Smallbore cleaning Question

This is my second season shooting smallbore. I shoot Garands and after I shoot them I clean the barrel with a brush wet and dry patching. I shoot an anschutz 1903 small bore and my daughter shoots a Kimber I got from the CMP. I wet and dry patch the barrrel and chamber after each session. The same ammo is used all the time wolf match extra. I heard some smallbore shooters tell me they only clean their bolts and leave the barrels alone for the entire shooting season , then clean wet and dry patch after the season is over. Comments and or advise please.

There are as many approaches to smallbore rifle cleaning as there are smallbore rifle shooters. Everyone cleans differently. Some clean the barrel after each match string and others only as the rifle seems to need. However, almost all keep the bolt and chamber clean. Some of the cleaning habit is a hang over from the days of corrosive ammunition.

The most importnat thing to remember is to clean very carefully from the chamber end with a cleaning rod guide, a single piece cleaning rod, and quality solvent and patches.

Most 22 barrels are ruined through poor cleaning techniques long before they are shot out.

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Most 22 barrels are ruined through poor cleaning techniques long before they are shot out.

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Amen!

A good rule is don't clean without a reason -- poor functioning or deteriorating accuracy.

I shoot bench rest 22 rifle matches, I shoot a Rem. 37 that I had built. I find for my rifle, it likes to be cleaned after 50 to 60 shots. I use a bore guide and a Phillips one piece cleaning rod. I put solvent on a brass brush, and give it around a dozen strokes through the barrel and then three dry patches. This really works for me. Butch Hongesto got me into useing this method. I use this method on all my target rifles (4). Slim

I have been shooting my H&R M12 for three years now and only run a boresnake through it every 2-3 matches.