New 10/22 questions

[entropy]

More .22 barrels have been ruined by improper cleaning than you would believe.

.22's aren't like Mosin Nagants ,which are issued with steel cleaning rods, so the only way I could see a .22 barrel ruined is by using an M16 issue cleaning rod. I'm sure that happens, but not all that often. Brass, aluminum, and carbon fiber cleaning rods aren't going hurt a barrel, brushes are designed not to, so where is all this damage coming from? Wait, there is one more possible way: Leaving cleaning chemicals in the barrel too long, particularly lead removal solutions. Again, probably not all that often.

 

[Maj Dad]

FWIW: No cleaning necessary.
(and if with lead ammunition, that includes after shooting as well)

22s are nice that way.

I just this afternoon finished changing out the barrel on my 10/22 because of extensive rust and serious pitting in the old one's bore. I have never had that happen with any of my 22s, irrespective of barrel length, and the only thing I can remotely attribute it to is firing CCI CB caps, and that is just a WAG/post hoc argument. So: you can skip cleaning, but remember you're rolling the dice. Pushing a lightly oiled or slightly damp Hoppes #9 patch down the bore barely takes any effort and doesn't qualify as a true cleaning, but it can save you from a raggedy bore. The 10/22 changeout was easy and inexpensive (factory new take-off for $40 plus shipping), but most others aren't so change friendly. Caveat shooter...

 

[22250Rem]

Maj. Dad; how long did that barrel sit after firing the CCI CB caps? I've heard of guys having issues with .22 bores rusting but they had been sitting a real long time and I don't know what they shot in them, and these were guys I knew well and that I believe when they tell me something. Myself; I've never had a problem, and sometimes (very rarely) had a 22 sit for a few weeks after shooting without cleaning. Wonder if it's humidity or some other factor? I usually do the damp patch with #9 routine and let it sit for a couple hours and then repeat and dry patch. I've got some of those CB caps and next time I shoot any I think I'll clean immediately just to be safe; even though we still don't know if they're the problem.