Whether I take the barrel OFF depends on whether it is pinned or wedged. A wedged barrel like a Thompson Center I will remove the barrel. A pinned barrel like a Traditions Kentucky or Shenandoah I will not. Pinned barrels are more temperamental about going back together. Normally you find a pinned barrel in a full stock model. The half stock models are wedged.
When I remove a barrel I like to water bath it clean. Then rinse it with boiling water. Then swab it with alcohol patches. Then swab it with dry patches. And once it is dry I like to swab the barrel with a good gun oil patch and then let the barrel cool.
I do pull the locks from time to time. Powder fouling can accumulate behind them and it will cause them lock to be damaged. I take the lock to the sink. Put some dish soap on it. Then damped it. Then with an old toothbrush (or one that is not yours) scrub all the fouling off the back of the lock. Rinse it well with HOT water and then dry it best you can. After it is dry, I spray the back with Rem Oil. Also this is a good time to wipe out the stock in the area where the lock fits. You will see fouling in there as well. Murphy's oil soap or a good cleaner works just fine. Be sure to dry the area before you re-assemble the rifle.
Wipe all parts off with an oil patch and put it back together.
With a pinned rifle I use a flush kit. Leave the barrel right on the stock. The flush kit will allow you to water bath it. Or like you said, just keep swabbing until your are POSITIVE there is no more fouling in that barrel. Then dry patch it and oil it.
__________________
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, a total wreck, screaming Yahoo, with a big smile on your face."
|
