Cleaning Rod

[Wake27]

I took my 15-22 to the range for the second time today. Cleaned it before and after first use with a cleaning kit I bought. I'm coming from paintball and a lot of studying on firearms, but just getting started with them. I have a question about cleaning. I searched around and have seen the video from Brett, but most things I can find seem to focus on boresnakes. I'll pick one up since everyone apparently recommends them, but in the kit I bought, Hoppes # 9, it came with aluminum cleaning rods. The first two times I cleaned it, I inserted the rod into the breech and pushed all the way through until it came out of the muzzle. It was a little struggle to get through the breech, but not bad enough to make me seriously worry about stopping. Tonight however, I can't get it through the breech. Its empty, but I can't get the rod through coming from either direction. I have no idea why this would happen. Any ideas from you guys?

Also I'm not sure on the brush that came with it. I cautiously tried using that and it made a terrible screeching sound and I'm pretty sure I saw a flake or two fall out when it poked out of the flash hider.

 

[Scuds03]

Make sure you are using the right size head. If you are using patches you may need to cut them down smaller. If the patch you are using is too big it will bunch up and won't go through. Another thing to remember is these guns actually shoot more accurate when the barrel is a lil dirty.

 

[Wake27]

Make sure you are using the right size head. If you are using patches you may need to cut them down smaller. If the patch you are using is too big it will bunch up and won't go through. Another thing to remember is these guns actually shoot more accurate when the barrel is a lil dirty.

Well the head and patches are the same ones I used the first few times, but I'll keep that in mind.

 

[E6type]

I also suggest using a bore snake, they work great. You mentioned that you are coming up from a paintball background, could you please remove the U.S. Army logo from your profile?

Thanks

 

[big papa]

I used a new brush/patch kit to clean mine yesterday. I thought it was a little tight w/ the brush, but folding over the patches once and threading them, they went thru the barrel fairly easy...

 

[BELT_FED]

Do like the rest of the rimfire world does when they clean their target rifles... unless there is a visible amount of build up in the bore use a q-tip to clean the chamber and clean all the lower and upper parts leave the bore alone.. you can bend or break the extractor with a rod very easily.. not to mention the rifle will shoot tighter and tighter groups till the bore fouls out completely.. then a bore snake and some solvent and your good to go again... at 20,000 rds now and there ain't nothing been down my barrel but lead... and its still slick and shooting 1.5" groups at 50 yds

 

[brent701]

could you please remove the U.S. Army logo from your profile?

Thanks

Really?

 

[Wake27]

Do like the rest of the rimfire world does when they clean their target rifles... unless there is a visible amount of build up in the bore use a q-tip to clean the chamber and clean all the lower and upper parts leave the bore alone.. you can bend or break the extractor with a rod very easily.. not to mention the rifle will shoot tighter and tighter groups till the bore fouls out completely.. then a bore snake and some solvent and your good to go again... at 20,000 rds now and there ain't nothing been down my barrel but lead... and its still slick and shooting 1.5" groups at 50 yds

Appreciate it, definitely will do. I hadn't thought of q-tips, but I was weary of the extractor with the rod, I knew that could end up bad.

As for the Army logo, I'm in ROTC at school and working on contracting. I figured that should be good enough since I should be committing once school starts back up hopefully.

 

[chuck s]

.22 caliber Bore Snake and a bottle of CLP is all you need.

-- Chuck

 

[HalfSwiss]

And watch out that the loop at the end of the bore snake doesn't snag on the ejector - happened to me the first time.

 

[Scuds03]

I also suggest using a bore snake, they work great. You mentioned that you are coming up from a paintball background, could you please remove the U.S. Army logo from your profile?

Thanks

You going to tell me no one in the army has a paintball background?

 

[TATorg]

And watch out that the loop at the end of the bore snake doesn't snag on the ejector - happened to me the first time.

Go with the bore snake with your favorite cleaner. I snagged the bore snake loop too. To solve that problem I stitch the loop closed to a diameter of my index finger. No more snags.

For E6Type....Wake77 could be your LT!

 

[E6type]

For E6Type....Wake77 could be your LT!

It sounds like something my last LT would have done, if he would have ever tried to clean his weapon properly that is.

It's all good, they gotta learn.

 

[bang bang]

And watch out that the loop at the end of the bore snake doesn't snag on the ejector - happened to me the first time.

same here.. good thing i didn't try to pull harder !!

 

[Steve Koski]

I was just cleaning the bore on my brand new 15-22 tonight with a Hoppes aluminum rod setup, and found that when I pulled the rod back , I got a PILE of aluminum shavings. Probably being peeled off by the ejector.

Good idea on the boresnake for the 15-22. Seems the ejector interferes with using a normal cleaning rod.

 

[Wake27]

I was just cleaning the bore on my brand new 15-22 tonight with a Hoppes aluminum rod setup, and found that when I pulled the rod back , I got a PILE of aluminum shavings. Probably being peeled off by the ejector.

Good idea on the boresnake for the 15-22. Seems the ejector interferes with using a normal cleaning rod.

Were you using a patch or the brush?

 

[Steve Koski]

I pushed a few patches through it.

 

[TurboniumOxide]

I use a foaming bore cleaner and a nylon coated one piece rod.
I use the same jag that I use for my 223 rifle. I pay special attention
to the ejector. I usually only have to push a couple of patches after the foam.

 

[Wake27]

I pushed a few patches through it.

Weird, I got the same thing when I used the brush on it for the first time. I thought the brush might have scraped it.

Related problem though. Since I couldn't get the rod to fit into the bore during the 3rd cleaning, but was fine during the first 2, I was a little concerned. I sat down and began cycling rounds through the action. Same box of ammo I used for both range trips without issue. I'm getting a huge amount of FTF's though. Could this have something to do with why the rod would not fit? Or did I likely damage the ejector while struggling with the rod and that's the problem? Idk whether or not the ejector has anything to do with feeding.

I feel like for some reason the bore shrunk. Also when looking down it, there is a little piece sticking out, I think just some fuzz or something, but I can't tell. Looks to far down to have to do with feeding to me. I think its right where the bore ends and the barrel begins.

 

[BELT_FED]

OMG, lol ok first just so we rule out the simple stuff.. you are using the right caliber cleaning brush, correct?... the ejector has nothing to do with the feeding.. take a look at the feed ramp.. and what kind of ammo are you using.. give us some more info... pics are great tools