Cleaning .22s

by Catoosa, Sunday, January 17, 2016, 09:50 (3172 days ago) @ Hobie

The only time I clean a .22 barrel is when I have had it out in the rain or snow, and then only to make sure there's no water left in it.

One exception is/was a .22 Colt Diamondback that leaded up until it would not stay on a gallon bucket at 25 yards. I did the old hot Kroil treatment and ran tight patches through the barrel, getting strips of lead up to 1/2 inch long out of the bore. Once I had it clean I spent a lazy afternoon putting a dab of Turtle Wax rubbing compound into the forcing cone and then shooting a CB cap. After a couple hours of that, the bore was nice and shiny and it hasn't leaded since.

I'll usually dry-brush a center-fire bore just to get the powder residue out and call it good.