A couple of Gun Cleaning Questions

[usmarine0352_2005]

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I didn't know where to put this since it fits in all weapons calibers since there are questions for rifle, pistol, and shotgun cleaning.



1.) Is it ok to only use a Bore-Snake on my minimally fired Deer Rifle:

I only shoot about 3-4 bullets a year through my deer rifle. 1 round to sight it in (I shoot at a pop can at 100 yards and my rifle has always been on) and then 1-3 more rounds depending on how many deer I shoot.


Since I only fire 3-4 bullets a year there shouldn't really be a lot of copper fouling, is it ok to use Shooters Choice Bore Cleaner/Hoppes 9 on a Bore-Snake and then Breakfree CLP on the Boresnake or simply Breakfree CLP? Would you still use a cleaning rod?





2.) Do you use a bronze brush on your revolvers cylinders?


How do you clean your revolvers cylinders? Do you ever use a bronze bore brush?





3.) Do you remove your shotgun's chokes and clean your shotgun's choke threads?


If you do remove your shotgun's chokes, how do you clean the threads? With a toothbrush?




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[Kliegl]

1. A bore snake is a catch all half patch half copper brush. It's made for field cleaning.
If it gets it clean, it works. My rifles, I use an otis coated cable and pull a Hoppes 9 soaked patch through and work it back and forth a bit. If it needs a copper brush, sure, but hopefully it doesn't.

2. If it's a stainless gun, I'll go at it with a brush, and maybe a scotch brite on the cylinder face. If it's blued, there's bluing in the cylinders, so you have to reach a point of compromise between getting every bit of scorch mark out vs taking off the bluing. Copper brush or bronze won't scratch steel, but it will scratch bluing after a while.
If it's blued, do as much as you can with a patch and letting solvent sit on it. Brush it sparingly if you have to.

3. I take the choke out and clean that area like the rest of the barrel. Once it's oiling time, oil it and the barrel, then put it in, then oil the whole barrel with patch. Note, this is for storing guns. Less oil goes on guns to be used next week or carried.

 

[sourdough44]

I just went through a whole safe of long guns the other day. A few never fired, & some never fired by me. I'm not a big 'bore snake' fan. It only takes a moment to get/cut a correctly sized patch. Then you can use a clean one when called for.

I have some guns that really don't get shot. Not that I wouldn't, but I just have my usuals. Lately I've been using a little RIG Grease in the bore, & a touch elsewhere at times. If I give the gun a fair coat I mark it as such with a tag, & date. I always clean again anyway before putting a gun back in service.

I like to take the chokes out of a shotgun at times. If needed I clean with a toothbrush & relube the threads with some type of choke lube.

 

[HD Fboy]

I agree, I like Rig in the barrel on guns you don't shoot. I believe it offers great protection. Tagging the gun to insure a clean patch is run through the barrel prior to shooting the gun is also a great tip.

 

[usmarine0352_2005]

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Do you clean the Rig out of the gun before you shoot it?





And if so, do you just run a patch? Or a patch and some type of oil?

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[Sav .250]

(1) yes
(2) no
(3) yes
(4) I don`t put RIG "in the gun."

 

[303tom]

Yes , Yes , & Yes.

 

[chevyman097]

Im with the Yes, Yes, and Yes crowd.

 

[Bernie Lomax]

1.) Is it ok to only use a Bore-Snake on my minimally fired Deer Rifle:

I only shoot about 3-4 bullets a year through my deer rifle. 1 round to sight it in (I shoot at a pop can at 100 yards and my rifle has always been on) and then 1-3 more rounds depending on how many deer I shoot.


Since I only fire 3-4 bullets a year there shouldn't really be a lot of copper fouling, is it ok to use Shooters Choice Bore Cleaner/Hoppes 9 on a Bore-Snake and then Breakfree CLP on the Boresnake or simply Breakfree CLP? Would you still use a cleaning rod?

Yes, unless you want your bore to rust out and be ruined. I bought a bore snake once and tried it on one of my rifles, then cleaned the normal way with a brush and patches to see how well it worked. There was still tons of crud left in there. Bore snakes are not an acceptable substitute for a thorough, proper cleaning using a rod, especially when you're putting a gun away for a year or more.

2.) Do you use a bronze brush on your revolvers cylinders?


How do you clean your revolvers cylinders? Do you ever use a bronze bore brush?

Depends on if I actually have a bronze brush on hand and just how clean I feel like getting my gun. If I don't have a bronze brush on hand or don't really feel like spending the time necessary to get every last little piece of crud out of my gun, then no. However, I always use at least a toothbrush and get the more easily removed stuff off.

3.) Do you remove your shotgun's chokes and clean your shotgun's choke threads?


If you do remove your shotgun's chokes, how do you clean the threads? With a toothbrush?

I can't really speak to this. I own only one shotgun with screw in chokes, and it's a POS that I regret buying, have never shot, and probably never will shoot.

I agree, I like Rig in the barrel on guns you don't shoot. I believe it offers great protection.

Eezox offers at least as much protection, and you don't have to clean it out of the bore before shooting the gun again. JMHO.

 

[sourdough44]

As posted, yes you would want to clean out any excessive oil or grease(RIG) in the bore before you shoot the gun. I always clean/inspect the bore of any gun anyway before I shoot it. The guns that I have no intention of shooting anytime soon, get a light RIG treatment. I detest corrosion of a gun. The worst in a short time was a lad in MS who showed me his year or 2 old 22 he received. He seemed to of put it away damp a time or 2. I have 30+ year old guns that look 3 times as good. I helped him the best I could, talked about a few things, & gave him some supplies. His single Mom wasn't into gun care.

Take a look how Uncle Sam preserves guns for the long term. Not that we all have to go to those lengths just for a year or 2.

 

[usmarine0352_2005]

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So most of you are saying "Yes" to only using the Boresnake?



Would you also use the Breakfree CLP afterward or something else?

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[sansone]

I only use a boresnake in the field, If home the rods and brushes come out

 

[dagger dog]

You need to use an anti-seize grease on the choke tube threads, it will save you a lot of misery down the road. Choke tube threads are so fine that you can usually wipe them clean with a rag, just make sure to re grease them after cleaning.

I use a bronze brush turned with a cordless drill to clean my revolver cylinder.

I have bore snakes but have recentley been using my Otis cable system, you can use a bronze brush with them. Both are great to carry in the field.

I would imagine your rifle being shot so little is OK on the bore snake.

 

[usmarine0352_2005]

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What brand anti-seize grease do you guys use on your shotgun choke threads?
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[chevyman097]

I just oil my choke threads and ive never had a problem. I dont imagine you would if you remove it with every clean. If you leave it in for years of abuse i maybe could see it getting pretty gunky and maybe sticking.

CLP for everything.

 

[Kliegl]

I don't use anti seize. Just Tetra gun grease on sliding metal parts and FP-10 oil on everything else. If you really wanted anti seize, I would imagine the stuff you put on spark plug threads would fit the bill, as those SUCK to get out when stuck.

 

[usmarine0352_2005]

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Do you guys use t-shirts to clean your guns, if so, do you use them and wash them or use them, throw them away and get new (old) ones.

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[Rdunker]

I use T-shirts and throw them away when they get too dirty. I also use Kroil for everything great carbon cleaner and lubricant, I also like the smell.

 

[USAF_Vet]

1. Yes.
2. Don't own a revolver.
3. Yes.

 

[Krispy]

ditto...ditto

 

[StrutStopper]

1- Maybe. I usually use a bore snake in the field but give my hunting guns a good cleaning at the end of the season. If you don't get much crud out of your gun with a normal cleaning then maybe using just a bore snake is ok.

2- I do use a bronze brush thru my revolver's cylinder as needed. My only revolver is stainless, no blueing to worry about.

3- I do remove my shotgun's choke tubes after cleaning the gun with the tubes installed. I clean the threads inside the barrel a little more carefully when I remove the tube. I use T/C Super Lube on the threads when I replace the tube. I just happen to have that lube for my ML breach plug so thats what I use.

 

[bluetopper]

Bullets, light oil (diesel, yes diesel fuel), and cloth patches are all my rifle and pistol bores have ever seen.

My pistols get many thousands of cast lead bullets through them and they stay shiney clean.