As the title says, I'm new to the 17hmr. I bought a Savage mkll and last weekend it got it's first squirrel.
I know cleaning rimfires is (22's) is kind of a subjective thing amongst shooters, but I'm thinking the 17 is a different story.
So I wanted to ask what is your cleaning routine for your 17's? How often? etc.
The 17hmr shoots copper jacket bullets, so you'll get copper in the barrel, will it affect accuracy?? Some shoot 'em till they don't hit what they are aiming at, some clean after x rounds, or maybe after every shooting session. I'm in the latter group.
I clean it like a CF rifle, getting the copper out with copper removing solvent.
I recently started using KG 12 copper remover. It is amazing stuff without the harmful effects of ammonia based cleaners. My 17HMRs (Anschutz and Sako) shoot best clean. So I clean about every 100-200 rnds as I have time.
My first 17HMR was/is a NEF heavy barrel gun. It shoots bug holes at 25 and close at 50. Other then the crap trigger with transfer bar system it shoots lights out.
Being a break action, it is easy to clean and I do so about every 100 or so rounds paying special attention to cleaning the chamber and using a coper solvent in the barrel. I usually allow about 30 minutes or so to do a cleaning which lets me soak the chamber and then the barrel. A few patches and we are good to go.
Each gun has it own cleaning regiment and I think part of that is based on the barrel itself and part is based on the ammo you are shooting.
JMHO
__________________
Bruce A. Hering
Southeastern Illinois College (retired)
I have always just used the weed eater line mashed out, pull through method with a pipe cleaner scrub in the chamber. Use the bore solvent of your choice.
YMMV
17hmr don’t need to be cleaned as often as centerfire.
I had a savage hmr that shot real good with hornady.
Shot loads and it still shot good.
One thing though. When I cleaned real good, it would take 35 shots before gun would settle down and start grouping.
My hm2 lilja barrel, doesn’t seem like it needs cleaning very often either. It does settle down after cleaning with around 7 shots.
The powder fouling will likely affect more faster than copper fouling.
Let the gun tell you when it needs cleaning. Keep track of your shots. And then keep track of how many it takes for gun to settle down after cleaning. Some folks try to link hmr to centerfire due to jacketed bullets.
We have various opinions on cleaning. This indicates every rifle is different. Mine takes more frequent cleaning than a 22lr. I shoot till accuracy drops off and then clean. Works for me.
My new to me 17 Mach II Lilja barrel (on a CZ 455 stainless American action) is so new I have not completely figured it out yet but after about 200 rounds I have cleaned every 100 with attention to the chamber and then the bore. A few swipes down the bore with Hoppes #9 and then about two or three dry patches and I seem to be good to go. Admittedly, this is early in the process. On my next cleaning I will use some copper solvent just to see what happens.
__________________
Bruce A. Hering
Southeastern Illinois College (retired)
I’ve been using a pull through, seems to do a good job. I like wipeout for copper removal, it works really well and is ammonia free. it works as a preservative if you just want to leave it in the bore, just remember to wipe it out before firing. If you have copper fouling it will turn dark blue as it works.
This is my third gopher season on a new rifle and have kept it clean without a rod using the Patchworm method; I clean after every outing..not after 300-1000rds
..and brush the chamber/ lead occasional
Patchworn now has the .17 felts also..no intensive type yet..
One of the best tricks I've found for cleaning 17 caliber rifles is using Q-tips. Cut the Q-tips in half so that you'll have two of them. Then push the Q-tip down the 17 caliber bore and throw away. They're cheap, fit the 17 caliber bores perfectly, and is in every house hold.
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