rifle cleaning suggestions needed

[stl]

I have a new rifle, a 30-06 and I am cleaning for the fist time, and want to know what you guys do. Some guys say they just use patches. The manual for the gun says to use a bore brush I bought a .30 caliber cleaning kit from Wally World. I pushed the brush through and it did not want to come back out, I was afraid to pull real hard because I felt like it was gonna come off inside the gun. So I just pushed it through, and unscrewed it off the end . I did this several times. This does not sound right. Iam also not sure how much oil to use on moving parts. I heard oil collects dirt. Also is it a bad idea to store a gun long term in a case? What do you guys do? Thanks

 

[Boomyal]

Re: rifle cleaning suggestions needed

You should have pushed the brush all the way thru the bore then pulled it back thru. It is difficult to get the bristles of the brush to reverse direction mid bore.

Depending on the design of the cut rifling, patches do not get into the base of the groves. Use the brush, along with a solvent.

I always like to, then flush the bore with the solvent, then squirt the oil down the bore and follow it with a patched ram.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: rifle cleaning suggestions needed

Break Free is a good do all cleaner and lubricant. Put a drop or two of bore cleaner (Break free) or oil on the brush. You should not be able to pull it out until it clears one end of the bore. Never change direction until it is through. After the brushing move onto patches with the same cleaner. Change patches very often. When the patches start coming out clean change to dry patches. When they can be pushed through clean then put about 2 drops of oil on a clean one and do the bore one last time.

Lightly oil and wipe all surfaces and make sure your gun case is dry. A damp case will kill the gun. I store mine out of the case with a good coating of oil.

When I am ready to break one out for shooting I re-wipe it down and do the bore again.

Gunslick grease is good for contact points and the bolt slide. Use oil but wipe it off. It will not collect much dirt and if it does wipe it down. Dirt is better than rust.

 

[stl]

Re: rifle cleaning suggestions needed

Thanks guys. I did not push it all the way through before i tried to pull it back out. don't know what I was thinking. "Dirt is better than rust" That makes good sense.

 

[ED21]

Re: rifle cleaning suggestions needed

I wouldn't store long term in a case. They can absorb moisture & cause rust. A silicone treated gun sock is a better way.
The best way I think is in a gun cabinet or safe w/ a goldenrod plugged in to drive off the moisture. Many people instead use the moisture absorbing crystals & replenish as needed.

 

[roscoe]

Re: rifle cleaning suggestions needed

After all your cleaning and oiling, remember to fire a couple of rounds through it to purge the excess oil. Otherwise, your first shot will not be on target.

 

[Autotech1]

Re: rifle cleaning suggestions needed

I never use brushes, just patches. If you use jacketed bullets there should be no need for a brush. If the gun hasnt been cleaned in 30 years then sure a brush, otherwise its just not necessary. I use hoppe's oil and solvent.

 

[Autotech1]

Re: rifle cleaning suggestions needed

I never use brushes, just patches. If you use jacketed bullets there should be no need for a brush. If the gun hasnt been cleaned in 30 years then sure a brush, otherwise its just not necessary. I use hoppe's oil and solvent.

I used Tri-Flow on my 10/22.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: rifle cleaning suggestions needed

Tri-Flow is a great lubricant too and sometimes hard to find. Copper fouls a barrel and the brush will remove it. It actually will fill the edges of the lands and grooves not seen by the naked eye.

Firing jacketed bullets after firing lead bulltes will clean some fouling out too.

Roscoe you are absolutely right. The first shots will not be on the money following oil in the barrel. I usually re-clean after storage and burn off the first 4-5 rounds too....but, I like to leave oil in the barrel during storage.

I had obtained some 2 lb dessicant packets years ago that I keep in the gun cabinet and every year I bake them at 150 degrees to dry them and get them absorbant again.

 

[treedancer]

Re: rifle cleaning suggestions needed

Unless you do a lot of firing and I’m talking firing range, you should never need that wire brush on a 30-06 .I never use any thing but solvent soaked patches followed by lightly oiled patches. On rare occasions, will I use a brush on a shotgun and only then if it was used hard.

 

[troypolla]

Re: rifle cleaning suggestions needed

if you store it upright point barrel down with a rag at the end so the oil will leak out, and not into the action.