How often cleaning?

I shoot my 41 twice a week (60 rds) and probably clean it every six weeks.

They're so easy to break down that it's not a big deal, and it's usually more out of boredom than necessity.

Wow Pinetree! That's 360 rounds! That would be exactly 1 month shooting (360 rounds) for me. I will try it. Since I use a bronze brush to clean the barrel, I always worried if that is too hard on the barrel. Thanks.

Novak wrote:Wow Pinetree! That's 360 rounds! That would be exactly 1 month shooting (360 rounds) for me. I will try it. Since I use a bronze brush to clean the barrel, I always worried if that is too hard on the barrel. Thanks.

Check out RamRodz and use the brush when it doesn't look clean with just the RamRod

I clean when I have malfunctions, or at least one session before a big match. I probably have somewhere around 1200-1500 through my primary 22 right now (a Nelson). Don't plan on cleaning it for another month or so, barring malfunctions.

Basically the same for my 45, but it gets dirty faster due to downloaded ammo. 

I do have other guns that tend to lead a little bit more, and I clean those more regularly so I'm not letting lead buildup too much.

YMMV.

Dave

They say the worst thing you can do for a rimfire barrel is clean it. I clean my M41 barrel by pushing a cotton swab through it after I clean the chamber.

22lr ammo is dirty. The problem with a dirty 22 pistol is function gets unreliable; accuracy doesn't really suffer. Keep the chamber, magazine well, and other moving parts clean and clear of debris, and it'll be good.

With a M41, function may be more reliable if you add a drop of light oil to the first round in every magazine. I like Rem oil.

Load more than you clean and shoot more than you load is an old saying. I have a weed wacker line I cut and use it as a pull through with patch on the end. Learned that from Norwood on the All Guard pistol team when they let a lowly rifle team guy play with them lol.

Novak, very good question and something I've heard so many different opinions about. So, I asked my guru, whose word I trust and respect:-

"As a young guy on a military team I was shooting with guys who had medaled in world cups, Pan American Games, national champions and 4th place at Olympics in free pistol. They knew their shit!!! I was lucky to shoot with them all. They all said to let the barrels naturally lead up and only clean the chambers. They did RR testing and it proved the barrels shot the best not being cleaned/scrubbed.

I only use chamber brush on chamber and run a dry patch once a year down the bore. I use solvent and patch on the muzzle.

So if you want to clean with a brush how much difference does it make? Probably not enough to really make a difference shooting BE vs international free pistol..............."

So now we know!

I've heard of others who use a 270 cal rifle brush bent through 90deg as being the perfect size.