Video: Rimfire Rifle Cleaning—How And How Often?

Gun Digest Editors
-
3

At GunDigest, we independently review products. However, we may earn a commission when you purchase through links on our site. Read our affiliate policy. Read about how we test products.

Video: Rimfire Rifle Cleaning—How And How Often?

A somewhat controversial topic, the how and when of rimfire rifle cleaning shouldn't tie you in knots. Here are the tips to get it done.

Some say never clean a rimfire, others obsessively scrub their bore after every shooting session. So, who's right? Like so much in life, the answer falls somewhere in between.

Michael Shea, author of Rimfire Revolution, and Mike Bush of premier rimfire manufacturer Vudoo Gun Works unravel exactly when is the proper time to break out the jags and solvent and how to give your cherished plinker a good scrubbing.

First off, take a deep breath, because what they suggest isn’t some complex formula, requiring exactitude to Nth degree. Instead, it’s common sense rules of thumb that are applicable for the everyday fun gun up to the precision rig. Bush breaks it down into three simple commandments:

  • Though shall clean your rifle.
  • Though shall keep it simple.
  • Though shall use a bore guide.

Overall, the process is similar to any gun-cleaning job, where you aim to remove the fouling while protecting the bore. The only caveat with rimfires is carbon/lead buildup can greatly exceed what’s found in centerfires. This is a function of the lower heat that’s generated by rimfire cartridges, resulting in more extreme cases in the infamous carbon ring in the bore just outside the chamber. It’s a devil to clean, as most sore-elbowed rimfire shooters can attest.

Bush suggests saving the mechanical cleaning, and your arm, by letting chemicals do the work. A non-corrosive solvent—he suggests Bore Tech for average cleaning and C4 Carbon Remover for heavy jobs—is the secret sauce. That and time. Employing a bore plug, Bush will fill the bore with solvent and let it stand for up to a day. The result, a carbon ring that wipes out with a few strokes of a nylon brush.

Armed with these simple tips, any rimfire shooter should be able to keep their iron in tip-top shape and hitting the mark.

Rimfire Revolution BookInterested in raising your rimfire IQ? Pickup Michael Shea's exhaustive study on modern rimfire rifles and shooting: Rimfire Revolution: A Complete Guide to Modern .22 Rifles. Avialable at GunDigestStore.com.

More On-Target Rimfire Info:

44-Targetposters-pack-GD-reduced-300

Next Step: Get your FREE Printable Target Pack

Enhance your shooting precision with our 62 MOA Targets, perfect for rifles and handguns. Crafted in collaboration with Storm Tactical for accuracy and versatility.

Subscribe to the Gun Digest email newsletter and get your downloadable target pack sent straight to your inbox. Stay updated with the latest firearms info in the industry.

Why You Can Trust Gun Digest

Since 1944, Gun Digest has been a trusted authority on firearms, shooting and shooting gear, delivering expert firearms reviews backed by nearly a century of experience. We go beyond standard reviews, combining hands-on independent gun testing, in-depth research, and expert insights from industry professionals and manufacturers.

Our reviewers are the bedrock of our testing and come from a comprehensive cross section of the shooting world. Their diverse backgrounds include law enforcement professionals, military veterans, competitive shooters, seasoned hunters and life-long firearms enthusiasts. In addition to being firearm experts, we are also thorough journalists adhering to the strictest standards of the profession.

For our readers, this means objective, unbiased reviews, free from outside influence. Our priority is to provide the information you need to make informed decisions—whether a firearm or piece of gear is a must-have investment or one to pass on.

Find out more about our Editorial Standards and Evaluation Process

Previous article First Look: Wilson Combat SFX9 5-Inch Model
Next article SKS Vs AK-47: If You Could Only Have One
Gun Digest Editors
<h2>About Gun Digest Editors</h2> <p>Gun Digest is the foremost firearms publisher in the world. Since 1944 we have made keeping shooters, firearms collectors, and plain old gun aficionados informed the target of our books, magazines, and websites. We build shooters’ firearms knowledge base, inspiring them to pursue and expand their shooting interests—from the range to the field and in competition. Gun Digest is part of the Caribou Media Group.<p> <h2>Editorial Standards</h2> <p>At Gun Digest, we uphold our commitment is to our audience and precedes all other considerations, including revenue. Editorial independence is at the core of our operations, forming the bedrock of trust with our readers. Consequently, editorial decisions are made autonomously by our team of editors, writers, video producers, freelance writers and social media managers, without any external interference. Our content has and will continue to remain free from influence from individuals outside of editorial and content management.<p> <h2>Staff</h2> <p><ul><li><b>Publisher:</b> Jim Schlender</li> <li><b>Editor-In-Chief:</b> Luke Hartle</li> <li><b>Managing Editor:</b> Laura Peltakain</li> <li><b>Digital Editor:</b> <a href="/author/elwood-shelton">Elwood Shelton</a></li> <li><b>Online Editor:</b> <a href="/author/adamborisenko">Adam Borisenko</a></li> <li><b>Senior Art Director:</b> Gene Coo</li> <li><b>Art Director:</b> Katia Sverdlova</li></ul> <p> <h2>Contributors</h2> <p><ul> <li><a href="/author/richard-a-mann">Richard Mann</a></li> <li><a href="/author/philip-massaro">Phil Massaro</a></li> <li><a href="/author/contributor-dave-workman">David Workman</a></li> <li><a href="/author/davidhart">David Hart</a></li> <li><a href="/author/dickjones">Dick Jones</a></li> <li><a href="/author/jon-r-sundra">Jon Sundra</a></li> <li><a href="/author/l-p-brezny">L.P. Brezny</a></li> <li><a href="/author/robert-sadowski">Robert Sadowski</a></li> <li><a href="/author/scott-wagner">Scott Wagner</a></li> <li><a href="/author/wayne-van-zwoll">Wayne Van Zwoll </a></li> <li>Patrick Sweeney</li> <li>Massad Ayoob</li> <li>Marty Hays </li> <li>Brad Fitzpatrick </li> <li>Walt Hampton</li> <li>Jerry Lee</li> <li>Josh Wayner</li> <li>Sam Hoober</li> <li>Tiger McKee</li> </ul>

3 COMMENTS

  3. You used the wrong word in the list of three commandments. I think you intended to use “Thou” rather than “Though.” Good article, though. 😉

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.