Rifle Maintenance!!!

[vYu223]

Hello all,

Now, I've only rented a rifle from a shooting range.

I've never owned a gun, stripped one, or cleaned one, etc. I've never performed any sort of maintenance on a gun, and lack the knowledge to do so.

So! I am planning to purchase my first gun, a rifle, in the near future. However, before I do that, I need to learn everything I need to know about rifle (particularly bolt action) maintenance. This includes, but is not limited to, cleaning and preparing the gun for short/long term storage. I don't want to buy a gun without knowing how to maintain it.

I'd imagine the best resource for this would be a book. So which book would it be? I'd finish reading it first before buying the rifle, so that I would have peace of mind.

Online resources would also be helpful.

Thanks!

 

[Martyk]

www.google.com "how to clean a rifle"

 

[moooose102]

the owners manual will also have instruction on how to clean it. it is a pretty basic task. there are some things on the market that will help you and make it easier to do the job though. a "bore snake" is one little item that is helpfull. although i wouldn't reccomend that it is your primary cleaning tool. in reality, nothing beats a good old fashioned cleaning rod, brushes, mops and patches. you will also need solvent, oil, maybe some gun grease. just be aware that some solvents can and will eat the finish off from a wood stocked rifle, so read the instructions before you use it. your cleaning solvent should be of the type that removes copper as well as burnt powder residue. the copper is deposited onto the inside of the barrel from the bullet jacket as it screams out of the barrel @ roughly 3000 fps. a GOOD one peice cleaning rod is imperative. one with bearings in the handle so it can rotate with the rifling n the barrel. go to midway usa and click on cleaning - http://www.midwayusa.com/gun-cleaning - and browse around to get some idea's. you certainly do not have to buy from them, but they have a pretty good selection of goodies there. you might want to check out their gunsmithing books as well. there will be some books on cleaning / maintaining guns there. congrats on deciding to be a gun owner. it is a big step for some, and it is one of your constitutional rights, at least for now. you will find that they are a lot of good, challenging, fun.

 

[W.E.G.]

Don't OVER-clean your rifle.

Don't slosh solvent into the action-bedding of a bolt gun.

Clean from the breech if you can.

Just a few passes of a bronze brush is all the brushing that is required.
You can use solvent with the brush - or not.
If you do use solvent with the brush, it makes more of a mess.

Use a quality name-brand bore solvent (not because you have to - but because you are not experienced enough yet to select substitute bore juice)

Don't make your patches too tight in the bore.

Just a few patches are plenty.

Dry the bore sufficiently that you don't leave enough slop still in the bore to drip into areas where it doesn't belong.

Wipe down the metal surfaces with a good rust-preventative.

If you make a mess, clean it up.

Don't OVER-clean your rifle.

That's all you NEED to know about gun cleaning.

 

[tjj]

I don't remember when I learned to clean a gun. I know it had to be before my 10th birthday though.

Everyone eventually develops their own technique I find. I think the best place to start is at the range. Meet someone there that has years of shooting experience and have them show you. I have meet so many shooters at ranges that have gone out of their way to be helpful that I find I have on occasions offered help to others just to pay it forward. You'll fine they will jump at the chance to help a fellow shooter, especially a newbie.

I've have noticed the same fraternal kinship among fishermen when out on the water. Just don't ask where they caught those fish.

 

[matrem]

"That's all you NEED to know about gun cleaning."
That's excellent advise from W.E.G. & moooose 102. You can research deeper (IF ? needed) as you go.
I'll reiterate a one peice quality rod and add a bore guide as two of the most important tools to "get it done right".