Initial Shotgun Cleaning and Maintenance Tips

[Zebulon]

The thread on the Snap Caps prompts me to ask.....How about some suggestions or links to cleaning New or Used Shotguns. I have another 870P headed my way and I'm never at all sure exactly what to use or NOT to use so as not to damage the fine 870 wood I get, or which way is proper ....How far to break the gun down, Etc.....Also, are there any really good DVD's available on the care and feeding of the 870?....Maybe the stuff of a Sticky if there are enough of us who are somewhat confused. I know it will help me a lot! Thanks in advance.....Zebulon

 

[Dave McCracken]

Zeb, owners can disassemble 870s down to the trigger group and bolt without much trauma. Or training.

If I were getting a NEW 870 (unlikely), I'd first follow the directions in the manual, break things down and soak everything but the wood in oil. While soaking, I'd use a good paste wax on the end grain of both pieces to mitigate water migration.

Then, I'd wipe off everything, do the smoothing thing up in the floaters, reassemble and take it shooting.

I MIGHT just hone the chamber with 4/0 steel wool on a dowel chucked up in a drilll, but I'd take a look first. It may not need it.

 

[Zebulon]

Thanks very much Dave!....I appreciate it. Zeb

 

[dfariswheel]

A few years ago, Remington sprayed a coat of hot cosmoline on their Police guns to protect them during shipping and storage.

At that time they recommended a treatment to remove the cosmoline and protect the gun in use.
This works very well for any pump gun.

Disassemble the gun per the owner's manual, including the magazine tube assembly.
Put the gun on a thick pad of newspaper and spray all the metal, inside and out, with a dripping wet coat of Rem-Oil or CLP Breakfree.

Allow to soak for 15 minutes to dissolve the factory lube and to soak into the rough finish.
After spraying the trigger group, stand it up so it will drain.

After 15 minutes, wipe off the excess, shake out the excess from the trigger group and wipe it off, then reassemble the gun and put it into service.
Of course, don't spray any wood with the lube.

The lube, especially CLP Breakfree soaks into the pores of the metal and builds up a protective layer of Teflon. This protects the gun from rust.
From time to time apply a thin coat to maintain the protection.

This method removes the factory preservative lube, cleans out any metal or wood shavings or particles, and protects the gun from corrosion.

Also, scrub the chamber with a chamber cleaning brush.

 

[Zebulon]

Thanks for the help. I really do appreciate you guys....Zeb

 

[Saturnine]

What kind of cleaning gear will I need for future maintenance? My 870 is my first firearm, and while I learned to clean rifles in Boy Scouts, I dont remember much of it. What kind of rods, brushes, etc., should I get? Any links with detailed instructions would be appreciated.

 

[Fred Fuller]

A basic shotgun cleaning kit will do just fine. A couple of old toothbrushes or GI cleaning brushes can be a help. Throw in a couple of extra bore brushes and mops in the proper gauge, some powder solvent and some good lubricant (lots of stuff qualifies in that department, no need to get wrapped around the axle over it). Maybe some grease if your gun has spots that need gease not oil. Also a bundle of 4/0 (0000) steel wool from the hardware department is a good idea. Adding a can of Johnson's Paste Floor Wax (if your gun is blued or has wood furniture) from the grocery store is another good option. A bundle of cotton painter's rags from the paint department is cheap and means you always have lots of patches and cleaning rags.

Tools specific to the make/model of your gun are a good addition, if needed. The tool kit for my 870s consists of a golf tee for the guns which lack SideSaddles, and the appropriate Allen wrenches for the ones that have SideSaddles. And a screwdriver that fits the screw on some of the magazine extension clamps.

A couple of makes/models call for specific brands and formulations of lubricants, I figure the folks who designed and built the gun know what it needs so I buy it for 'em. Like the FN Self-Loading Police semiauto, that wants only Slip2000 products. But in a pinch, the FN SLP would likely get lubed with ATF too (ATF is automatic transmission fluid).

hth,

lpl/nc