Question on cleaning barrel of .22 pistol

KLCane · March 30, 2018, 12:01 PM

I have a .22 buckmark pistol. Is it okay to clean the barrel from either end? I've heard different theories.

John D · March 30, 2018, 12:34 PM

Have always cleaned my .22's from the barrel end. As long as you don't bang it, I can't see what the problem would be.

Skippy · March 30, 2018, 12:39 PM

I know it's apples and oranges, but I can only clean my revolver barrels from the muzzle. I just must be real careful to push straight in and not bugger up the crown. So far so good.

Can you not break down a Buckmark and clean from the chamber?

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

Damon555 · March 30, 2018, 01:25 PM

My vote is......Neither

I learned a long time ago to leave the barrels on 22 lr guns alone. Keep the action and the outside surfaces clean and leave the bore fouled. Until accuracy drops off there's no need to bother.

SIGSHR · March 30, 2018, 01:29 PM

IIRC the "Rule" is cleaning from the breech is preferred, avoids damaging the crown of the barrel. That is impossible with revolvers, a pull through could help there.

Pahoo · March 30, 2018, 02:40 PM

Kane,

Quote:

Can you not break down a Buckmark and clean from the chamber, I've heard different theories.

With few exceptions, I always clean from the breech to the muzzle and it's just not a theory, it's good practice. I cannot think of any breech loader that can't be cleaned from the breech to the muzzle and I clean a lot of firearms.....

If anyone here can think of one, "Kindly", let me know. ......

Quote:

My vote is......Neither

At some point, the bore will needs some attention even if it's just a light swabbing. The point being made, is that .22 bores are cleaned too often and as this reply states, "At some point, the firearm will let you know what it needs."

Be Safe !!!

bn12gg · March 30, 2018, 03:04 PM

For as long as I've owned it I drag a bore snake twice thru the BuckMark Hunter. The chamber gets cleaned up aggressively with #9. The whole gun gets rubbed down with Ballistol. Good to go thru another thousand rounds. Once in 7 years I've fully stripped the pistol down. Great gun imo.

.02. David.

FITASC · March 30, 2018, 03:07 PM

If you use a boresnake, remember to clean it now and again with some hot water and Dawn in a jug you can shake, then rinse and hang to dry.

Ricklin · March 30, 2018, 03:26 PM

I love the boresnake it's all I use on my trap guns. Occasionally clear the built up plastic out of the choke, and boresnake it.

Shotgun boresnakes get really dirty, the method detailed by FITASC works great. Quick and easy.

bn12gg · March 30, 2018, 04:31 PM

Actually I use a boresnake on my 12g shotguns. -- post clays shooting. Problem -- I hold the barrels up to the light and they are not clean enough. So, I take a batch with either #9 or Ballistol finishing the job.... IMO somewhat dirty shogun barrels bother me.

.02. David.

BigJimP · March 30, 2018, 11:16 PM

I clean my buckmark with a boresnake from chamber end......if you clean from the muzzle and you nick the metal on the crown of barrel, it can really affect the accuracy - virtually ruining the gun.

Using a boresnake is easy and effective...just clean them when they get dirty...( dawn dishsoap in a bucket / rinse them good / hang them outside on a nice day to dry....) ...

I do the same on all my revolvers too...its easy.

cw308 · March 31, 2018, 08:25 AM

With a revolver cleaning from the muzzle , you can use a muzzle guide . Most are careful cleaning making sure your not damaging the crown . Let the solvent do most of the job don't just add solvent run a patch an scrub , let it soak for ten minutes .

If you want to get it squeaky clean , run a patch cut from ( lead away cloth ) be careful with blued guns could remove bluing , for SS it removes the rings on the cylinder face like magic ,no scrubbing.

marc780 · April 25, 2018, 06:08 PM

When that's the only option, and the other choice is not clean at all? Sure it's OK. The concern is that the cleaning rod will damage the crown, but using a bore guide eliminates that issue.

Bob Wright · April 27, 2018, 01:18 PM

For .22s I use those bristley pipe cleaner found at the tobacco store. Saturate with Hoppe's No. 9 and swab away.

As for cleaning .22s, I clean them just as if they were centerfire. If any harm has is done by this, it will be the next owner who discovers it.

Bob Wright

stinkeypete · April 27, 2018, 01:42 PM

+1 for the boresnake every 1000 rounds.

If you feel you really must brush, I insert the rod without brush, screw the brush on from the chamber side and pull.

After skeet shooting, I made my own crude boresnake from old tee shirt cut to the right size wad (it took a little fussing) tied to some stout twine, soaked a little hoppe’s and pulled that through a few times. It gets a lot of the considerable amount of gunk that gums up a nice store bought boresnake with bristles in it.

Jim Watson · April 27, 2018, 04:02 PM

I just pull the occasional boresnake through mine. As long as the ammo is good quality and does not lead the barrel, that seems to be enough. I do scrub the breech faces of barrel and slide to get off residue that could affect operation.

Mike38 · April 27, 2018, 04:39 PM

People clean the bore of a .22?

All I do is clean the chamber with a .25 bore brush, push a patch with some Hoppes through the bore with a piece of weed eater string, and that's it.

Cheapshooter · April 28, 2018, 11:17 AM

From the muzzle is fine. Just use a brass or aluminum rod. Not going to do any damage to the crown on a steel barrel. Until somebody wanted to make a lot of money selling bore snakes, and the internet popped up that's how we cleaned every gun!

willr · April 28, 2018, 12:50 PM

This will second the use of a muzzle protector when cleaning from the muzzle. I have always been told that aluminum cleaning rods will tend to accumulate bore damaging crud on them -- which makes it essential to keep the rod away from the muzzle. Of course. it is nigh impossible to use a rod from the rear of a revolver. Bore snake is a good idea, too.
willr

pete2 · April 29, 2018, 09:26 AM

Folks, Google Patch Worm. Bought the first one for a Ruger MKII pistol. 2nd for a CZ .22 rifle.

March 30, 2018, 12:01 PM	#1
KLCane Member Join Date: February 16, 2018 Posts: 43	Question on cleaning barrel of .22 pistol I have a .22 buckmark pistol. Is it okay to clean the barrel from either end? I've heard different theories.

March 30, 2018, 03:07 PM	#8
FITASC Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2014 Posts: 6,446	If you use a boresnake, remember to clean it now and again with some hot water and Dawn in a jug you can shake, then rinse and hang to dry. __________________ "I believe that people have a right to decide their own destinies; people own themselves. I also believe that, in a democracy, government exists because (and only so long as) individual citizens give it a 'temporary license to exist'—in exchange for a promise that it will behave itself. In a democracy, you own the government—it doesn't own you."- Frank Zappa

March 31, 2018, 08:25 AM	#12
cw308 Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2010 Location: Plainview , Long Island NY Posts: 3,863	With a revolver cleaning from the muzzle , you can use a muzzle guide . Most are careful cleaning making sure your not damaging the crown . Let the solvent do most of the job don't just add solvent run a patch an scrub , let it soak for ten minutes . If you want to get it squeaky clean , run a patch cut from ( lead away cloth ) be careful with blued guns could remove bluing , for SS it removes the rings on the cylinder face like magic ,no scrubbing. Last edited by cw308; March 31, 2018 at 08:31 AM.

April 27, 2018, 01:18 PM	#14
Bob Wright Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2012 Location: Memphis, Tennessee Posts: 2,989	For .22s I use those bristley pipe cleaner found at the tobacco store. Saturate with Hoppe's No. 9 and swab away. As for cleaning .22s, I clean them just as if they were centerfire. If any harm has is done by this, it will be the next owner who discovers it. Bob Wright __________________ Time spent at the reloading bench is an investment in contentment.

April 28, 2018, 11:17 AM	#18
Cheapshooter Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 8,306	From the muzzle is fine. Just use a brass or aluminum rod. Not going to do any damage to the crown on a steel barrel. Until somebody wanted to make a lot of money selling bore snakes, and the internet popped up that's how we cleaned every gun! __________________ Cheapshooter's rules of gun ownership #1: NEVER SELL OR TRADE ANYTHING!

March 30, 2018, 12:34 PM	#2
John D Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2000 Location: No. Arizona Posts: 436	Have always cleaned my .22's from the barrel end. As long as you don't bang it, I can't see what the problem would be.

March 30, 2018, 12:39 PM	#3
Skippy Senior Member Join Date: March 3, 2010 Posts: 124	I know it's apples and oranges, but I can only clean my revolver barrels from the muzzle. I just must be real careful to push straight in and not bugger up the crown. So far so good. Can you not break down a Buckmark and clean from the chamber? Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

March 30, 2018, 01:25 PM	#4
Damon555 Senior Member Join Date: January 11, 2012 Posts: 384	My vote is......Neither I learned a long time ago to leave the barrels on 22 lr guns alone. Keep the action and the outside surfaces clean and leave the bore fouled. Until accuracy drops off there's no need to bother.

March 30, 2018, 01:29 PM	#5
SIGSHR Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2005 Posts: 4,700	IIRC the "Rule" is cleaning from the breech is preferred, avoids damaging the crown of the barrel. That is impossible with revolvers, a pull through could help there.

March 30, 2018, 03:04 PM	#7
bn12gg Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2011 Location: Winter Park, Florida Posts: 470	For as long as I've owned it I drag a bore snake twice thru the BuckMark Hunter. The chamber gets cleaned up aggressively with #9. The whole gun gets rubbed down with Ballistol. Good to go thru another thousand rounds. Once in 7 years I've fully stripped the pistol down. Great gun imo. .02. David.

March 30, 2018, 03:26 PM	#9
Ricklin Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2008 Location: SW Washington state Posts: 2,011	Clean and happy I love the boresnake it's all I use on my trap guns. Occasionally clear the built up plastic out of the choke, and boresnake it. Shotgun boresnakes get really dirty, the method detailed by FITASC works great. Quick and easy. __________________ ricklin Freedom is not free

March 30, 2018, 04:31 PM	#10
bn12gg Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2011 Location: Winter Park, Florida Posts: 470	Actually I use a boresnake on my 12g shotguns. -- post clays shooting. Problem -- I hold the barrels up to the light and they are not clean enough. So, I take a batch with either #9 or Ballistol finishing the job.... IMO somewhat dirty shogun barrels bother me. .02. David.

March 30, 2018, 11:16 PM	#11
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	I clean my buckmark with a boresnake from chamber end......if you clean from the muzzle and you nick the metal on the crown of barrel, it can really affect the accuracy - virtually ruining the gun. Using a boresnake is easy and effective...just clean them when they get dirty...( dawn dishsoap in a bucket / rinse them good / hang them outside on a nice day to dry....) ... I do the same on all my revolvers too...its easy.

April 25, 2018, 06:08 PM	#13
marc780 Junior Member Join Date: April 22, 2018 Posts: 9	When that's the only option, and the other choice is not clean at all? Sure it's OK. The concern is that the cleaning rod will damage the crown, but using a bore guide eliminates that issue.

April 27, 2018, 01:42 PM	#15
stinkeypete Senior Member Join Date: July 22, 2010 Location: Madison, Wisconsin Posts: 1,293	+1 for the boresnake every 1000 rounds. If you feel you really must brush, I insert the rod without brush, screw the brush on from the chamber side and pull. After skeet shooting, I made my own crude boresnake from old tee shirt cut to the right size wad (it took a little fussing) tied to some stout twine, soaked a little hoppe’s and pulled that through a few times. It gets a lot of the considerable amount of gunk that gums up a nice store bought boresnake with bristles in it.

April 27, 2018, 04:02 PM	#16
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,541	I just pull the occasional boresnake through mine. As long as the ammo is good quality and does not lead the barrel, that seems to be enough. I do scrub the breech faces of barrel and slide to get off residue that could affect operation.

April 27, 2018, 04:39 PM	#17
Mike38 Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2009 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 2,710	People clean the bore of a .22? All I do is clean the chamber with a .25 bore brush, push a patch with some Hoppes through the bore with a piece of weed eater string, and that's it.

April 28, 2018, 12:50 PM	#19
willr Senior Member Join Date: July 23, 2006 Posts: 356	This will second the use of a muzzle protector when cleaning from the muzzle. I have always been told that aluminum cleaning rods will tend to accumulate bore damaging crud on them -- which makes it essential to keep the rod away from the muzzle. Of course. it is nigh impossible to use a rod from the rear of a revolver. Bore snake is a good idea, too. willr

April 29, 2018, 09:26 AM	#20
pete2 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 2,566	Folks, Google Patch Worm. Bought the first one for a Ruger MKII pistol. 2nd for a CZ .22 rifle.