Keeping a rifle clean while camping

[kingstonandy]

I'll be away in warm and wet conditions for a couple of weeks and I have no space for a cleaning rod or aerosols in my pack. My rifle barrel is not stainless and I want to try and look after it as best as possible.
I can't think of anything better than packing a Boresnake or similar, and maybe soaking it in Legia or WD40 beforehand.

Does anyone have any better suggestions?

 

[VSS]

Napier Field Patches.
They're individually packed in sachets, and each one is impregnated with some oily stuff.
Take up virtually no room in your kit.

Together with a bore snake, that's all you'd need. You can fold a napier patch and put it in the loop on the end of the snake and pull it through your barrel, then unfold and use the same patch to give the exterior of the rifle a wipe over.

Take some blue roll, toilet tissue or paper handtowels for drying off the rifle after being in the rain, and tape your muzzle when stalking in wet conditions.

Before you go, put a decent blob of oil on a sheet of thin paper and slide it up and down the barrel channel (assuming your barrel is free floating) to get a good coat of oil on the hidden part of the barrel, because wet will sit in there and cause rust quite quickly otherwise, if you don't have the means to dry it properly.

 

[Hatch]

Napier Field Patches.
They're individually packed in sachets, and each one is impregnated with some oily stuff.
Take up virtually no room in your kit.

Together with a bore snake, that's all you'd need. You can fold a napier patch and put it in the loop on the end of the snake and pull it through your barrel, then unfold and use the same patch to give the exterior of the rifle a wipe over.

Take some blue roll, toilet tissue or paper handtowels for drying off the rifle after being in the rain, and tape your muzzle when stalking in wet conditions.

Before you go, put a decent blob of oil on a sheet of thin paper and slide it up and down the barrel channel (assuming your barrel is free floating) to get a good coat of oil on the hidden part of the barrel, because wet will sit in there and cause rust quite quickly otherwise, if you don't have the means to dry it properly.

I definitely echo the last paragraph here. Prevention here will be far better than cure. Keeping a constant thin film of oil over the metal will, in theory, prevent any rust from occurring. Think a quick 3 mins wipe over with an oily rag every so often. The Napier gun spray, similar to what VSS recommends, will be all you'll ever need

 

[kingstonandy]

Napier Field Patches.
They're individually packed in sachets, and each one is impregnated with some oily stuff.
Take up virtually no room in your kit.

Together with a bore snake, that's all you'd need. You can fold a napier patch and put it in the loop on the end of the snake and pull it through your barrel, then unfold and use the same patch to give the exterior of the rifle a wipe over.

Take some blue roll, toilet tissue or paper handtowels for drying off the rifle after being in the rain, and tape your muzzle when stalking in wet conditions.

Before you go, put a decent blob of oil on a sheet of thin paper and slide it up and down the barrel channel (assuming your barrel is free floating) to get a good coat of oil on the hidden part of the barrel, because wet will sit in there and cause rust quite quickly otherwise, if you don't have the means to dry it properly.

Perfect, I've ordered a pack thanks.

 

[Flash G 74]

Hello, Forget the WD 40, 3 in 1 spray oil , Oily Rag and Pull through, Where the rifle sits in Stock just a smear of Vaseline

 

[Apthorpe]

Hello, Forget the WD 40, 3 in 1 spray oil , Oily Rag and Pull through, Where the rifle sits in Stock just a smear of Vaseline

Or that microcrystalline wax they use in museums. But G-wax or furniture wax is effective too.

If you oil the barrel, for goodness sake, take dry patches and get the oil out each morning before firing.

 

[Roebuck9]

Hello, Forget the WD 40, 3 in 1 spray oil , Oily Rag and Pull through, Where the rifle sits in Stock just a smear of Vaseline

Yes WD40 is a no-no, you do not want it to creep into your ammo.

 

[Klenchblaize]

For *od sake make sure the bore snake and patches are undersized for this particularly adventure. Better you leave a wee drop of oil in the bore than a locked-up solid patch/snake when competing on Love Island or whatever.

K

 

[Flash G 74]

Or that microcrystalline wax they use in museums. But G-wax or furniture wax is effective too.

If you oil the barrel, for goodness sake, take dry patches and get the oil out each morning before firing.

Hello, Yes i have used the waxy stuff to but in a melted form, I also used on Metal Detecting stuff i found like bronze coins and artifacts like they do at the BM, Best wishes on you time away

 

[Fosbery Holster]

Presuming your rifle barrel is non detachable can you not store a cleaning rod within the barrel to use whilst you’re away ??

 

[VSS]

Presuming your rifle barrel is non detachable can you not store a cleaning rod within the barrel to use whilst you’re away ??

Clever thinking!

 

[kingstonandy]

Presuming your rifle barrel is non detachable can you not store a cleaning rod within the barrel to use whilst you’re away ??

Good thinking, but I anticipate long periods with my pack on my back and my rifle in my hands.

 

[Scarpa]

I have a small plastic tub with a Balistol socked rag in it for quick in the field wipe downstairs. For barrel sealing in rain I use the mini condom latex finger bandage thingies, they are perfect for sticking over your muzzle. I also have a quick to deploy elasticated waterproof slip from Ogdens which lets you use your rifle sling aassault but keeps the worst of the weather off the action and scope.

 

[Greenmist]

Keep an oily rag in a decent resealable bag, that way it remains oily, having bags of both dry and pre-soaked patches is also worthwhile, I keep a dry beer towel (remember those) to dry things off and a 1" paint brush to clean off any crud from the action

 

[tackb]

Get a couple of military kits with the screw together rods and take enough to rod your barrel

 

[bowji john]

When the rifle is in your hands, the rod can be where the rifle was packed

 

[Matt_H]

Napier field patches, bore snake, take a small oil impregnated cloth in a ziplock bag...I'd just aim to have a bare bones cleaning kit setup with me.

 

[Rhodesianjess]

Soldiers in the field have used a pull through, appropriate jags and brushes plus small bottle of oil wrapped in precut patches or patch material. Generally under butt plate in stock so not huge in size.
Action removed from stock and barrel painted with thick layer of paint up to stock ending fairly common dodge as well,patch run down between barrel and stock removed dust,grass seeds picked up whilst carrying.

 

[8x57]

Look in the army surplus stores. A small field cleaning kit takes up next to no room. I always carry one in my gun bag for emergencies or travelling.
An alternative is one of the cheap Decathalon kits.

 

[kingstonandy]

When the rifle is in your hands, the rod can be where the rifle was packed

That would be in a hard case, in a car, possibly several days walk away.