Cleaning a .22 LR

[Baylian]

How often should you clean a .22 LR?

Thanks, TJ

[Jack]

Cleaning the bore on a 22LR is something you do NOT need to do often. 22 LR's don't powder foul much (they don't use much powder) and the wax coating on the bullets actually acts as a preservative when it coats the bore.
Cleaning the action on a 22RF may be a different story- or maybe not.
If the 22 RF in question is an autoloader, you may want to clean periodically to keep crud out of the action. You can do that with some of the spray degreaser/cleaners if you don't want to disassemble.
If you do use the spray cleaners, remember to relube, as the spray cleaners remove the lubricant, too.
If you are talking about a bolt, lever, or pump action, you don't need to clean those very often.
I clean my 22RF bores once a year, usually. A 22RF autoloader action I will likely clean 2 or 3 times a year. A bolt, lever or pump, once a year- if I remember to.

[Swift]

Are you supposed to clean em?

Seriously, let them be until you see significant accuracy loss (like thousands of rounds).

[BILLY D.]

I concur with what Jack said. I have 2 Winchester rifles that my Grandfather purchased after WW2 as soon as they became available. One is a Model 72 the other is a Model 61. The only barrel cleaning I do is to run a clean patch or two down them. My Grandpa once told me if I brass brushed the barrel he'd stick the barrel where the sun don't shine. Even though he's been gone for 45 years I still obey his word.

I do clean the actions with a tooth brush and Hoppes when they get funky. They are both very accurate after all these years and 4 youngins' learning to shoot with them.

My other 22's, a Ruger 10-22 and several pistols receive the same kind of treatment.

Best wishes, Bill

[popplecop]

Waxed Bullets, been gone for a number of years, in the old days it was common. If they had been exposed to heat they would come out in a clump from the box. Yes they are lubricated. I probably have at least 15 different brands and bullet weights on hand for testing my various .22 RFs. They do have a small powder charge, but it does foul up the actions over time. Most notable in the self loaders. An occassional patch down the barrel with a good gun solvent does not hurt nor does a brass brush. Taking the barrels and action out of the stock and spraying them with a good solvent, drying the action and lightly lubricating it once in awhile does wonders. I probably see 20 to 30 semi autos a year that fail to function from powder fouling. They have powder fouling so thick that I use a dental pick to remove the big chunks before it goes in the sonic cleaner. All firearms and tools require good care.

[Rocky Raab]

What popplecop is seeing in those actions is actually the tar-like residue of burned oil. People who overlube their semi-autos are causing the problem they're trying to eliminate.

The dry lube on the bullets is almost all a .22 ever needs.

I pull a dry Boresnake through my rimfires once a year. That's the only bore cleaning I ever do. I spritz the action of my 10-22 lightly with Corrosion X at the same time.

Corrosion X is a high-tech non-petroleum cleaner/lube/preservative designed for marine use. It's amazing in a .22. Powder ash and other cruds just falls off the metal in a gray powder - no crud ever builds up and the metal stays lubed and rustfree.

Another superb non-petroleum product is EZEE-OX. Again, no oil in it to turn to tar and it leaves a dry film behind after it cleans.

[Baylian]

Thank you all!