Hi Ray, I can tell what I have done for many years and I have had pretty good luck I think. I basically use a flexible type cleaning rod on all of my guns now, years ago on the barrel cocking guns I had used a regular cleaning rod but doubt that was too good. I never use bore cleaners as most of the airgun bore solvents I think have like alcohol in them which could lead to rust. I usually just use a little bit of Beemans Mp5 oil then run some dry patches through after untill I am shure I have the bore dry, there will be some particles of lead that come out not much. You can leave the bore dry also if you use the gun all the time if you are going to store it for say a year or so can leave a film of oil in the bore but you want to remember to wipe it out before you use it again as oil in a bore even on a airgun would not be good, plus it might diesel as well even with some in the bore. Would not use a bristle brush either as it should not be needed, I clean my barrel on my sporter type airguns about every 500 rounds which seems adequate, alot of people might think that is too much but seems about right to me. I beleive Dewey may make a one piece rod now that is coated and if you have a gun that you can clean from the breech a rod like that should be okay, no jointed rods though as they always tend to flex. I think RWS offers a flexible rod Otis makes one which is what I have, if you buy one make shure it is coated, and always pull the flexible rod straight out trying not to touch the bore as you are coming out. If you have a new gun I would clean the barrel now and then after say 200 rounds again because sometimes when the guns are new they tend to be blowing out some lubricants the factory uses plus the barrel will be breaking in and might be a good idea to clean it a few times untill you shoot about 1,000 round or so. Hope this helps some, others may have some pointers also for you as well.
Ray wrote:
<Can anyone tell me the do and dont of cleaning rifle bore.>
Mostly don't. Airgun and rimfire barrels aren't made from the same steel as centerfires so foriegn objects should be kept out of them as much as possible. Almost any device that can be used as a rod or pull-thru can and will get dirt embedded in its surface and begin to act as a hone. That is why, except for the very rare instance that I use a brush, I use a disposable pull-thru rather than a rod. When I do use a rod I wipe it off before each pass. I make the dispoable pull-thrus with 40# mono fishing line. A 100 yd. spool should make a lifetime supply. I tie a Perfection Loop in one end to hold the patch and throw it away and make a ne one after a few uses.
The 'dos' are quite limited IMO. I very carefully clean the barrel on new guns. They can be and normally ARE very dirty from the manufacturing process and preservative and I feel a new gun should NOT be shot until the barrel is squeeky clean. As has already been pointed out a new (or freshly tuned) gun may have to be cleaned several time during the break-in to remove excess lubes blown out of the compression chanber. Excess lubes also translate as combustion residues that most new gun suffer as a result of dieseling or detonation which can be very abrasive.
Once a break-in is finished I don't clean barrels again unless accuracy disappears mysteriously and no other reasons for it can be determined such as changing pellets or altering the barrel damping proces by changing or removing front sights or adding a muzzle brake.
Ballistol, MP-5, Goo-gone and other harmless non-corrosive cleaning agents are all that is needed. Avoid firearm cleaners that contain harsh chemicals for removing lead and powder residues at all costs. They simply aren't needed in an airun and could harm the bore. One mans' 'take, Tom