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In order to extend the life of your rifle and ensure that it continues to perform well, you should clean it thoroughly and often. This guide will teach you how to clean a rifle.
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Introduction
- Cleaning your rifle regularly will help prevent rust and oxidation, thus helping your rifle to last longer and shoot more accurately. How often you clean your rifle is up to you, but, to keep it in peak condition, it is recommended that you clean it before you put it away for an extended period of time; at the end of hunting season, for example. If you use your rifle often, aim to clean it after firing approximately 20 shots.
Step 1: What You'll Need
- If you don't already have one, pick up a rifle cleaning kit from your local sporting goods or hunting supply store. Ensure that you buy the correct kit for the size and caliber of rifle you are cleaning.
- The kit should include:
- A gun cleaning rod
- Gun cleaning patches
- Cleaning solvent
- Gun oil
- Cleaning brush
- Since gun cleaning solvents can be toxic, you should also have a pair of disposable gloves and a respirator or face mask.
Step 2: Disassemble The Rifle
- NOTE: Before you begin taking apart or cleaning your rifle, ensure that it is unloaded. Also, be aware that cleaning solvents may be corrosive or toxic. Read the labels of your cleaning solutions and take the necessary safety precautions, such as wearing gloves and a respirator, if need be.
- If you are not familiar with taking apart your rifle, or have not done so before, ensure that you either have the instructions handy or enlist the help of someone who is experienced in disassembling and cleaning guns.
- If you are just doing a quick clean, simply remove the bolt and clip or floor plate. If you are performing a more thorough cleaning, disassemble all the moving parts.
Step 3: Clean the Barrel
- If your gun cleaning rod is broken into sections, first assemble the rod
- Dampen one of the cleaning patches with cleaning solvent and attach it to the cleaning rod
- Starting at the chamber, use the cleaning rod to push the cleaning patch through the barrel and out the muzzle
- Remove the cleaning patch from the rod and then pull the rod back through the barrel. Don't pull the dirty cleaning patch back through the chamber; doing so may replace all the dirt and debris you just removed
- Get a new cleaning patch and repeat steps 2-4 above
- Next, grab your cleaning brush and dampen it with cleaning solvent
- Starting at the chamber, push the cleaning brush through the barrel and out the muzzle
- Pull the brush back through the muzzle and out the chamber
- Repeat steps 7 and 8 above five to twelve times, depending on how dirty your barrel is
- Dampen another cleaning patch with solvent, thread it onto the cleaning rod and push it through the barrel, from the chamber out the muzzle
- Remove the cleaning patch
- Repeat steps 10 and 11 above until the cleaning patch comes out clean and full of residue
- Thread a dry cleaning patch onto your cleaning rod and push it through the barrel to remove any excess solvent
- If you are planning on storing the rifle for an extended period of time, dampen a cleaning patch with gun oil and push it through the barrel using the cleaning rod. Remove any excess oil by running a dry patch through the barrel
Step 4: Clean the Rest of the Rifle
- Apply some cleaning solvent to a clean patch and use it to wipe clean all the other metal parts of your rifle, including the bolt, magazine, trigger and outside of the barrel. Use caution and refer to your user guide when cleaning these parts, as the cleaning solvent may remove paint or finish from treated metal parts. After applying cleaning solvent, use a dry cleaning pad to wipe away any excess solvent.
- Next, dampen a fresh pad with some gun oil and use the pad to apply oil to the metal parts of your rifle. Then use a dry pad to remove any excess oil.
Conclusion
- Learning how to properly clean your rifle is one aspect of being a responsible gun owner. Keeping your rifle clean and oiled will ensure that it continues to perform well and will also help it last longer. As when handling a gun for any other purpose, ensure that you observe any and all necessary safety precautions while cleaning your gun.
