jimmy jones
Active Member
Where’s the best place to buy a rifle cleaner and how often do you actually clean your rifle
Rifle cleaning
- Thread starter jimmy jones
- Start date
Reloader708
Well-Known Member
You're gonna come away from this experience even more conflicted!
jimmy jones
Active Member
Your probably right
Stainless steel needs oxygen to stop it 'oxidising/rusting'.
Blued gun metal/steel needs a coating of something to stop it 'oxidising/rusting'.
Something can be oil or paint or any other impervious medium.
Carbon/soot builds up in the chamber, throat (more so) and barrel, the boltface and bolt can also attract grime.
The external areas need a wipe down with a clean lightly oiled rag when you can see they are dirty.
The throat and bore can be cleaned with a brush or cloth patch on an appropriately sized stick (called a cleaning rod).
Different sized brushes and rods are available to match the caliber of the barrel.
There are flexibe cleaning kits available called a 'pull through', I am not a big fan of these.
Always use a rod that is made of softer material than the barrel (brass, alluminium, carbon fiber etc).
Specialist chemicals are available to disolve any bullet or powder residue left behind after firing which 'can', over time, build up and effect the rifles accuracy.
Some folk clean their rifles after every outing, I clean mine once a year although I always wipe them down prior to putting them back in the cabinet.
If they have been out in the rain and both of us are soaked I take the barrel and action out of the stock and wipe down, generally I don't.
I use Legia Spray and a bit of flannel sheet on my rifles (all blued) and Hoppe's No 9 in the bore.
I've never cleaned the bore of my .22LR, the 17HMR and .223 maybe twice in the last 4 years.
The .22-250 gets cleaned the most often, maybe twice a year.
I always take the moderators off the rifle and store them seperately.
Bolts are dry fired and left in the action.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/327134646628
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/327134646929
www.livens.co.uk
www.uttings.co.uk
Other retailers are out there ...
Other makes of cleaning rods and oils/chemical are available too, the above is what I do and I know works (for me).
Blued gun metal/steel needs a coating of something to stop it 'oxidising/rusting'.
Something can be oil or paint or any other impervious medium.
Carbon/soot builds up in the chamber, throat (more so) and barrel, the boltface and bolt can also attract grime.
The external areas need a wipe down with a clean lightly oiled rag when you can see they are dirty.
The throat and bore can be cleaned with a brush or cloth patch on an appropriately sized stick (called a cleaning rod).
Different sized brushes and rods are available to match the caliber of the barrel.
There are flexibe cleaning kits available called a 'pull through', I am not a big fan of these.
Always use a rod that is made of softer material than the barrel (brass, alluminium, carbon fiber etc).
Specialist chemicals are available to disolve any bullet or powder residue left behind after firing which 'can', over time, build up and effect the rifles accuracy.
Some folk clean their rifles after every outing, I clean mine once a year although I always wipe them down prior to putting them back in the cabinet.
If they have been out in the rain and both of us are soaked I take the barrel and action out of the stock and wipe down, generally I don't.
I use Legia Spray and a bit of flannel sheet on my rifles (all blued) and Hoppe's No 9 in the bore.
I've never cleaned the bore of my .22LR, the 17HMR and .223 maybe twice in the last 4 years.
The .22-250 gets cleaned the most often, maybe twice a year.
I always take the moderators off the rifle and store them seperately.
Bolts are dry fired and left in the action.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/327134646628
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/327134646929
Hoppes No9 Syn-Blend | Livens Gun Shop Hoppes Cleaning Solvent
Hoppes No.9 Powder Solvent (Synthetic blend) and other Bore Cleaning Solvents and Maintenaince Sprays available for Rifle Shotgun or Pistol
www.livens.co.uk
Browning Legia Spray - Red - 750ml
Legia Spray - Red (for Metal) - 750ml. Legia Spray is the ideal product for the maintenance and protection of precision gears. Being moisture remover, Legia Spray cleans, lubricates and protects firearms. It is the product selected by the best gunsmiths. Vaporize Legia Spray on the barrels and...
Other retailers are out there ...
Other makes of cleaning rods and oils/chemical are available too, the above is what I do and I know works (for me).
I keep a pull through in my shooting bag (one of these: Original, .303" Pullthrough with Brass Weight). When I finish shooting I pull through a dry patch then a patch with oil on it. When I get home I do three passes of a bronze brush on a cleaning rod, then three dry patches, then three oiled patches. Then the rifle is wiped down with an oil rag on the external surfaces and put away. Before I use the rifle the next time, I wipe out out the bore with a dry patch. Then a patch with methylated spirits, then a dry patch.
HonestJohn
Well-Known Member
Go to a gunshop and buy a decent product and good cleaning kit, ask them how to use it if you need.
Clean your barrels same day you clip your toenails
Clean your barrels same day you clip your toenails
A pull through at the end of the fallow season.
If I remember.
jimmy jones
Active Member
Thanks guys appreciate it I normally use a barrel snake with a light touch of oil but my need to invest in some dry patches
Yes, if you're leaving oil in the barrel after cleaning you definitely want to dry patch it out before using the rifle.
jimmy jones
Active Member
purdeydog
Well-Known Member
Answer to your question really depends on how much you use it. I might fire a few round with one rifle and then because I may not use it for a couple of months give it a good clean. Or if its my main rifle fire 50 rounds and then clean it. I dont like leaving them dirty for months on end.
If its been raining a really good dry off, very light oil of all external metal parts and then wipe off with dry cloth. Followed by a light oil patch through barrel and then a dry patch. If not shooting for a while I'll leave the oil in and then dry patch before next use.
I probably give mine a good clean after about 50 ish rounds, I may put a snake through it during that time weather dependant. I dont buy the don't clean policy of some. Never had an issue cleaning any weapon. Many issues from not cleaning them. 22 and 17 are the exceptions to this.
If its been raining a really good dry off, very light oil of all external metal parts and then wipe off with dry cloth. Followed by a light oil patch through barrel and then a dry patch. If not shooting for a while I'll leave the oil in and then dry patch before next use.
I probably give mine a good clean after about 50 ish rounds, I may put a snake through it during that time weather dependant. I dont buy the don't clean policy of some. Never had an issue cleaning any weapon. Many issues from not cleaning them. 22 and 17 are the exceptions to this.
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