22 lr. Question

[1911man]

Does the rifling in a 22 ever wear out? I have seen 50 years and older 22 barrels get pitted and rust, but I can still see a little bit of rifling. The question is “Can a modern stainless steel 22lr. barrel get shot so much that the rifling wears out?”

[beanz2]

Anything is possible, but at those low bullet velocities, it would take a long time. Bet poor maintenance is a bigger issue.

[justMike]

I've heard of 6 o'clock bore wear from powder grains/ash repeatedly getting run over by the bullets. Probably take a heck of a long time and lots and lots and lots rounds for it to happen though.

[bergmen]

Being that the bullets are almost always lubricated soft lead at moderate velocities, this has to be the easiest on barrels as far as wear is concerned.

Dan

[lordmorgul]

22 lr. Question

Of course it can; all mechanical systems will wear out, but specifically yes all barrels do wear out eventually. The rate would depend on maintenance, bullet velocity (HV vs SV) and construction (plated vs bare/lubed lead or the birdshot shells, and rate of fire for temperature.


Andrew - Lancaster, CA
NRA Life Member, CRPA member, Calguns.net contributor, CGF / SAF / FPC / CCRKBA / GOA / NAGR / NRA-ILA contributor, USCCA member - Support your defenders!

[smle-man]

I bet more .22 barrels are worn out from excessive and improper cleaning than are shot out. Protect the muzzle on a .22 and the barrel should last a lifetime. I think a patch or two a year is frequent enough cleaning for the bore. Leaded bullets have a lube incorporated which helps protect the bore.

[bergmen]

I bet more .22 barrels are worn out from excessive and improper cleaning than are shot out. Protect the muzzle on a .22 and the barrel should last a lifetime. I think a patch or two a year is frequent enough cleaning for the bore. Leaded bullets have a lube incorporated which helps protect the bore.

I agree which is why I have moved exclusively to bore snakes instead of cleaning rods. A couple of drag-throughs with the bore snake (breech to muzzle) and the bore and chamber look like new (rim fire and center fire).

Dan

[bohoki]

ive never seen one wore out

[Wheellock]

I read an article a while ago (I don't have a copy, so from memory) that someone did a wear test on a 22 and couldn't measure any wear until about 80,000 rounds.

If someone donates the ammo, I would be happy to test it out

[Wordupmybrotha]

I would guess that the chamber will get deformed first from the firing pin (regular shooting and dry firing) causing light primer strikes before any rifling wear.

[Divernhunter]

more have been ruined from improper cleaning than anything else. The 3 piece Alum cleaning rods are the worse thing for them(or any other barrel) and I have seen 22RF barrels cut length ways with the center area smooth from over cleaning and the 3 piece Alum rods.

[smle-man]

Back in the day with military weapons cleaned with pull throughs a bore could become worn from uneven pressure of the pull through cord wearing the muzzle oblong. It is hard to imagine that a piece of twine, cloth, or leather could do this but it was a documented problem in both the British and Swiss military.

[1911man]

The bore snakes, i recall have a copper brush, I thought using copper brushes on stainless steel barrels can be bad. Especially in target barrels?

[Lmo]

Well, and the rate of ammo production we're seeing now my new CZ Kadett II .22 conversion will last a thousand years...

[Temecula_Komrad]

As others have said, maintenance/cleaning. Bought a 22lr revolver awhile back, took it out to check function and groups. Functions great, but grouping was more like patterning a shotgun. Serious lead buildup, but a (fill in your favorite lead remover here) soak, plus wearing out a copper bore brush, and now groups pretty decent, and no more keyholing.