Brand new .22 = Filthy barrel?

[earthquake]

Just a quick question, I just picked up a brand new Crickett .22 for my son. His 6th BD is next weekend. I got it for <$100 and the thing looks great. However, I noticed dust/dirt in the barrel, which I thought was just dust/debris from packing cardboard or whatever. When I cleaned the barrel yesterday, it was flat-out FILTHY. Looks like it had 100 rounds or more put through it. Is that normal?

The rest of the rifle, stock, barrel, bolt are spotless and I can tell have never been used. Clean as a whistle and not one scratch anywhere. That's what has me stumped. Do these rifles get test fired? Seems a bit excessive with all the crud I pulled out of the barrel.

Anyway, I'm just curious if anyone else has experienced this with their .22 or Cricket rifles. I haven't shot a .22 in many years and after buying ammo yesterday, I was thinking about picking it up again....only $9 for 150 rounds!?!? That's awesome!

 

[isaaccarlson]

Re: Brand new .22 = Filthy barrel?

It may be preservative. I know CZ likes to use it and maybe cricket does too.

 

[SDWhirlwind]

Re: Brand new .22 = Filthy barrel?

Doubt there is a centerfire or rimfire made/sold or for that matter any handgun shotgun that hasn't been test fired for safety reasons! Don't take many rounds to get one dirty and I would suspect they probably have a 'Proof' round to check them with so who knows what type of propellant is used. They surely aren't worried about cleaning the bores, just getting them out the door.

 

[former naval person]

Re: Brand new .22 = Filthy barrel?

And...the lubricant on the bullets of the .22 rimfire rounds is a pretty good rust preventive. My first rifle is a Winchester 67 which while I was in the Navy and for years after was a rat control instrument at my Dad's chicken farm. I know he never cleaned it. 64 years of benign neglect...no rust. Occasionally wiped down the exterior metal with what ever oil he had around.

 

[Mike Sobr]

Re: Brand new .22 = Filthy barrel?

If it's that thick cosmoline preservative be sure to patch it out thoroughly as it can raise chamber pressure enough to cause a loose spot in the barrel and effect accuracy. We had a guy with a hummer rifle that was winning every match he entered for a year till one day he forgot to run a dry patch after slopping oil in the bore with a chamber mop and you know the rest of the story.

 

[oldrifleman]

Re: Brand new .22 = Filthy barrel?

I have bought a number of guns in the last few years and almost everyone has been shipped with a heavily "oiled" barrel. This "oil" tends to be very thick and attracts dirt like a magnet! Steven

 

[earthquake]

Re: Brand new .22 = Filthy barrel?

OK, thanks for the info. It probably is preservative then. Pretty thick/black/gooey stuff. I cleaned it up good. Giving him the rifle Sunday for his birthday...can't wait to take him shooting!