Maintenance schedule
Guidance from barrel and ammo makers; there's no single right interval — watch accuracy and extraction and keep your routine consistent.
| When | What | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Every session | Wipe exterior, check action-screw and ring/rail torque after any change, check mags are clean. | 457 manual / gunsmithing |
| ~90–100 rounds (competition) | ELEY's typical cleaning interval for match shooting. | ELEY: how often to clean |
| ~100 rounds | Dry patch (Lilja's recommendation for rimfire match barrels). | Lilja: .22 rimfire maintenance |
| ~200–300 rounds | Solvent-wetted nylon brush in the chamber/leade to control the carbon ring (Lilja). | Lilja: .22 rimfire maintenance |
| After cleaning | Fire fouling shots before scored groups or ammo tests. | Rimfire Central: lot testing & sample sizes |
| New barrel / ammo testing | Lapua's test centers recommend a seasoned barrel before lot testing. | Lapua rimfire test shooting |
Tools and supplies with prices are on the gunsmithing page; cleaning-to-accuracy notes in the ammo guide.