Cleaning a .22

Recently got my first .22 pistol. Shot .45 and 9mm for years in other disciplines. How do y’all go about cleaning the .22? Most of my cleaning rods are thick and rub the barrel or crown to much for my liking. Any good gear recommendations that won’t break the bank?

i don't know anyone that cleans their 22lr. Tipton makes a carbon fiber cleaning rod. Could also heat shrink another brand

I've got one of the Tipton carbon rods. I clean my 22 barrel like my 45 barrel, it runs well and shoots good. If given the opportunity I throw some fouling shots down the bore before starting a match.

We’re suposed to clean those...? 

Oh that’s right I do... just not very often. I try to leave the bore alone until I switch from copper washed bullets to lead. In that case I pull a bore snake through t a couple of times. Maybe a few more. I used the Hope’s Elite spray solvent. The rest of the gun I clean when it starts to act odd.

I started shooting cci sv and shot the last 200 or so rounds with SK pistol match special. The sk is lubed heavily and make me feel like I need to mop it out lol

dapduh2 wrote:I started shooting cci sv and shot the last 200 or so rounds with SK pistol match special. The sk is lubed heavily and make me feel like I need to mop it out lol

No leave that on there. It’s good for it. Put hair on your guns chest.

I use a Patchworm when I do clean my barrel.   Here is the link: http://patchworm.com/patchworm.html

Don't clean it until you notice your groups open up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I still follow Larry Carter's advice. I use a bent .25 caliber brass bore brush to clean the chamber. I follow it with some pull through patches (from muzzle to chamber). For a pull through, I use a length of plastic trimmer line. I melt a ball on one end (to hold the pierced patch) and cut a sharp angle point on the other (to pierce the patch). I never use a bore brush on the rifling. I only shoot, lead (match quality) standard velocity ammo.

Good advice Mike, maybe I'll start trying that instead of my typical brush, patch and jag method. I'm getting into the 860's with my 22 but I'll take every point I can get.

in my High standard,kroil and boresnake without brush.

tray999 wrote:I use a Patchworm when I do clean my barrel.   Here is the link: http://patchworm.com/patchworm.html

+1   I don't clean the bore on my 22 very often, but when I do, I use a Patchworm, and it works great.  I use Hoppes #9 with it.
I also use the bent .25 bronze brush for cleaning the chamber.

Dave

I have had my 41 for 46 years. I'm sure I must have cleaned it some time in there. Seriously in all those years I've cleaned it with just about everything. In the early years that consisted of brass brushes and lots of moving back and forth. In the last 10 years of bore snakes I have used them (brushes in) and give it a couple of pulls thru when done for the day. Bore is still "bright and shiny" also still shoots great. I put a new dot on it Tues and shot dime size ten shot group at 25yds. I guess my point is that a lot of this "never clean" your .22 is a bunch of hyperbole. Maybe it should be said that you don't really have to clean your .22. Of course you can get nutso about it. No steel brushes, power drills etc. But I don't think I have ever hurt a .22 by keeping it clean.. My opinion. That and $4.00 will buy a cup of coffee.

I added "bright and shiny" just for Joytoshoot 

tray999 wrote:I use a Patchworm when I do clean my barrel.   Here is the link: http://patchworm.com/patchworm.html

+1

Joel

LenV wrote:I added "bright and shiny" just for Joytoshoot 

And if you use Frog Lube (which I dislike) then you could also say it is "bright and minty".

Considering how may used .22 guns are purchased by this group and which still shoot small groups, I have to think that the previous owners used many different cleaning techniques without destroying the accuracy.

LenV wrote:... Bore is still "bright and shiny" ...

I noticed....

p.s. I am also a big fan of the patchworm.  It is all nylon.  And because of its flexibility, you can go from chamber-to-muzzle or from muzzle-to-chamber.  Whichever your guru tells you to do.

I hate cleaning in general, and 22LR especially.  Lately I've been affected by Jerome K. Jerome effect, a.k.a. Chris Miceli, - have some discomfort in right shoulder, so I'm shooting pretty much exclusively 22 for last couple of months at about 500-600 rounds a week.  So my cleaning technique is 1. switch barrels on primary M41PC; 2. switch to backup M41; 3. switch to backup of backup - HS Victor; 4. switch barrels on Victor. 5. switch to Buckmark and beat a daylight out of this poor thing.  When everything stops shooting reliably, I clean all at once using whatever solvent I find on my cleaning station (CLP, FrogLube, Kroil, Slip 2000, Hoppe's 9, Ballistol, etc.) in combination with bore snake.  The only one different gizmo I add to all listed in this thread is a bore brush wrapped in fine copper wool.  I shoot exclusively CCI SV (or similar 40gr lead ammo) through M41s, Victor eats anything without many issues.  Buckmark is surprisingly non-discriminating gun as well. Give or take 2500 rounds per before cleaning is needed.
AP