Barrel Cleaning/Firearm Maintenance

[mistahmojoryan]

I'd like to hear what procedures you use for taking care of you firearms; mainly centerfire rifles but others may certainly apply . I've seen guys with guns they've owned for decades and while they're not in perfect condition they've obviously been well cared for and still shoot well.

I use- oiled patch (lubricant, rust preventer, cleaner)->dry patch->oiled brush (6 passes)->dry patch->oiled patch->dry patch->done. When I've shot 20+ rounds I'll use Hoppes copper solvent which entails- brush with solvent (6 passes)->let sit for 2 hours->dry patch->repeat until patch comes out clean.

Other than that I'll take my guns apart once per year and make sure everything is clean and gets a light coat of oil.

I'd like to hear your tips, tricks, techniques, products, mishaps or whatever. Thanks for any responses!

[oldelkhunter]

FIrst off after shooting the gun ...I run 3 patches one way from breech with shooters choice,Butches,Montana extreme(take your pick) then I run a bronze cleaning brush ten times down the bore. I use a Stoney Point guide. I run another wet patch to get rid of brush crud then run an oversize wet patch on a loop thru the chamber/barrel 2x and then run 2 dry ones from chamber/ barrel. After bore is completely dry I then put Wipeout foam in the bore and let it sit for an hour. I then run patches thru until clean. I use Butches gun oil on the bore and run 2 oil patches thru it and one dry patch. Clean out the bolt recesses with a q tip and cloth. Spray bolt with Remoil and wipe off excess . Clean extractor area and lugs and use shooters choice bolt grease on lugs. At beginning of season I clean out the trigger with bore cleaner and a canned air bottle and then use remoil to lubricate it as per manufacturers recommendations. My guns look brand new even after years of use except for the occasional well earned ding.

[Solitary Man]

My cleaning routine is very much like oldelkhunter's. After about 20 or so shots I'll use Shooters Choice for powder fouling followed by Wipeout or Barnes CR-10 for copper. Although Hoppes smells nice, I think it's way too mild to thoroughly clean a rifle bore. After cleaning the bore and chamber I oil them with Butch's and use Breakfree CLP on all other surfaces. Here are some things that I think are important points to keep in mind:

1. Clean the bore from the breech end using a bore guide. I like Sinclair bore guides.
2. Use a one piece coated cleaning rod. Bore Tech is my favorite.
3. Use 100% cotton flannel patches on jags. The synthetic patches (or even the ones made out of t-shirt material) are no match for cotton flannel.
4. Use bronze bore brushes, not stainless steel.
5. Use jags, not loops in the bore. I do use a loop with oversized patches for the chamber, though.
6. Finally, don't sweat it if you can't clean you rifle bore as often as you think necessary. Heck, I've got friends who haven't put a cleaning rod in their rifles in a decade, yet they go out each year and kill deer just like I do. I certainly don't recommend doing what they do, but I do think some folks, myself included, worry too much about getting the last streak of copper out of their rifle bore.

Anyway, good luck and good shootin'.

[skeeter 7MM]

I start with shooters choice for powder, then switch to CR10 or Sweets 7.62 for copper, if a brush is required I use bronze only. After my copper cleaning is done I run a single patch of Isopropyl Alcohol down to neutralize and follow with a dry patch. I use Gun Sheath or Rem oil run in a single patch let stand and remove the excess oil from the bore with a dry patch. If storing I use a light oil patch and leave it until I am ready to use then run a dry patch prior to firing. I clean my bolt with q tips and chamber each time. Light coat of oil on exterior. I clean my action and break down to clean and brease as needed but usually twice a year for a thorough run over.

I use jags, flannel cotton patchs, coated one piece dewey rods and bore guides. Cleaning is done chamber to muzzle when ever possible. I actually clean it everytime I shoot it (at the range I always seem to fire 20 min), always run patchs and oil during damp conditions. I do reapply a light oil film to the exterior regularily during hunting season.

[m.t.hands]

stupid question? after you've cleaned do you foul your barrel with a shot or two, i always have, would like to hear you guys take on it, i call it my "throw away shots" and i only use nitro type solvents for bad fouling and after the season on my hunting rifles, the guns that are not shot often, the others i do when i start seeing errant shots/bad grouping

[mounting man]

M.T.Hands,I do the fouling shot also.