617 quick cylinder cleaning during range sessions

[avigar]

During my last range outing, the empties were starting to get harder to eject from the cylinders after about 150 rounds or so. I thought about bringing a portable cleaning brush kit to run through the cylinders quickly, once or twice, so I can extend my shooting time without problems. Anyone else do this? Any negative effects on the cylinders if this is done often enough?

 

[Pisgah]

You're messing up if you DON'T brush out the chambers once in a while during a long shooting session with a .22 revolver. I always take a brush when my .22s go to the range.

 

[vytoland]

i keep cleaning brushes (for the various calibers) in my range bag and use them as needed. your revolver cylinders will NOT be harmed.

 

[Alk8944]

ALWAYS take a cleaning rod and appropriate brushes, especially when shooting a .22 revolver. For a .22 a 6mm rifle brush works much better than a .22 brush. 2-3 in & out strokes are all that should be needed.

 

[AveragEd]

I have to admit to being surprised at the recommendation that chambers on rimfire guns be cleaned during range sessions. I have shot hundreds of rounds at one sitting out of my 617s with no extraction problems noticed.

Now in fairness, I use only ammo with copper-plated bullets - perhaps that has something to do with it. I did use up some ammo with plain lead bullets that I bought to try in my 1911's conversion kit and noticed a lot of lead buildup around the barrel's chamber mouth after just 20 or so rounds when I cleaned it. The same thing happened in my Remington 541-T bolt-action rifles until I switched to copper-plated bullets for them as well.

Ed

 

[avigar]

I've been using some Federal 40gr lead nose solids for my initial 617 break-in sessions. I can't use these with my other 22LR semi-autos due FTF and FTE issues. I picked up a portable self-contained brush kit at my local WalMart for about $7 today. The entire brush kit fits inside the red tubular handle which is 4 1/2" long.

 

[k22fan]

Finding it quicker than a rod and brush I used to use a bore snake but quit out of concern that an old one might accumulate grit that could scratch the bore. They’re too expensive to replace often. Guns are individuals. My most used 617 needs leading cleaned off the front of the cylinder and back of its barrel sooner than it needs its chambers brushed out. Although it’s only needed if I don’t clean between range visits a copper tooth brush can be handy for that.

 

[DGNY]

I take a few patches, some qtips and some solvent - have a couple of small US Military plastic 'bottles' of bore cleaner. Good to do a quick clean when things are just on the edge of sticking in chamber, even earlier. Everything fits into a plastic sandwich bag.

On a .22 can even use two qtips/patches end-to-end to do a short barrel wipe, if that seems needed.

Regards,

Dyson

 

[slickracer]

Finding it quicker than a rod and brush I used to use a bore snake but quit out of concern that an old one might accumulate grit that could scratch the bore. They’re too expensive to replace often. Guns are individuals. My most used 617 needs leading cleaned off the front of the cylinder and back of its barrel sooner than it needs its chambers brushed out. Although it’s only needed if I don’t clean between range visits a copper tooth brush can be handy for that.

Some Tide and hot water will do a nice job of cleaning a bore snake. Hang up to dry for a few days and you're good to go.

 

[dfariswheel]

I found that an excellent .22LR chamber cleaner for range use was to use M16 bore brushes.
These are long and just enough over sized to do a fast, total cleaning of chambers, usually in one pass.
I use them on an M16 cleaning rod section I cut off and set in a wooden handle.
The short length is easier to use in chambers then a full length pistol rod.

 

[jaymoore]

Never yet had a problem extracting .22s, but the 9mm 940 does have to be cleaned often during range sessions to avoid having the extractor rod punch a divot in my palm or thumb.

What seems to happen to more often with the .22s is ease of chambering live rounds. Eventually they need to be pushed in. At that point the chambers get cleaned. But accuracy will drop off for several cylinders full afterwards. Not an issue when shooting steel or for casual use, but the squirrelinator stays dirty! It definitely shoots better that way, and having to gently push rounds in is no great chore.