I just got my 22/45, and I love it already.
However, I'm having some problems when it comes time to clean it.
Some people have said that you really don't need to clean a .22 for 500-1000 rounds. The range people (tsk tsk, again them) say that you really don't need to clean the gun out at all until it's so badly fouled that it won't fire anymore. That sounds a little ridiculous, but is this true, and does it also apply to lead bullets?
I've looked over the disassembly/reassembly for the MKII's, and I figured that I really _didn't_ need to do a full field strip and clean each time I shot it, but maybe I could get away with just cleaning out the bore from the muzzle end if I'm careful, and oiling the outside, and just give the inside a full cleaning every so often.
So I bought a .220-.225 brass jag for my Hoppes cleaning rod, only to discover that trying to fit the patch-and-jag down the muzzle side with a cleaning patch stuck to the end of the jag doesn't fit down the bore! The jag is a tight fit already, and the bunching up of the patch makes it absolutely not fit.
If I cut the patch to about a 0.5" square, it'll fit, but this seems like it really doesn't do a good job of cleaning out the insides (and CCI Lead .22LR seems a LOT dirtier than winchester USA 9mm! 50 rounds and I have black gunk EVERYWHERE!)
Are there any tricks to fitting the patch into the bore?
How often do I _really_ need to clean it?
Is it safe to clean from the muzzle end?
I've seen many instructions to fieldstripping the MKII and they look good, but to be honest, I'd prefer not to if I can get away with it, without harming the gun.
(On the other hand, I do clean out my 9mm meticulously after ever range session... it's just the MKII seems like a lot more trouble.)
Thanks!
-Jon
However, I'm having some problems when it comes time to clean it.
Some people have said that you really don't need to clean a .22 for 500-1000 rounds. The range people (tsk tsk, again them) say that you really don't need to clean the gun out at all until it's so badly fouled that it won't fire anymore. That sounds a little ridiculous, but is this true, and does it also apply to lead bullets?
I've looked over the disassembly/reassembly for the MKII's, and I figured that I really _didn't_ need to do a full field strip and clean each time I shot it, but maybe I could get away with just cleaning out the bore from the muzzle end if I'm careful, and oiling the outside, and just give the inside a full cleaning every so often.
So I bought a .220-.225 brass jag for my Hoppes cleaning rod, only to discover that trying to fit the patch-and-jag down the muzzle side with a cleaning patch stuck to the end of the jag doesn't fit down the bore! The jag is a tight fit already, and the bunching up of the patch makes it absolutely not fit.
If I cut the patch to about a 0.5" square, it'll fit, but this seems like it really doesn't do a good job of cleaning out the insides (and CCI Lead .22LR seems a LOT dirtier than winchester USA 9mm! 50 rounds and I have black gunk EVERYWHERE!)
Are there any tricks to fitting the patch into the bore?
How often do I _really_ need to clean it?
Is it safe to clean from the muzzle end?
I've seen many instructions to fieldstripping the MKII and they look good, but to be honest, I'd prefer not to if I can get away with it, without harming the gun.
(On the other hand, I do clean out my 9mm meticulously after ever range session... it's just the MKII seems like a lot more trouble.)
Thanks!
-Jon