how often do you clean your 15-22?

[springfield.45]

Just to get a idea of often some clean their guns, My duck gun (11-87) never gets cleaned during the season, my carry gun gets it everytime i shoot it as the same with my 15-22.

Growing up my Dad said after you shot it clean it.

Is there such a thing as to clean of a Gun?

[UtahHunting]

As a general rule, I always clean all my guns after I shoot them. That is the way I was brought up. However, as of the last year, I have started letting my .22 rifles go 500+ rounds in between cleanings and have not had any issues with them. Cleaning a .22 after every outing may be a bit of overkill in my opinion. I am sure you will get several opinions here.

[springfield.45]

It seems like everytime i clean it, i have to re-zero my scope does anyone else have this problem (i don't take my scope off to clean)

[skip62]

I put 700 through mine yesterday, and don't plan on cleaning it any time soon, got to see what this gun is made of. It still cycles as smooth as after the first mag. I don't clean the pistols I shoot competition with for 2000 rounds, and only then cuz I can't pick them up without getting crud all over me...

[27 Beck]

Originally Posted by springfield.45

It seems like everytime i clean it, i have to re-zero my scope does anyone else have this problem (i don't take my scope off to clean)

I would think there is something wrong with your scope if it is not holding zero.

[another41]

500 to 750rds or if I'm bored

[katsass]

Originally Posted by springfield.45

It seems like everytime i clean it, i have to re-zero my scope does anyone else have this problem (i don't take my scope off to clean)

As to cleaning any .22 rf rifle. As soon as you clean it you will see POI change. All small bore (.22 rf) target guns are shot "fouled" or dirty, they even give the shooters a number of "sighters and foulers" at a match prior to competition because of this. Once shot and fouled for a few rounds, they seem to settle in and become consistent, and (as I'm sure you know) each individual rifle seems to prefer it's own brand of ammo to perform it's best. Mike

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Originally Posted by springfield.45

Just to get a idea of often some clean their guns, My duck gun (11-87) never gets cleaned during the season, my carry gun gets it everytime i shoot it as the same with my 15-22.

Growing up my Dad said after you shot it clean it.

Is there such a thing as to clean of a Gun?

Too clean, no. Too much lube and stuff, yes.

I usually go through a box of 500 when I take out the 15-22. I clean it after 1-2 shooting sessions (500-1000).

It's been my general experience that .22lr actions suffer from lack of cleaning a great deal more than do centerfire.

[Evile]

this is my first gun ive bought, i know how to take the gun apart but as for cleaning it i really dont know what to do. looking for a little help on this

[chuck s]

All ya need is a bottle of CLP, a toothbrush, a shop rag, and a Bore Snake. Brush out the powder residue from the receivers. Wipe off the bolt carrier group. Drop the bore snake down the barrel. Give the moving parts a coat of CLP.

You're done. And the Bore Snake is optional. A .22LR barrel does not need cleaning under normal use. Ever.

Same procedure is all that's needed on ANY firearm. Leave the bore brushes and aggressive solvents at the gun store.

-- Chuck

[skip62]

chuck, your Army and you don't clean barrels? is that right? I totally agree, but I didn't think the Army did. I was too stupid to serve when I was younger, so forgive my ignorance, and Thank you for serving.

[chuck s]

There's a major difference between "drill sergeant clean" and how clean the weapon needs to be to function perfectly. Both the Army and Marine Corps use rifle cleaning as a discipline tool to emphasize attention to detail, etc. In reality the weapons will function perfectly at a much lower standard. Taking rifles into a hot shower with a brush and kitchen powdered cleanser will get them very clean! (Now, who wound ever do that?! ) It ain't good for them though.

The need to eliminate "copper fouling" in the barrel, for example, ended circa 1950 when the last corrosive primers were produced for the M1 Rifle. Corrosives can be literally plated over by the copper and eat the barrel underneath. Copper fouling in center fire calibers is self limiting and right back the first magazine after you've spent hours of cleaning. Fully chrome lined bores in modern (circa 1968 and newer) weapons are immune to the problem to start with. Derrick Martin (Accuracy Speaks) insists that it's not necessary to remove the copper from National Match rifles (as at Camp Perry). 1 MOA accuracy will win the National Matches if you do your part.

.22LRs don't get copper fouling to start with and there is no need to clean the barrel at all. I do drag a Bore Snake down mine, though. The same Bore Snake I use in my 5.56mm weapons.

Upper and lower receiver cleaning is CLP and a brush. Wipe the reside out with the shop towel.

One thing to be absolutely avoided is disassembling the lower receiver and pulling the hammer and trigger for cleaning. There may be times this is necessary, but routine pin removal and insertion in a polymer frame is probably going to cause more wear than in a forged aluminum frame. Trigger/hammer removal is not authorized at the soldier level with the M16-family.

Cleaners line Simple Green will eat aluminum parts. "Dry" lubricants with graphite in them will do the same.

RLTW,

-- Chuck

[skip62]

Thanks Chuck. I have this argument with other shooters all the time. I'm pistol shooter and it's more common to not clean them then rifles. Being new to rifles I was suprised to hear someone say that. I've got 1300 rounds through the 15-22, and looked down the barrel, clean as whistle. The American Rifleman has an article about in the latest issue too, but they really only talk about going to about 500 rounds without cleaning.

[chuck s]

You're gonna get debris in the receivers. .22LRs are pretty dirty in self feeding rifles and pistols. The barrels seldom if ever need cleaning but the chambers can get dirty. The simple Bore Snake cleans the chamber in one time thru.

-- Chuck

[Thomas_H]

My carry guns, I clean them every time I shoot them. But it's more of a chance for a thorough inspection than anything else.

For a .22 lr, like Chuck has stated, there is little to no need to clean every time you take it out. And the BBL needs the least attention when you do clean it. When you do clean it, focus on the action, chamber, breech face and bolt face and extractor.

On a side note, many a bbl has been degraded from too much cleaning. Usually because of incidental damage from the cleaning rod, or improper technique in general. A bore snake is more than enough for the 15-22 bbl for regular cleaning. Every once and a while, you can go the traditional bronze brush / patch method to get her cleaned up good.

The one exception to this is in really humid areas, or if you are out in inclement weather (rain/snow). In those cases clean every time, and make sure you run an oiled patch down the bore.

[BELT_FED]

Originally Posted by katsass

As to cleaning any .22 rf rifle. As soon as you clean it you will see POI change. All small bore (.22 rf) target guns are shot "fouled" or dirty, they even give the shooters a number of "sighters and foulers" at a match prior to competition because of this. Once shot and fouled for a few rounds, they seem to settle in and become consistent, and (as I'm sure you know) each individual rifle seems to prefer it's own brand of ammo to perform it's best. Mike

AMEN TO THIS... MY TARGET RIFLE AFTER A GOOD CLEANING I THROW A 25 RD MAG IN IT OF CHEAP AMMO AND BLOW THREW IT ABOUT 3 MAGS GETS IT TO CALM DOWN AND START THROWING 1 HOLE GROUPS AT 50YDS

[BELT_FED]

Originally Posted by chuck s

You're gonna get debris in the receivers. .22LRs are pretty dirty in self feeding rifles and pistols. The barrels seldom if ever need cleaning but the chambers can get dirty. The simple Bore Snake cleans the chamber in one time thru.

-- Chuck

I WILL AGREE TO THIS AS LONG AS UR RUNNING COPPER COATED BULLETS... LEAD UNCOATED BULLETS WILL DIRTY A BARREL PRETTY QUICK ..AS LITTLE AS 500 CAN MAKE A MESS.. DO A SEARCH ON GSG-5 BARREL FOULING AND ULL SEE WHAT UNCOATED BULLETS CAN DO TO A BARREL IN A 22

[BELT_FED]

HERE IS THAT PIC OF A BARREL THAT HAS 1000RDS OF THUNDERBOLT 22LRS PUT THREW IT... HOPE THIS HELPS