Being as I'm to the point in my life where the 22lr will be my most used guns, I am wondering if my old bore cleaning process may be dated with all the new cleaners and rods and brushes on the market. Years ago, someone to wrote of using a 17 cal clean rod to keep from rubbing rod when flexing and just cleaning carbon ring when cartridge gets harder to seat which I still use with nylon brush. Can you share your cleaning process as I'm thinking I may be dated with all the new cleaning formulas and accessories out 
there and need an education. Thanks. 
Flatlander

bpjack wrote on Apr 20^th, 2025 at 3:37pm:

That would be easiest but would it be best?

I shoot rimfire quite often. A couple wet patches of Cowboy blend and two more dry is usually sufficient only if your barrel is not carbon fouled. For the dreaded carbon ring IOSSO on a stiff nylon brush works good. I verify what works with a Hawkeye borescope.

My father had no interest in guns so my maternal grandfather taught me to hunt and shoot. He was born in the 1890s, they days of corrosive primers, you never let a gun set uncleaned It was drilled into me, to this day I can’t bring myself to leave a gun uncleaned. I use Bore Tech products. Most of my 22s are pre WW2 German and they tend to have a tight bore.
Mike

I clean my Anschutz 1413 Free Rifle when it stops shooting. After I clean it, it takes about 30 or 40 rounds before it settles back into being a one holer again. I think it has something to do with having a consistent lube film in the barrel.

I rarely clean bores on my .22RF rifles. Unless I know one might sit for a long time before it gets fired again.

My CPA & when I owned them Anschutz rifles put a light spray of Balistol in the chamber.  Leave it overnight in the range box, rifle’s muzzle is down slightly any excess drains out the muzzle. Next day push a slightly oiled patch through from the breech removing most of the powder residue. Then a shorter rod with a patch rubbing the chamber & leade. One more full length & that’s it.

Couple reasons, either have very smooth barrels, CPA’s all button rifled Douglas Anschutz were buttoned too. I’m in a humid salt air environment & don’t want rust. Other hand each gun uses its particular brand cartridge & want the barrel to stay seasoned. I don’t shoot bench all position matches & last possible accuracy not as important as long run consistency.

Other .22’s more aggressive cleaning due barrel condition or cartridges used.

Boats

My Anshutz needs a dozen or so rounds down the barrel to get back to "normal" after cleaning.