Cleaning Bolt Action Rifles (e.g., Rem700)

[Nando Aqui]

I thought I had read about this topic here before, but I searched and did not find anything. (I don't like to repeat topics...)

Question to Bolt Action (centerfire) Rifle Owners:
When you clean your bolt action rifle, do you remove the stock for cleaning? Everytime?

I own only one bolt action rifle, my Rem700PSS, the rest are semi-auto. Comparatively speaking, the Rem700 is the easiest to clean, whether I remove the stock for cleaning. So I wondered what you guys did, and whether you have determined that stock removal affects accuracy (probably not) or POI (more likely).

Thanks!

Alex

 

[shoobe01]

By no means remove the stock each time. I have pulled mine on several occasions to mess with the trigger, mount the bipod, etc. Being careful with the torque wrench it is suprisingly on zero, but not exactly.

Anyway, you can get to everything that gets dirty without removing the stock. And the bore is the only thing that gets dirty. Incidentally, I clean it (a 700 PSS) at least once per session. Now that break in is done, it just gets a cleaning (and Sweets-ing) after each day at the range.

 

[Mulliga]

I'm just lazy, I suppose. After a range session, I remove the bolt, scrub the bore with some Hoppes, run some patches through it, and call it a day.

 

[Nando Aqui]

Good!
I was feeling guilty about not really wanting to take the stock off each time, but the truth is that very little dirt accumulate anywhere hidden anyway. I'll clean the bore frequently, as I always have, and then at the end of the 'season' I'll remove the stock and clean the rest.

Thanks-

Alex

 

[Steve in PA]

I only take the stock off my rifle, Win Model 70, at the end of the season for a thorough cleaning, or I'll take it off if I got caught in a rain storm.

 

[4v50 Gary]

What Mulliga does, I do myself.

 

[artherd]

Why would you? During normal shooting, the bore is the only thing that will get dirty (possibly the chamber could occationally use a brush too.)

 

[Nando Aqui]

Strictly out of habit, since the rest all are semi-autos, and I do disassemble them to some extent for cleaning. As I said, there really wasn't much to clean anyway, but it never hurts to ask.


Thanks

 

[knzn]

A bore guide is a good idea. If nothing else midway has some fairly inexpensive plastic ones.

 

[JNewell]

As mentioned above, there are lots of reasons not to do this. With any rifle, you're unlikely to return to zero. With a well-bedded rifle, you'll cause wear that will make the bedding fit less precisely (sooner or later, depending on what it's bedded with). With a high-accuracy rifle like the PSS, you should be doing this with torque wrenches anyway -- but even then you likely won't get true return to zero. Finally, it just isn't necessary most of the time. What do you need to clean? Unless it got wet, for example, and you need to dry the metal to avoid rust, I'd leave it alone.

 

[Feanaro]

Unless there is some specific reason to, I never take the stock off my bolt-action to clean it. No point, the bits under the stock don't get dirty from regular shooting. If, on the other hand, I had just been in a big battle with the Commies/Aliens/Government Cells/Neo-Nazis retaking the world/whatever then I would clean under there. Never know what might have gotten wet or muddy, etc.

 

[Frohickey]

Taking apart the Rem700 down to stock removal is a P.I.T.A.
I do not keep a torque wrench in my shooting bag, so stock removal is only done when I'm back at homebase, and only when I'm caught out in the rain with the rifle.

For regular use, just run a few patches through the bore, and you are done.

If you want to be ubertactical, follow this up with a fouling shot.

 

[JNewell]

Yeah, one time when I was out in the boat hunting ducks, it capsized, and the rifle got soaked in salt water. That time, I had to take the rifle apart to make sure everything was cleaned.

Oops, wasn't supposed to tell that story, never mind...

Just kidding, btw...

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

Don't tell me you were using a rifle to hunt ducks...

 

[Marshall]

I'll better pass on the duck hunting and rifle story.


As for taking a bolt gun down for cleaning, no need. Matter of fact your apt to get it screwed up if you do it alot.

 

[Master Blaster]

I'm sure he meant a shotgun, Unless of course her was duck hunting with Bill and Hillary Clinton who use a .308 AP ammo only.

 

[JNewell]

Just kidding, btw...

Don't tell me you were using a rifle to hunt ducks...

I'll better pass on the duck hunting and rifle story.

I hope some of you guys ID your targets better than you read. What was it about "just kidding" doesn't read clearly???

The point is that taking a rifle like a 700PSS out of its stock ought to be necessary just about as often as dropping it overboard...while shooting ducks...which...would...never...happen...right???