Hello: I have read in several places that using a bronze brush in your .22 lr barrels "wears down" the bore equivelent to a certain large number of rounds. I have always used brushes in my .22's. Anyone have any info on this? Is this a myth?

Thanks

I use to know a girl who was the U.S. champion in three position small bore NRA competition back in the 70s. She told me more barrels (RF) are worn out from over cleaning than by shooting, and those shooters shoot tens of thousands of rounds yearly. I never use a brush on my rim fires. A patch on a jag with some MPRO-7 will clean a rim fire in about 5 passes. No brushing needed--but don't forget to floss ;)

I doubt if it's entirely the brush, however the cleaning rod rubbing against the bore can do a lot of damage, especially if it's picked up a lot of grit and carbon fouling cleaning centerfire rifles. It would have to be VERY soft steel for a bronze brush to wear it much.

Pretty much impossible to keep a cleaning rod from rubbing a .22 bore.... clean as seldom as possible seems to be the best course of action.

I tried the string trimmer cleaning with KROIL this past weekend and it worked great!

Let the KROIL sit a bit then pull! :D

This is a very controversial topic. That alone tells me there are alot of variables combined with preference. My dad was on a match team shooting the M1 Garand in the 101st. He never cleaned the bore. He said it took too many shots to get it shooting right. Some old salts will tell you that a brush is less damaging than what a hot brass jacketed bullet will do many, many times through.

I clean my target barrel in the 10-22 only when accuracy drops off. Of course the action on this rifle needs much more attention. As stated above it's crucial to see that the rod doesnt contact the bore and not to nick the crown. I prefer swabbing the bore with a heavy coat of Hoppes 9 before pulling a bore snake through.

See, there's alot of preference in this :)



Perferator

First off I would agree with Peferator that this is definately a very controversial subject. The question of just how much wear is incurred by brass or bronze brushes for rimfire barrel cleaning falls in the "Opinion Arena". On the other hand it seems competitive rimfire shooters tend to shun brass brushing their expensive target barrels. This is the main reason I have gone to patches or nylon brushes only on my rimfire rifles when I do clean them. Rust is seldom a problem with modern rimfire ammo (non Magnum that is) because the wax, graphite, and other assorted coatings used by the manufacturers creates a thin layer between the bore and any moisture.

I do clean my 22 Magnum rifles after each shooting session because Magnum ammo does not have any of the coating mentioned above. Unburned powder granules can attract moisture and rust non stainless barrels. I look at 22 Magnum barrels the same as centerfires with jacketed bullets. To be honest, I will admit to using only patches and nylon brushes on my 22 Magnums and centerfires as well. The cleaning may take a bit more time but I don't worry about any unnecessary wear (real or imagined) from brass brushes.

As far as wearing a barrel out with brass bore brushes it is rubbish. A cleaning rod without a good rod guide can wear out the throat. I won't get into the argument about cleaning practices as I shoot bench rest and clean after group. I do have a bore scope to check my cleaning methods. Shooting the throat out is my problem and I change barrels out every 1000-1500 rds.It will still shoot .250-.300 groups at that stage, but it won't place. Butch

What is a lead bulleted .22LR going to leave in a barrel that needs a brush to get out?

If you're getting massive amounts of fouling or lead with good ammo, then there is something wrong with that barrel.
-----
Get a good stout one piece steel cleaning rod with a good strong handle....if anyone comes close to your barrel with a steel-brush, beat him with the cleaning rod.

Shot competition small bore handgun for years with a High Standard Citation Model 102. Conservatively figure it had about 200,000 rounds pushed through it. Replaced one sear and return spring. It got the action cleaned whenever the bullet lube, splashing and powder would build up enough to gum the action. The bore was never touched except for a solvent soaked patch.

A bronze or steel brush for a .22 LR is strictly unneeded. The mentioned nylon brush would be OK, just be sure to start at the breech and be careful when pulling it back from the muzzle.

I use a fresh wooden dowel as a cleaning rod. Based on the logic that wood can't hurt the bore or the crown. Dowels are only 25 cents at the local hardware store and the used ones end up as plant props in the garden.

Oiled/dry/oiled patches after every shooting session will prevent rust. After a few shots the next time out the gun goes back to shooting like normal anyway. If using the gun for hunting pop a tin can a few times before hitting the woods. As for a bronze/brass brush..... when accuracy goes away then a brush and solvent are called for. I believe in the old adage "If it ain't broke... don't fix it."

I also think hunters would benefit from doing a little paper target shooting once in a while just to see where the heck that gun is actually shooting.... and if consistant accuracy is still there. Read that "consistant" to mean more than one shot into the target. Sure beats missing the game animal!

When I get a gun thats badly fouled I run a stainless steel bore brush through with some kroil on it and it comes out clean.I don't go nuts with it,just two or three passes.When I get a new gun I do the same thing,I feel it removes any gunk left from machining.