cleanning

tommyboy26

how often should you clean a centrefire rifle and whats the best method for cleaning?

Cass

Everyone has their own method so you may not get an "universal answer". If the rifle is brand new then there is a breaking in period, consisting of firing a shot and cleanin, doing this for X amount of shots. Then firing 2/3 shots and cleaning. Repreating this process for at least 50 rounds.

I usually clean mine after every shoot. Be that 10 rounds to recheck a zero, check some new rounds or after 25/30 rounds after a competition or long practise session. If its a few rounds (5 or so) then i use an oiled brass brush to aggitate the dirt and loosen it. Then run oily patch and dry patch through the barrel until they come out clean. Then use a mop to "polish" or clean out any excess in the barrel.

If its a "deep" clean i use a bore gel/solvent. These products are used to remove any build up of copper and other fouling in the barrel that accumilates after firing multiple shots. I use either M-Pro7 bore gel or Butch's bore solvent.

The gel is soaked onto a patch and ran down the barrel. Then left to sit for a few minutes to work on the fouling. Then run patchs through the barrel until they come clean. I sometimes use a brush if the fouling is particularly bad, to loosen the dirt. Also the M-Pro 7 has a habit of drying so you sometimes get a "clean" patch and when you run an oily patch down it comes out very dirty. Continue to clean keeping the barrel "wet" until the patches run clean. Then as before run an oily patch down the barrel. Do this 2 or 3 times. Then run dry patches down until they come out dry. Lastly a mop to remove any excess oil and give a quick "polish".

The bore solvent is a bit better. Unlike the M-Pro 7 you soak each patch and run it down the barrel one after the other without leaving any "sitting" time. You continue to run patches until they come out clean. Once you are satisfied the patches are clean you run about 5 lightly oiled patches down the barrel with 5 dry patches in bwtween each oily one. Then run 2/3 dry patches one after the other to ensure there is no oil, solvent, anything left. Once this is done again you run the mop down the barrel a few times to "polish" up the barrel and remove excess.

A bore guide is essential to reduce the risk of any gel/solvent getting into yuor action. A lightly oiled cloth can be used to rub along the barrel, but do not soak it any remove all excess oil. I use a tooth bruch to give the action and breech a light cleaning then a clean dry cloth to tidy up. Also a lens cleaning kit for your scope. Don't forget your bolt. A rub with a lightly oiled cloth and then a quick wipe with a dry clth will do each time you clean the rifle. Then every few months (6 or so) break down the bolt and clean all in and around it to remove any crude or other build up.

Others may have different methods or use different products, but the basis is similar. Keeping your rifle clean and in good condition is the life of it.

tommyboy26

how many cleans is a bore brush good for?

Cass

I usually have 2 jags, 4 wire brushes, 12 mops and 2 nylon brushes. I keep the brushes in different tubs for different levels of cleaning.

In the light cleaning its all oil so no real issue.

In the deep cleaning i have a wire brush, nylon brush, 2 mops, jag. I use one wire brush if the fouling is bad and as it has solvent on it i use it a few times then dump it. I used to clean them, but couldn't be a**ed anymore. When i need another wire brush to use with solvent i take one from the oily tub thats relatively clean, then replace the light cleaning tub with a new brush. Same with most of my heads. Take from the not dirty/not too dirty pile and use on the heavier cleaning. Then replace everything i took from the light cleaning tub with new ones.

I usually buy new heads every (min) 6 months max 10 months. Depends on amount of cleaning which is proportionate to the amount of shooting i do.

yog1

what type of jags do you use, i've finaly got my new rifle, tikka t3 light stainless in 22-250 and want to take as much care of it as i can, i was told to use the same mop and brush as i do for my 22lr, and the only jag i have is on of these
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Brass-Jag-22_W0QQitemZ190384463095QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_SportingGoods_Hunting_ShootingSports_ET?hash=item2c53cc5cf7

i'd like to get one like the one used in this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymyw7CLFWOk,
but i cant seem to find one,
another thing i'd like to get is a boar guide but again i cant find one that i'm sure is good enough quality, what would you guys advise,

thanks yogi

Cass

yog1 wrote: »

........ and the only jag i have is on of these......

I have one of those jags also. It does the job with the proper bore guide, but i think you are looking for one of these....................



Most dealers stock a variety of jags especially in .22 caliber as it fits quite alot of similar calibers. What part of the country are you in. County will suffice. Might be able to recommend a dealer to go to.

another thing i'd like to get is a boar guide but again i cant find one that i'm sure is good enough quality, what would you guys advise

I have a few bore guides, and 2 of them are these........................


They are of decent quality and haven't let me down. They come with 2/3 different heads to suit different breeches. The blue piece with the golden tightner slides up and down the shaft to allow you to suit it to the bolt placement of your rifle.

They are basic, but honestly i can't see any reason to go huge money on something more extravagant that basically does the same function with little to no improvement in ability/outcome.

tommyboy26

why is a bore guide needed for cleaning?


tommy

Cass

It prevents dirt and fouling from the barrel being dragged back into the action when you pull the rod back down the barrel. Also "guides" the rod so there is no "scrapping" or contact with the rod head and the action or any other part of the rifle you don't want to be hitting.

Does exactly what it says on the tin.:D

yog1

ezridax wrote: »

I have one of those jags also. It does the job with the proper bore guide, but i think you are looking for one of these....................



Most dealers stock a variety of jags especially in .22 caliber as it fits quite alot of similar calibers. What part of the country are you in. County will suffice. Might be able to recommend a dealer to go to.



I have a few bore guides, and 2 of them are these........................


They are of decent quality and haven't let me down. They come with 2/3 different heads to suit different breeches. The blue piece with the golden tightner slides up and down the shaft to allow you to suit it to the bolt placement of your rifle.

They are basic, but honestly i can't see any reason to go huge money on something more extravagant that basically does the same function with little to no improvement in ability/outcome.

that's the stuff,;)
knew someone here would steer me in the right direction:)
i'm in tyrone n.ireland, can just make out the web page name stamped on the side of the bore guide, dont see one to suit a .22 though,, does the cleaning stuff from a .22lr suit a 22-250

tommyboy26

i didnt realise i needed one{a bore guide} how many cleans before i would do damage?


tommy

yog1

tommyboy26 wrote: »

i didnt realise i needed one{a bore guide} how many cleans before i would do damage?


tommy

not really qualified to answer this but i'd guess it all depends how careful you are, some people have told me i dont need one, but i'm of the view that i does no harm to be careful

Cass

yog1 wrote: »

..........i'm in tyrone n.ireland, can just make out the web page name stamped on the side of the bore guide,

Its the gunshop.co.uk but i only used the picture for illustrative purposes. You could try the sportsmanguncentre.co.uk or if you feel like a drive call into Cecil/Jim in Tannyoky, Poyntzpass. They have a good selection of stuff for all calibers.

dont see one to suit a .22 though,, does the cleaning stuff from a .22lr suit a 22-250

As a .22lr is 5.7 mm and a 22-250 is 5.7 so most .22lr cleaning heads would suit. I use my .22lr cleaning stuff on my .223 and it works a treat.

PS - Don't forget to get the right connection for your rod (male to female and vice versa). Was out the last time and bought a load of new heads. Forgot i changed rod and none of the heads fitted. Bought an adaptor, problem solved.

tommyboy26 wrote:

didnt realise i needed one{a bore guide} how many cleans before i would do damage?

Relax. Unless you have been using it for years, wrongly you're fine. You don't have to use a bore guide. It just gives that bit of extra help when cleaning and reduces or eliminates the need to clean out the action, mag well, etc after cleaning the barrel.

yog1

ezridax wrote: »

Its the gunshop.co.uk but i only used the picture for illustrative purposes. You could try the sportsmanguncentre.co.uk or if you feel like a drive call into Cecil/Jim in Tannyoky, Poyntzpass. They have a good selection of stuff for all calibers.



As a .22lr is 5.7 mm and a 22-250 is 5.7 so most .22lr cleaning heads would suit. I use my .22lr cleaning stuff on my .223 and it works a treat.

PS - Don't forget to get the right connection for your rod (male to female and vice versa). Was out the last time and bought a load of new heads. Forgot i changed rod and none of the heads fitted. Bought an adaptor, problem solved.



Relax. Unless you have been using it for years, wrongly you're fine. You don't have to use a bore guide. It just gives that bit of extra help when cleaning and reduces or eliminates the need to clean out the action, mag well, etc after cleaning the barrel.

thanks ezridax, as usual great advice,(think you helped me out with a small proble before) look forward to some day being able to return the favour,

is this the shop your thinking of,,http://www.tannyokyguns.co.uk/index.html, might send them off a e-mail n see what the craic is,
oh yeah can someone tell me how to do multi quotes, cant for the life of me figure it out

Cass

Thats the one. Lads are sound as a pound. Try ringing though, little faster than the e-mail with them.

yog1

is this the same type of jag http://www.sportsmanguncentre.co.uk/product/954b1f6826122b4853893886/Tetra++Shotgun+%2726+Rifle+Brass+Jag/, local dealer has patches from the same manufacture so there's a chance he might be able to get it, due to start lambing so chances are i'll not get out and he might have one in by the time i get finished

Cass

They all come a little different, but essentially its the same type.

One thing though if i remember correctly the thread sizing on the Tetra heads are only suitable or usable on the Tetra rods. Could be wrong there, but with Bore Tech, Parker Hale, Tipton even though some are male and others female heads an adaptor will make sure all will work on the other.

murph226

Got my Mike lucas bore guide in the post today, great piece of kit, even comes with spare O-rings!

€45 posted, not huge money for a quality custom made boreguide if you ask me!

I'll try get some pics up later.

yog1

murph226 wrote: »

Got my Mike lucas bore guide in the post today, great piece of kit, even comes with spare O-rings!

€45 posted, not huge money for a quality custom made boreguide if you ask me!

I'll try get some pics up later.

can you tell us a bit more about it, where'd you get it whats so special bout it (quality custom made), howd you find out about it ect,, thanks

Tackleberrywho

yog1 wrote: »

can you tell us a bit more about it, where'd you get it whats so special bout it (quality custom made), howd you find out about it ect,, thanks

See below pic, they save the rod head hitting off the chamber as it is being inserted and damaging the shoulder of the chamber etc.
Rod goes in smoothly

murph226

Heres some threads on them, http://www.6mmbr.com/catalog/item/1433308/954882.htm

http://texaspredatorposse.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=11562

http://www.benchrest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48347

As mentioned in the above threads, Mike is very quick to respond and even though he quoted me a delivery date about 5weeks from the initial order due to being so busy, I had it in about 3weeks!

I also like the fact that its made specifically for your rifle and its not some universal yoke!