Author Topic: How do you clean your 17HMR and a few other questions, Pleas (Read 1901 times)

BKS · « **on:** December 08, 2004, 03:29:48 PM »

All right I bought a 17 HMR sportster. Never have had a 17 cal before and am lost. How do you clean yours(Rod or Bore Snake), is there a special barrel break in that needs to be done, and anything else about these rifles that you can add in would be appreciated.

Thanks, I cant wait to start shooting it.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #1 on:** December 08, 2004, 03:51:18 PM »

I shoot mine to "break it in" and clean it with a Hoppes bore snake (has a built in bore brush and never been known to break or stick) on the inside and a silicone cloth on the outside. It likes Hornady ammo the best and it seems to shoot the 20 grain stuff fine for coyote's....<><.... :grin:

quickdtoo · « **Reply #2 on:** December 08, 2004, 03:51:48 PM »

I use Varmint Al's method of barrel break in without the moly bullets. Thoroughly clean it before you shoot it, inside and out, there's usually a bunch of filings and gunk in the action and barrel lug ejector area. I use a patchworm on mine or you can make one with either heavy mono fishing line or weed eater line. Melt the end of the string trimmer line and form a blob on the end, shape it to the right size by filing or sanding, sharpen the other end and stick it thru a patch. Make sure it's not too big, nothing like a stuck patch worm. Just tie a knot in the end of the fishing line. Or you can buy a Patchworm. .17 Cal rods are about $25, don't get a cheapy from walmart, get a good solid one piece rod. After it's broke in good with 200-300 rounds, cleaning more often when it's new, you won't need to clean much unless accuracy drops off.

www.patchworm.com

http://www.varmintal.com/ashot.htm#Break

raynor · « **Reply #3 on:** December 09, 2004, 02:23:17 PM »

I use 30 pound fish line, double it or I should say fold it so you end up with a loop. Push the loop end down thru from the muzzle until the loop sticks out the breech end. You'll need to play around with patch size until you figure out about the right size that works.

Put the patch thru the loop and pull it thru.

savageT · « **Reply #4 on:** December 09, 2004, 02:46:06 PM »

Try the Otis pull-through cable system. I believe they include a .17 cal. small cable and accessories in the kit.

Jim

bang_off · « **Reply #5 on:** December 21, 2004, 11:52:04 PM »

Hi all 1st post here at GBO!:D

Quote from: quickdtoo

I use Varmint Al's method of barrel break in without the moly bullets. ...

http://www.varmintal.com/ashot.htm#Break

Is the J-B mentioned by Varmint Al a paste? In your opinion would any light metal polishing compound do as good a job? I am thinking about using Brasso if you guys know what that is (milky looking mild metal polish particularly for softer metals like brass/copper).

TIA and keep up the good work! :grin:

SBF · « **Reply #6 on:** December 22, 2004, 04:30:46 AM »

J-B is in fact a thick paste. I would be hesitant to use another metal polishing compound myself. All I've ever used is J-B's. Others may be able to help with your question though.

Welcome to the forums

quickdtoo · « **Reply #7 on:** December 22, 2004, 04:57:12 AM »

Flitz metal polish will work also, but I think it's a bit more aggressive as Varmint Al uses it on barrels that have heavy copper fouling.

dannyk · « **Reply #8 on:** December 22, 2004, 05:05:16 AM »

I do the JB paste method, its non embedding paste, then clean the bbl good and shoot it. I have done a lot of playing with mine to get it to shoot good, but I finally have arrived at good groups, I am happy with it now. I made my cleaner out of grass trimmer line, works great.

bang_off · « **Reply #9 on:** December 27, 2004, 01:32:35 PM »

hmm...it will be a little hard for me to get some J-B in time. Do any of you know of Meguiars Mirror Glaze All Metal polish? It seems to be a very mild polish from experience. Only question is the embedding issue. :?

Worst case scenario is I resort to bang-clean-bang-clean-beang-clean etc. :lol:

Thanks for all the input and sorry for the thread hijack BKS. :grin:

I also have a Patchworm coming, thanks for the heads up quickdtoo. :wink:

quickdtoo · « **Reply #10 on:** December 27, 2004, 01:42:18 PM »

Flitz or Maas metal polish will also work...usually widely available at hardware and variety stores and some grocery stores.

bang_off · « **Reply #11 on:** December 28, 2004, 11:50:48 AM »

Thanks for the tip quickdtoo.

I'll pick some of that stuff up for a short term fix.

Still don't have the paperwork to go pick up the hummer yet. waiting waiting... :roll:

AZ223 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 04, 2005, 12:18:58 PM »

For a variation of the patchworm, try this: Take a piece of weed-wacker line a little longer than the barrel, and melt a knob on one end with a candle. Cut one of the tassles off a bootlace that's just a little larger than the .17's bore (it'll stretch and thin out when you pull it through the bore). Stick the knob end of the line about an inch into the lace, and tie it with something thin, like dental floss, then just pass that part over the candle flame to keep things from unraveling. Just don't get the knob too big, or it may not pass through, but if it does get stuck, it's easy to pull out the other way.

Works with most small calibers, and I started using it after having the knob coming through the patches. Got the idea at www.rimfirecentral.com -- lotsa great stuff there!
:grin:

quickdtoo · « **Reply #13 on:** January 04, 2005, 01:25:11 PM »

FYI, the little "tassle" at the end of a shoe lace is called an aglet. As for the weed eater line, I've had some success with that, but for what little the Patchworm cost, it is well worth it. It's certainly no fun to get a patch stuck in the bore with a piece of weed eater line in there with it, been there! The .17 cal Patchworm costs <$7 shipped and they have good prices on their patches, too. I just ordered 1000 patches and 2 rifle Patchworms for a total of $30 and change. The rifle Patchworm will work on any rifle from .22 to .45 cal.

www.patchworm.com