Cleaning a 17HMR?

[s2photo]

So I've read all over the place and opinions seem fairly divided.
"Rarely clean the thing, they shoot better with a fouled bore."
Or "Clean it like a centre fire they're copper jacketed."

So from people who actually own them - what do you do?
Im a fairly new Savage 93R17 TR owner, and am still figuring out what all I need to do to keep things clean and in good order.

Recommendations on products/techniques welcome!

 

[MontanaKid]

Re: Cleaning a 17HMR?

I'm kind of in the middle. When I take mine to the range and put 100 rounds through it, I always clean it when I get home. On the other hand, when I take it out for squirrels and some plinking, I usually leave it be afterwards. So, if you going to do some heavy range shooting you should probably clean it after. If you using it for hunting, it can help the consistency if you don't clean it between hunting days. Just don't over do it and it should be fine.
How do like the stock on the TR model?

 

[OldmaninNeb]

Re: Cleaning a 17HMR?

I've gone both routes, and honestly, I think finishing up a day of shooting with a bore snake is all it takes. 10 seconds...

 

[GotCox]

Re: Cleaning a 17HMR?

I shot for the first 500 rounds through mine without touching the bore then another 500 and cleaned. Have cleaned every 100 rounds for like 4 range trips now. If anything it has made my groups worse and i have to waste 5-10 rounds for it to start grouping like it did again. I am going to back off on the cleaning and do it every 500 rounds.

 

[J-ROD]

Re: Cleaning a 17HMR?

I had a friend who ruined his .17hmr with a cheap, 3-piece cleaning rod and too much brushing as I think the rifling is only .003" deep. He muffed up the crown too, never has been the same.

I use a weed wacker string with the end melted a little, can't remember the hole size (think .140") but basically made a patch worm by drilling a hole in an AL block, melting the string and jamming it in the hole until it cools.
After bedding, mine doesn't really change POI or accuracy from right after cleaning to a bunch down the tube...I think the ammo lots cause more variance than anything else.
Mine gets cleaned every range trip mainly because I don't want it corroding while it sits weeks/months inbetween.

 

[J-ROD]

Re: Cleaning a 17HMR?

Oh, I have heard a Q-tip cut in half and threaded into a cleaning rod works well too but I don't like putting any type of rod down it's tiny bore.

 

[shoot4fun]

Re: Cleaning a 17HMR?

When I clean mine I use a Tipton carbon fiber rod, brass jag and patches only. I usually only knock the loose stuff out of the bore and don't worry about hard clean-up. Several thousand rounds thru my CZ and it still shoots great.
BTW, I think the bore snake would do as good a job as anything.

 

[10FPshooter]

Re: Cleaning a 17HMR?

Been using a patch worm with great results. I like it much better than a bore snake.
http://20-20.8m.com/patchworm.html

 

[SigTauJohn]

Re: Cleaning a 17HMR?

+1 on bore snake. its difficult to get a rod and patch down the tiny barrel.

 

[Drifter]

Re: Cleaning a 17HMR?


I clean mine like anything else, coated dewey cleaning rod, brass jag and patches wet with shooters choice. From the action.

Mine gets cleaned any time I shoot it, 50 rounds at the range, or one round on a fox, it gets a couple wet patches followed by a couple dry. Thats it.

I have three 17 HMR rifles, plus a contender barrel, as well as three other 17 cal centerfires and they all get the same treatment, and all shoot excellent with clean bores.

 

[bruno86]

Re: Cleaning a 17HMR?

I have approximately 1200 round through mine without cleaning it and im still shooting .250 five shot groups at 50 with it. Its my hammer gun for the birds. Head goes straight up and wings go straight out about 10 yards

 

[henke4310]

Re: Cleaning a 17HMR?

Iv owned a savage 17 hmr for 3 years now and have shot thousands of rounds threw the old girl and have never cleaned it once. Its still a hammer. My most recent jaw dropping shot with it was a prairie dog at 406 yards. The little rim fire just keeps on amazing me. Happy Hunting

 

[s2photo]

Re: Cleaning a 17HMR?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MontanaKid</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
How do like the stock on the TR model?</div></div>

I really like it, the higher comb is great, the grip is comfortable and natural feeling, and the finish is nice. That being said, I'm a tall guy with rather long arms, so I'm going to put an adjustable butt plate on it to accommodate a longer length of pull.

As far as cleaning goes, I think I'm going to go with the bore snake for the most part. Maybe give it a real thorough clean every 750-1000 or so.

Any recommendations as to how to smooth out/clean up the bolt?

 

[gjantzer]

Re: Cleaning a 17HMR?

with rimfire, I generally only clean once the accuracy starts to diminish. Some of my guns only go 50 rounds before groups start to open up. Others go hundreds of rounds. Going thousands of rounds without cleaning is way too much!