prodel wrote:Got it about the copper, thanks.
So as long as I stick to wax coated lead ammo then there's no need to clean and she'll be right?
That has pretty much nailed it. Keep the keeper and extractor grooves and the bolt clean, give the outside and bolt a good oil before putting it away in a dry safe and it will last pretty much forever.
Try not to go for more than a couple of months without putting at least a couple of rounds down the bore. That snowflake you should see forming on the crown of your rifle is just wax, very little powder or lead accumulate in the bore- you need a good accumulation of wax, this is what stops it from leading up.
Clean the bore VERY well before you shoot it for the first time to get rid of any factory junk.
A .22LR is a very hassle free way to enjoy yourself, and cheap.