How to Clean a Bolt Action Rifle

Something that many hunters don't know is how to clean a rifle properly. In this article you will learn a simple yet necessary way to care for your rifle. NOTE: This works with most bolt action rifles, but I am specifically going off a .270 bolt action rifle so be prepared for differences.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Rifle
• Cleaning Equipment (DETAILED IN FIRST PARAGRAPH)
• Newspaper or cloth you can put on ground

1. When cleaning a bolt action rifle, you will need the following items:
   1. A ram rod. This comes in most cleaning kits that you can get from a hunting store.
   2. Cleaning pads. These come in a small box in any gun cleaning kit. They are usually small white squares.
   3. Nitro Solvent. This is the crucial part in cleaning the rifle. It comes in the gun cleaning kit.
   4. Gun Oil. A cleaner that will shine up the OUTSIDE metal parts. Comes in the cleaning kit.
   5. Cleaning cloth. Used to wipe down the wood or non-metal parts of the gun.
2. Now, to start cleaning your rifle you will first have to take the bolt out. Usually this involves pulling the trigger of the rifle (thankfully, it should be unloaded) and pressing down on another lever. You should know how to do this, or you probably shouldn't be using the gun.
3. After you have removed the bolt, set it aside and get out your ram rod. Usually these are collapsible or screw together, so do whatever you have to do to assemble it. Then take out one cleaning pad. Make sure it is relatively small. You don't want a big one unless you have a big gun. Fold the cloth in half, then stick it through the hole on the ram rod. If the ram rod does not have a hole at the end, or a small gap that you could fit the cleaning pad through, then you have the wrong type of ram rod.
4. Once you have the pad on/in the ram rod, take out your nitro solvent and dip the cleaning pad into it. Be careful as the nitro solvent is a chemical and can affect surfaces in different ways. Take the ram rod and push it down the barrel of the gun. You start all the way back at the back of firing mechanism. That is the place you pulled the bolt out. Once it is down the barrel, pull it back out, then push it back in and pull it out. Then change the cleaning cloth and do it again. You do this until a cleaning pad comes out clean.
5. Now comes the really easy part. Put the ram rod away and the nitro solvent. Then take gun oil and put some on the large cleaning cloth. This is the cloth that is much bigger than the cleaning pads that you used to clean the barrel. Once you have some of the oil on the cloth (just a little bit, like a corner or so) wipe the wet part of the cloth ONLY on the outside pieces of metal. If it gets on the wood, it can make the wood soft and easy to scratch.
6. Wipe the cloth around on the outside metal a few times, cleaning off the fingerprints and dust that have no doubt accumulated there. Once you have cleaned the metal, take the dry part of the cloth and wipe it on the wood. Remember, only use the dry part because the wet part can possibly damage. the wood. Once this is done, if you'd like, you can use the dry part of the cloth to clean off the lenses on the scope, if you have one.
7. Carefully put away the gun in a case or gun cabinet. Congratulations, you have just cleaned your bolt-action gun. Put away the cleaning supplies and enjoy the efficiency of the rifle the next time you hunt.

Tips & Warnings

• Go slowly for the first few times when moving the cleaning pad through the barrel. It will pick up more dirt and rust, plus it allows the nitro solvent to sit there for a minute and remove any rust.
• Try not to get the gun oil on the wood of your gun. It can make it soft then it is easily scratched or dented. If a little gets on your wood, its not the end of the world. Just wipe if off with the dry part of your cleaning cloth.