Lead from pellets slowly builds up in an airgun barrel and can hurt accuracy. The fix is simple, and you do not need to do it very often.
Here is how I clean an airgun barrel without causing damage.
When to Clean
New barrels can benefit from a clean to remove factory residue. After that, clean when groups open up for no other reason, or every few thousand shots. Over-cleaning can actually hurt accuracy until the barrel settles again.
What You Need
- A flexible pull-through (cable or line) sized for your caliber, or a coated cleaning rod.
- Cotton patches.
- An airgun-safe barrel cleaner.
- Optional: felt cleaning pellets for a quick wipe.
Step by Step
- Make sure the gun is unloaded, uncocked and, for PCP or CO2, de-gassed or safe.
- Feed the pull-through in from the breech where possible, to protect the muzzle crown.
- Pull a lightly wet patch through, then repeat with dry patches until they come out clean.
- Shoot a few pellets to settle the barrel before checking zero.
What Not to Do
Do not use steel brushes, which can scratch the rifling. Do not spray petroleum oil or solvents into the air chamber of a spring piston gun, since it can diesel and damage seals. Never use metal rods that rub on the muzzle crown.
Related Guides
- The 5 Best .177 Pellets for Accuracy (2026)
- The 4 Best .22 Pellets for Accuracy (2026)
- The 5 Best Air Pistols for Target Shooting (2026)
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I clean my air rifle barrel?
Only when accuracy drops, or every few thousand pellets.
Are felt cleaning pellets enough?
They are good for a quick wipe. Use a pull-through for a proper clean.
Can I use gun oil on an airgun?
Use airgun-specific products. Petroleum oils can damage seals and cause dieseling in spring guns.
New to air guns? Start with our Air Guns for Beginners guide →