Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires 17 HMR barrel cleaning?

Hi. I just got into 17 hmr's & wound up buying 2, a Sako Quad Varmint with wood stock & a Savage fluted target with the tactical stock and plenty of ammo to try. My question is how often do you guys clean the 17? What is your cleaning program, like a centerfire? Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.
JD

"POWDER RIVER AND LET 'ER BUCK"

No response, eh?

I'm guessing no one on this site is comfortable enough in his manhood to admit he has a rod small enough to fit down that tiny hole.

Break a Q-tip in half and stick half in the end of your .17 rod. Clean when accuracy starts to change. Most .17's shoot better when dirty so shoot 2-3 fouling rounds to get back to your original POI. I do the same for my .17 Fireball.

Gonesouth: I was the first one in my area to buy a Ruger 77/17 V/T in caliber 17 HMR and back then NO ONE would answer the question you are asking.
I decided to clean my Ruger 77/17 every 50 rounds and watch carefully for any diminishment in accuracy.
Over the intervening years I have extended that cleaning interval to 100 rounds fired in my various 17 HMR's.
I have numerous friends who run 500 rounds a day through their 17 HMR Rifles and only clean them at night once the Gophers have been gotten.
They never seem to notice or complain about any lack of Gopher killing accuracy with their Rifles.
Again "I" clean my 17 HMR's with great care (bore guides, coated rods, quality and correct bore brushes etc) and at the "two boxes shot" mark.
Personally "I" would never let any of my 17 HMR's go 500 rounds without cleaning.
I wish I could give you some detailed test results to confirm my policy - I just can't.
I have so much fun shooting my 17 HMR's afield that I seldom waste ammo with them at the range.
I wonder if a "google" type search for "17 HMR cleaning intervals" might yield you some definitive test results or other opinions?
Have fun with the new 17 HMR - I know you will love it.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Lol! They are definitely a PITA compared to a big bore.

I just took a small oak dowel, carved some barbs on the end with a jackknife, and use it like a jag with a patch and Ye Olde Hoppes and RemOil. Those teeny bore brushes suck, so I don't use them. Nor do I clean it frequently like others here have said.

I do have a couple of .17 caliber cleaning rods, but just push a couple patches soaked in solvent through every 250 rounds, then a couple of dry patches. I found my CZ's groups start opening up a little after 250 the first year I had it, but it might go longer these days after having been "broken in" over the past dozen years.

Thanks guys. I got a little info off 204 Ruger & it matches pretty much what you've said, they shoot better dirty to an extent. VarmintGuy, I got the proper cleaning supplies, 17 Montana coated rod, custom made bore guide, jags, brushes, etc. I take great care in my barrel cleaning. Thanks again ya'll.
Jim D

I'm lazy most of the time a bore snake three passes.And its done.

17HMR shooting so will without cleaning at 2600 fps caused me to stop molly coating bullets for 30-30s that will be 2600 fps or less.

I clean most every time I shoot. It may be just a Hoppes 9 dampened patch, 17 cal coated rod.

I hate cleaning my .17's but do it when necessary. This bore guide makes it a little easier. It can be used on .22 RF's too.
http://rvbprecision.com/shooting/bore-guide-for-the-17hmr-rifle.html

you're supposed to clean 17HMR barrels???

who knew...

when mine sees a bore brush etc... it takes 20 to 25 rounds for the groups to start tightening up again...

Since 17 HMR ammo is all jacketed I clean every 50 rounds or so. I'm an old benchrest shooter and am allergic to copper fouling, especially in a 17 which really is a PITA to clean.

When I was writing for Precision Shooting all the time I tried real hard to get CCI to make 17 HMR with moly bullets. They were not interested. I love shooting 17 HMR's but the jacketed bullets are a problem when one is used to cleaning for moly.

I use a bore snake or a fiberglass rod.

every 100 rounds and sometimes after a box, just a couple of patches with Butch's, or Shooter Choice and a couple of dry patches

I've never cleaned mine. Still shoots just fine after 2,000+ rounds. It's a Lilja swap barrel for a Ruger 7722mag

This is the same camp I roll in. I may have cleaned mine once.

I DBC'd my CZ 452 last year and it appears I may be over cleaning it, guess I'll just let 'er go for awhile and see how it shoots.

Thanks Guys, I really appreciate all the good information.
Jim D

I do the Q-tip thing on occasion but don't see much of a difference in accuracy, clean or dirty.