Do You Use Airgun Cleaning Pellets?

[hameditor]

If so, what's your experience with them? Do they work? Do they become caught in silencer baffles?

We're planning to run a HAM test on cleaning pellets, but I just want to get your opinions before we start.

None of the HAM Team members have ever used them, so we're starting from scratch here.

Thanks in advance

 

[pan60]

only just seen them in the catalogs : (
but interested in knowing if the are effective.
after you shoot a few run a mach to see if the did a good job maybe?
maybe have a few guns to work with?
I can see this will be a challenging study

 

[hameditor]

We're planning to use a borescope to take photos before and after.

Now here's another thought. Does anyone use some sort of solvent on them? Or are they used dry?

 

[FL22]

I believe my Umarex Origin manual it explicitly said not to use them. I don’t know if this holds true for many other airgun. Something you may want to check into.

 

[Chief55]

I do not because I do believe they can get caught in the baffles but more so the fact that it is too much like dry firing the gun and as in the case of AEA guns that have a valve pin it could break the pin from not having enough back pressure unless a flat nosed wad cutter style target pellet is loaded right behind it.

 

[Dogowski]

If so, what's your experience with them? Do they work? Do they become caught in silencer baffles?

We're planning to run a HAM test on cleaning pellets, but I just want to get your opinions before we start.

None of the HAM Team members have ever used them, so we're starting from scratch here.

Thanks in advance

I only use them in break barrel rifles that don't have a moderator. I got a box full a few years ago off Amazon and it will take years to use them up as I don't shoot my break barrels very often due to an injury.

 

[Dogowski]

We're planning to use a borescope to take photos before and after.

Now here's another thought. Does anyone use some sort of solvent on them? Or are they used dry?

I just run them dry in my break barrels. I don't think they clean as well as a pull thru or rod system but will be watching your results.

 

[Danman]

I got a few included actually in my patch worm kit and didn't know what to do with them I stabbed them through with the string and fed em manually breech to muzzle, they came soaked in ballistol. I wouldn't fire em through though either I don't think? Sounds like a fun experiment/test @hameditor !

 

[Florida_Man]

I cleaned my notos, I thought thoroughly cleaned with patches when I received it. This was after 500 FX pellets. I think you would need A LOT of cleaning pellets to get it to work.

My LW Atomic barrel is clean after 4 patches, the first being ballistol soaked, after 500 FX pellets.

I think you should probably start with a rifle more like the Atomic, a short well manufactured barrel. And able to remove the silencer/shroud.

 

[Florida_Man]

This was from my initial cleaning of the Notos.

 

[jlowe]

I use them in springers, but not in my precharged airguns. Mainly because I shoot the pre-charged airguns way more than the springers.

 

[ctshooter]

I use cleaning pellets in my Huben K1 and GK1 so I don't have to risk any barrel alignment for cleaning. I fill each of three slots with first a pellet soaked in ballistol followed by a dry pellet. I shoot them out into ground - yes they go super sonic and are loud. Seems to work for me. I haven't noticed anything stuck in the baffles.

 

[Hoppalong Doc]

I've been using them sparingly with my CO2 guns and my springers. I generally put two Ballistol soaked pellets through, followed by a domed pellet. I've also pulled the occasional Ballistol soaked patch thru as well, followed by a couple of dry patches, as needed. I clean my barrels very rarely as I'm not convinced that airguns can become leaded, as firearms do. I'll be quite interested in this study when HAM completes it's testing. Orv.

 

[Alandaledaniel]

I have often used cleaning pellets in various types and calibers of air guns, both rifle & pistol. I have used various brands of cleaning pellets as well, including Tipton. Even after fairly hard use, like shooting my lead pellets in hot weather for a couple of hours, both harder and softer pellets, I have found that the cleaning pellets do a fairly decent job of cleaning up the barrel. It normally takes about 3 cleaning pellets to get it clean enough for accurate shooting. Once, after putting 5 cleaning pellets down the barrel and still picking up a lot of lead [or something] I cleaned it using the typical white patches and pulling them up the barrel. I put a bit of oil on the first patch, then pulled it through. I had shot 5 cleaning pellets already so I was interested in the patch test. Not all that much in the way of lead came out. I pulled through 2 more white patches [not cleaning patches] with no oil on them, just the patch, and that was it. The barrel was perfectly clean. At least the patch came out clean. So, it seems that the cleaning patches that are shot through the gun do a pretty good job. Tipton cleaning pellets seem to be a little rougher than others, and longer, making them harder to load, but they seem to do a good job; however, every brand I have used worked fairly well. AD2

 

[Mike Brown]

I got some cleaning pellets back in the early 80's when I bought my C1 from Beman's. If I remember correctly, it was recommended to load 3 at a time to limit piston slam. The only airguns I've used recently all have moderators so I'd be hesitant to try them now though they worked fine for the old C1.

 

[Hateful McNasty]

I think your supposed to remove the moderators or the baffles before you clean ???

I guess I can put the cleaning pellet money in my pocket and use cut up old cotton shirts for cleaning then use the cleaning pellet money to buy more pellets to shoot .. I enjoy that more then cleaning so I think it's better spent money ..lol . ( I never been much on gimmicks )

 

[jps2486]

Great for shooting bugs indoors.

 

[Hateful McNasty]

Great for shooting bugs indoors.

That I could see and probably do ..

 

[Soren Drost]

I use cleaning pellets Usually 3-4 dry ones Load them in the barrel and add a pellet or slug behind it to push it through without a loud bang !

 

[hameditor]

I use cleaning pellets Usually 3-4 dry ones Load them in the barrel and add a pellet or slug behind it to push it through without a loud bang !

Søren, thanks for that! How often do you use them? Do you see or detect much difference? Have you used them in guns with a silencer?