Gun Cleaning Basics

OK so your season is over, and you are getting ready to put that gun away for awhile, or maybe your favorite season is going to be starting soon, and you are heading to the range to make sure you are sighted in and on target, either way don't forget the basics of keeping that gun clean!! Every year I hear stories, or run into other hunters at the range, and their guns are not working properly, not feeding shells, throwing wild patterns, etc. And when you ask when is the last time you cleaned this thing, they give you that long empty stare that says...I don't remember.

So here are the basics...follow them for great performance at the range and in the field.

First...what you need. Our sponsor, OutdoorSuperstore.com
has some great prices on cleaning products. You will want a basic cleaning kit, if you have a number of guns, get a universal kit, they are priced reasonably in the $18-$25 range. This should give you the rods, jigs and brushes you need for most calibers. Get a good cleaning solution, I always use Hoppe's No. 2 (since I was about 8 years old), if you are cleaning a muzzleloader, one of the foaming bore cleaners is recommended as well. You will need an oil, synthetic holds up better in extreme heat or cold. And you will want a stock treatment (don't use furniture polish on that wood stock, or that gun will go flying across the room next time you pick it up with cloth gloves on!!!)

Follow the instructions in your owners manual to disassemble your gun. If you don't have that manual anymore, search for it on the web, Google search is recommended. Try the manufacturer's website, most have manuals available to download for free.

Get a bowl or parts tray to hold the small pieces. You don't want to lose that tiny screw or spring!! I usually soak the springs and moving parts in oil while cleaning the rest of the gun. Take your time when disassembling, don't rush or force things that are stuck. If that screw won't move, or the breech plug on that muzzleloader just won't budge, let it soak in oil for a while, when I acquired my Ruger muzzleloader it had to soak in oil for 4 days before the breech plug would break loose.

Make sure you remove the barrel from the action before you start cleaning it, or you'll be doing double duty cleaning that action. Run a brush down the barrel to dislodge any large lead or powder deposits. Then spray your foaming cleaner and let that go to work on the rest. Run some patches until they come out nice and clean, if it's real dirty you will be repeating this process a few times. Finally run a clean dry patch, followed by a lightly oiled patch down the barrel. Don't forget to clean the outside too, and keep that oiled to avoid pitting and rust. Nothing detracts from a gun's value faster!!

Use a small brush to clean the action, make sure there are no deposits on the springs or moving parts. For muzzleloaders, use a pipe cleaner on the breech plug, and look through that hole to make sure it is nice and clean. When reassembling, use oil or breech lube on all parts that you will want to remove again, don't overtighten and strip those tiny screws!! Make sure you use PLENTY of breech lube on the muzzleloader breech plug, but don't get it on the inside, just the threads. You want the inside and especially the barrel side to be clean and dry.

Oil the stock, use a treatment recommended for wood or synthetic stock, as your specific application requires. Don't over do it, you just want to keep it protected and clean.

If you have a scope, use a cleaner made for optics, some generic household cleaners will lead to fogging over in cold temperatures. Use a soft optics cleaning cloth...tissues leave residue behind, and NEVER use treated tissues, that treatment is for your nose, it will leave serious streaks on your scope.

If you have a leather sling, don't forget to oil that, I actually heard a story of a hunter whose sling cracked when he was climbing into a stand, he dropped his gun about 12 feet and ended up shooting himself in the rear-end!!! So take care of those slings.

If you are not storing your guns in a humidity controlled safe, get a gun sock to store it in, this will keep the dust off. And remember, if you have children around, put that lock on the trigger!!!

Take care of your "tools" and they will keep you shooting in the black, and bagging that game you worked so hard to scout all year long. If you think I forgot anything major in this article, please leave your comments or tips!!