How to Clean a Gun? (Including Shotguns, Hangduns, Pistol & Rifles)

Using this 'Clean a Gun' guide you will be able quickly clean and maintain your gun achieving a much longer length of service.

You will only need a few of the listed items depending on the gun you are servicing.

I hope you enjoy our guide!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Phosphor Bronze Brush
• Borsolve Supreme or Equivalent bore solvent
• Bristle Brush
• Herringbone 4"x 2" patch
• Split Brass or Nylon Jag
• Chamber Brush and Payne Galway Chamber Brush
• Wool Mop and Rangoon Oil or Equivalent Lubricant
• Snap Caps
• Muzzle Stuffer
• Diamond Jag
• Rifle Patches
• Gunmakers Turn Screws

1. Before you start cleaning a gun scrub out your gun bore with the correct size Phosphor bronze brush and use Bor-Solv supreme bore solvent. This will if used vigorously remove all powder fouling and residue. Occasionally a Bristle brush may be preferred as being made of natural hair it is hydroscopic. This fact will help this brush retain more of it's bore solvent chemical and for a longer period. In some applications a bristle brush can therefore be an improvement over a phosphor bronze brush. This method however, is now more commonly used in Europe.

2. 
   Prepared Split Jag and Patch ....

   After scrubbing out using both sides of a Herringbone 4"x 2" patch in a Split brass or Nylon jag. This will remove all the contaminated solvent. The split jag is used by inserting a patch midway and longitudinally into the split and then rotating the patch in your hand in the direction you are going to tighten the patch and also twist the rod in use. Always check the chamber when cleaning and if there is powder residue around the forcing cone use a Chamber brush handle with a Payne Galway chamber brush to remove residue build up.

3. 
   Brushes and Aerosols...

   Next oil the gun bores by using a clean Wool mop and some liberally applied Rangoon oil. Rangoon being a tenacious and slow evaporating oil allows the gun bore to be stored away for longer periods than usual. Occasionally wash out the wool mop with warm soapy water. Use paraffin or turps first if the mop is very dirty. Then when the mop is dry re-soak in clean Rangoon oil and we recommend you keep the mop in a fresh polythene sleeve or similar container.

4. 
   Snap Caps...

   When storing your gun do not forget to first relieve the tension of the main springs by inserting a suitable pair of Snap caps and dry firing the gun. Then after if you install a Muzzle stuffer this will with the snap caps in place not only keep the oil vapour inside the barrel, but will also keep the dirt out and protect the end of the barrels against damage in your gun cabinet

5. Before firing the gun again it is important to remove all trace elements of oil. Oil remaining in the barrel however slight could seriously rival the barrel walls due to hydraulic conversion process.
   
   Remove all superfluous oil with a patch and jag turning the patch over until it is clean. Always check the chamber before firing and if there is powder residue around the forcing cone remove it with a chamber brush. We advise you never to force a Payne Galway type chamber brush down the barrel as this type of brush will eventually come apart and may also damage the gun.

Tips & Warnings

• When cleaning a rifle or pistol use the same technique as for a shotgun except replace the split brass jag for a Diamond jag and change patch to the natural flannel type Rifle patch. To use the diamond jag place the jag diagonally across the patch at the end and rotate until the patch has wound fully around the jag. If the patched jag is too big for the bore in diameter, unroll a little of the patch at a time, trim and rewind same until the correct interference diameter is obtained. When cleaning continue to change the patches until the last patch discarded is entirely clean
• Lastly we would offer this good advise. Never be tempted to use a set of Gunmakers Turnscrews unless you are absolutely sure that the Turnscrew blade has been precision ground to the exact size of the slot in your gun screw and the tool steel is properly hardened. Engraved gun screws are very expensive to repair and the incorrect sized blade can very quickly cam out of the screw in question and may damage the gun screw or the finish on the gun. In some cases even injury to the user can occur. If you are unsure always ask you gun dealer for advise. If you must use a turnscrew on your gun make your that it is of good manufacturer not a cheap and poorly made import.
• Cleaning a Gun can be really rewarding so take your time and enjoy it!

Resources

• Best resource for Gun Cleaning Kits, Brushes, Oils, Solvents and Accessories...

[JamieUK]

on 12/1/2008 Great Article, so much detail!

[JamieUK]

on 12/1/2008 Great Article, so much detail!