My .22 cleaning rod seems tight

[petemacsydney]

Hi guys, question for you gusy that do clean your 22's... My 22 Cleaning rod is very tight and after a few cleans has been left with rifling striations on it.
Is this normal? It's a single piece "Hoppe's" brand.
cheers p

[Techc]

How does it go through the barrel with no patch on it?

Just the rod itself? Smooth or tight and scratchy?

[petemacsydney]

goes through with brush first (one way) then i put the 22 jag on it and a patch over it and push it down through the barrel again
it feels tighter than a nun on prom night.. well, maybe not that tight, but its pretty dam snug. scratches are small and go full length of the steel clean rod

[Chronos]

Some questions first if you don't mind.

What brand of rifle is it? Some rifles have an ejector tab that sticks up and scratches the cleaning rod

Are you using a bore guide? It's possible the rod is bending with the pressure you're applying and scratching the rod against the bore

Have you tries different patch materials, sizes and different jags? I have some jags that need thinner patches and some that won't fit in a .22lr bore, but do fit in a .223

Worst thing you can do is keep trying and do damage. Some use a .17 rod but generally .22 jags won't screw into them.

I don't I never really need a tight jag and patch to clean my .22's, just a loop jag and a strip of flannel or chux cloth and some powder solvent (no copper fouling)

Chronos

[petemacsydney]

ITS A CZ 452, there is a bolt lug that sticks up, but it looks pretty clear to me its the rifling thats causing the scratching.
yeah i might see if i can get a smaller rod. i'm just not that comfortable with whats going on and last thing i want to do is ruin the rifling

[Apollo]

First up if you are using a Bore Guide, put that in and look down the Bore and see if you can see an obstruction or anything sticking up.

The CZ cleaning rod being scratched is not new and been discussed on a number of Forums and it is the Ejector which is part of the Bolt Guide that causes the problem in general. Either that or your patches are too tight and you are applying too much pressure on the cleaning rod, hence bending it.

[petemacsydney]

ok thanks

[Apollo]

To expand a little further.

I use a Lowey Bore Guide and did have a CZ .17HMR 452. I could see the Ejector through the Bore Guide but because I was using a .17 Cleaning Rod it never posed a problem. I did have a couple of Brno Model 2's but now only one, same Bore Guide but the Ejector over the years, nearly 40 years, may be a little worn so it does not pose the problem. Yes, I have heard heaps of complains and questions about this problem.

Easy fix, use a .17 or even a .20 calibre cleaning rod. One piece, I did have those things that screw together but they are crap, I also think normal steel cleaning rods leave a lot to be desired even if they are one piece. This is going to sound like a paid advertisement but it is about quality of a fine product. I buy most of my equipment from BRT Shooters Supply who are amoungst out best target shooters and believe in accuracy & quality. They supply Pro-Shot Stainless Steel (high polish) Cleaning Rods, one piece and are very strong. I have at least four of these plus I have a Carbon Fibre Tipton but the Pro-Shot are better and stronger.

If it takes a fair bit of effort to push your cleaning patch dry down the bore then it's really too tight and you will stress / bend your cleaning rod. I use pre-cut patches and have a variety of sizes. I use a smaller one to anoint a bore with cleaning solution and then the first pass but then a tighter one for subsequent passes with a little more effort but not really that tight you have to use some muscle to push it through.

BTW.... I don't clean my .22LR unless I change my brand of ammo. Just to get rid of different waxes used on the various brands so they don't mix. If at all I will run an oily patch only down my .22LR Bore to clear loose powder residue.

[Tiiger]

I wouldn't worry about the scratches.

Don't forget the rod is meant to be softer than the barrel. Better to scratch up your cleaning rod than muck up your rifling.

Sounds to me like you just have your patches a bit too big.

Common problem people have with jags it seems. I'd just try cutting a few smaller ones and experiment to find a size that is a bit easier to use but still snug to clean the barrel.

[reddog]

As others have said its the ejector that does the scratching on CZ rimfires . Also dont forget the bore on a 22 rimfire is smaller than a 22 centrefire so if you cut the same size patch as you use in a centrefire it will be tighter in a rimfire . Proshot actually list a rimfire jag I dont know wether that would help I havent tried one?

[Harper]

yeah i might see if i can get a smaller rod. i'm just not that comfortable with whats going on and last thing i want to do is ruin the rifling

You said it's only tight with the jag and patches though, right?

If the rod move smoothly through it without a patch or brush on the end the rod is not the problem.

If anything a narrower rod could be worse because it will bend more in the barrel and apply more pressure to a smaller spot on the rod.

IMO I'd stick with the rod you've got and try different patch material in case your patches are too thick and/or smaller patches.

[petemacsydney]

thx guys, seem to have got it sorted out now. think it was just too much patch.
might also get a bore guide so the rod doesn't scratch further
cheers p