise I had! The first shots were way off but after half a dozen it started coming "back on true". After a dozen shots (Allowing the barrel a few minutes to "cool down" between shots) and a bit of fine tuning the scopes here are the results. Not too bad when you considder that it is quite an old rifle and I have no idea how the gun has been treated prior to me buying it. It could maybe do with just one more click up on elevation. (The bit of variation is more likely my shooting than the rifle's fault!) However I will think twice before Deep cleaning again unless it is necessary! Edited September 16, 2009 by Frenchieboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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