RE: Tips on cleaning a .22
 

I didn't clean my action for like 1000 rounds and finally changed out my trigger. It needed it. I clean my more every time I shoot it. And oil it.

RE: Tips on cleaning a .22
 

the longest ive gone without cleaning my 10-22 before i started to have malfunctions was in the upwards of 5,000 rounds and i dont shoot very high quality 22 ammo either unless its in my match guns. but for the 10-22 the highest quality bullet i shoot would be remington thunderbolts but most of the time i use some russian made stuff called rooster .22 its steel cases and very dirty but accurate enough and also very inexpensive i can get a brick for 4 bucks.

RE: Tips on cleaning a .22
 

I always believed a clean rifle shoots better than a dirty one (or should I say fouled). But when I started shooting in smallbore team matches many years ago, you would be surprised as to how many of those shooters NEVER cleaned their rifles. Even after thousands of rounds. And these rifles could still center punch the X ring just about every time. These rifles were shot probably a minimum of 3 times per week, maybe 300 - 500 rounds. So the bores didn't have time to rust.
I clean my small bores the same way I clean my centerfires. Bronze brush, solvent, patches and finish with a oiled patch. I do this simply because I don't shoot them as often as I'd like.