First air rifle - do I need to clean this thing?

[Erud]

Hi all,
Just got my first air rifle a month or so ago off this board. It is an Anschutz 8002. I am a NRA Highpower shooter and I am using this rifle for indoor winter 10m offhand practice. I made some good strides this season and do not want to give them up in the offseason. I love the rifle so far - it is ridiculously accurate and it gives me excellent feedback when shooting standing.

All that being said, do I need to clean this rifle? If so, what would be the preferred method? I'd be plenty satisfied to just leave it alone and shoot it if that is what folks do, but I am somewhat out of my element here. Any info will be appreciated.

Thanks,
Erik

[Rover]

Once in a while break the ends off a Q-Tip and shoot them. That's it.

[Pat McCoy]

I use a pull through string with two wet patches and one dry patch after every tin of 50 pellets. Could probably go 2-3 times that many shots, but it's quick and easy.

[yana]

Álways clean a new rifle's barrel! It probably has preservative in it.
Use a plthrough

[proneshooter]

You need to be careful with the cleaning agent you put in your air rifle barrel. I use TSI301 on a patch and pull it through and then follow up with dry patches as needed. They do need to be cleaned and most shoot in after a couple of pellets. I clean most of our rifles after 200 pellets. Some have very dirty leaded patches and others are almost clean.

[Rover]

"Some have very dirty leaded patches and others are almost clean."

Does this mean that some have rougher bores than others? Or is it dirtier pellets?

Will they require expensive gunsmith bore lapping? Perhaps "firelapping"?

Is this important for some reason? Will accuracy deteriorate as you shoot? Have you tested this?

Will Q-Tips clean better or worse than expensive felt cleaning pellets; or do we need to use the more elaborate methods suggested?

Will solvents damage, diesel, or otherwise damage air guns?

Inquiring minds want to know!!!

[Erud]

Thanks to the reply's, guys. Forgot to mention that the rifle was purchased used, so no new barrel stuff to worry about. I've shot about 300 through it so far and have not noticed any degradation of accuracy yet. As mentioned, I am only using it for offhand, so might not notice as fast as if I were shooting prone with it. I will keep an eye on it and try the methods described when it starts to drop off.

Thanks,
Erik

[TerryKuz]

Anschutz recogmends a pull through. Anschutz specifically states that felt pellets should not be used. They say that the felt strands can get blown back in the regulator and cause problems. Based on this I use a brush free 177 bore snake. I pull it through every tin of pellets. I am on my 5th precision air rifle and I really never saw one dirty. I had the same number of high end sporting pellet rifles and 1 needed cleaning or it would not shoot. That was a fx400 in 22.

[randy1952]

Once in a while break the ends off a Q-Tip and shoot them. That's it.

I had a conversation with the previous gunsmith and owner of Ten Ring about the same subject and he recommended against using the cleaning pellets as the fiber can clog the air system. I would imagine the Q-Tips could have do the same, but if your just using the standard Q-Tip it probably wouldn't have the same tight fit as the cleaning pellet and there would be less chance of any clog occurring. However, if the fit is not as tight it will have a tendency of not cleaning the barrel. The analogy would be like taking a duster to your car where it would just clean the surface and not down in the groves. I know there would be different opinions out there, but since he spent more time fixing these guns I just took it as good advice. Another dealer, Don Nygord and former National Team Shooter, who has also passed on, also recommended against using the fibrous cleaning material for the very same reasons.

As far as how often an airgun needs to be cleaned would also be up for debate. There are some that advocate cleaning after each use or the other end of the scale were none is needed. I suspect the answer would be somewhere in between. The only time I have cleaned my airgun more often is when I've used the less expensive pellets (like the Hobby Pellets) for practice. These leave a heavy black residue in the barrel. If your using the higher quality pellets they don't seem leave as much material behind as the cheaper pellets.

The nice thing about shooting airguns is that you don't have powder and other residues to contend with and for the international competition airguns you don't have the supersonic velocities to deal with either. Those high velocities would leave more of the metal from the projectile behind in the barrel, especially the soft lead from pellets.

[Rover]

The Q-Tips are very tight, and are are pushed deep into the bore with the piece of "stick" left when you cut it.

I don't suppose the match guns need cleaning often, if at all.

[yana]

Fauling of the barrel depends on: barrel quality (internal finish) and ammo used. Barrel quality isnt an issue on hitec matchguns. Lubed ammo is even cleaner. Bore lapping absolutely nót necessary.
I use ballistol for all my airgun barrel cleaning. Combined with cleaning felts+rod, or pull through
If the barrel gets REALLY dirty, ór rusty, it wíll show up in accuracy. Wether you'll see it soon at the short range of 10m though, I dunno.
After cleaning, most need a few shots to re-lead the barrel again.
Some guns prefer clean barrels (ceaned more often). Others dont.
Sóme cleaning stuff might be harmful to yr guns'seals.

[Padawan]

This is just my opinion but I've never felt a need to clean my Air rifle. I've been shooting it for years very actively (3-5 times a week, 500 or so pellets a week), and there has been no degradation in accuracy. It's been bench tested a few times through that and I've never noticed a difference. I don't think it would hurt anything to clean it, but I don't really think it's necessary. Definitely don't use felt pellets though unless the manual says you should, must manufacturers say not to use them.

[redschietti]

Why does shooting Q tips through a $2000 gun seem like a bad idea?

[jhmartin]

We use a VFG pullthru system on our precision guns every few tins.

Once a year in our sporters

[Rover]

"Why does shooting Q tips through a $2000 gun seem like a bad idea?"

I have no idea. Do you?

[randy1952]

"Why does shooting Q tips through a $2000 gun seem like a bad idea?"

I have no idea. Do you?

The fibers from the Q-tips as with the felt pellets can be drawn into the regulators according to Anschutz and have been told the same thing from some gunsmiths and dealers.

[Packrat1947]

So some of you are implying that the air is moving in a reverse direction?

Although I don't own a PCP, (only springers and SSPs), this seems a bit odd to me. I expect that anything in the bbl. is forced in one direction.

I am aware of the reverse flow in open automotive headers. But I don't think it can be tweaked/misconstrued to apply here. Please explain the dynamics of it all.

Help us non-PCP folks. Thanks.


Cheers,
Packrat1947

To quote the late Creighton Audette: "So many times we believe things that just aren't so."