How to Clean a Rifle

Clean a rifle to make it last a long time.

Rifles get their name because of the way the bullets eject out of the barrel. As a bullet enters the barrel and into the rifling, it causes gradual wear on the barrel and leaves deposits of gunpowder and bits of metal. Keeping a rifle clean can help extend the life of a rifle and give your shots better speed and accuracy. When you purchase a rifle, you make an investment. One of the best ways to take of your investment is with proper cleaning and maintenance.

Things You'll Need

• Bore guide
• Cleaning rod
• Action/chamber tool cleaning kit
• Core bore brush
• Pointed cleaning jag
• Cleaning patches
• Cleaning solvent
• Gun grease
• Gun scrubber
• Cleaning cradle (optional)

Instructions

1. Make sure the rifle is not loaded.

2. Remove the bolt if you have a bolt-action rifle.

3. Use a dry bore brush through the bore, from the chamber the end of the muzzle, to remove carbon pieces and loose powder.

4. Wet a cleaning patch with cleaning solvent and push it through the chamber, barrel and out the muzzle with the cleaning rod. Repeat with a new cleaning patch wetted with cleaning solvent.

5. Place some of the cleaning solvent on a core brush and pass it through the chamber, barrel, out the muzzle and back through the barrel. Repeat this step six or seven times.

6. Wet thoroughly a cleaning patch with cleaning solvent and push it through the chamber, barrel and out the muzzle with the cleaning rod again. Repeat with a new cleaning patch wetted with cleaning solvent. Let the gun rest for 20 minutes and clean it again with a solvent-soaked patch.

7. Use the cleaning rod to push a dry cleaning patch through the chamber, barrel and muzzle; remove the cleaning rod. Remove this patch and repeat the process with a new patch.

8. Take the bore guide off the rifle. Dry the chamber. If you have a bolt-action rifle, place a bit of gun grease to back side of bolt locking lugs and replace the bolt.

9. Remove excess solvent from the gun. Make sure you wipe down the muzzle.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are storing the gun for a while, wet a cleaning patch with some oil and pass it through the barrel with the cleaning rod. However, remember to remove the oil before firing the rifle by running some dry cleaning patches through the barrel.

References

• Gunners Den: Rifles, Information
• The Box O' Truth: Cleaning a Rifle Barrel
• Blue Water Big Game: Rifle Cleaning Instructions