Spring is good time to properly clean firearms
MADISON – Patience, proper equipment and an unloaded firearm are what a state hunting safety specialist says are key to safely cleaning firearms without turning them into unusable conversation pieces.
Tim Lawhern, Department of Natural Resources conservation warden and hunter education program administrator, says he has heard from well-intentioned gun-owners who thought they were doing right by their firearms, but “who were doing more damage than good by the methods and products they used.”
“First and foremost, make sure your firearm is unloaded,” Lawhern said. “Don’t trust your memory or anyone else that says it is unloaded. Check it yourself.”
Next, he recommends gathering the proper equipment in advance. That list includes:
• Gun vise or cradle to support the firearm.
• One-piece cleaning rod, sized to fit the firearm.
• Bore guide, sized to fit the firearm.
• Jag tip of proper caliber for rifles and handguns, or correct bore brush for shotguns.
• Powder solvent to remove residue by burning powder.
• Copper solvent to remove copper left by jacketed bullets.
• Cotton patches (cotton does not melt when burned, synthetic patches react with solvents).
• Gun oil.
Cleaning the barrel
Always clean the barrel from the breech to muzzle when possible, he said. First, place the firearm in the vise or gun cradle and install the bore guide so the cleaning rod runs down the center of the bore. Install the proper sized jag tip on the rod. For shotguns, Lawhern notes, the slotted patch tip is fine.
If the firearm is equipped with a scope, make sure to leave the lens caps on or provide some sort of protection like a cloth to cover them.
“It’s important to note here the proper technique while cleaning the bore,” Lawhern says, adding all patches should go only one way down the bore. “Do not push a patch down the bore and then bring it back in. All that does is return the dirty patch along with its grit into the barrel.”
Also, the motion of the rod should be one smooth stroke. “Do not push a few inches in and then stop and push some more,” he says. The first patch down the bore should be a dry one to wipe out the large crud. Place newspapers on the floor or table to catch the debris as it falls.
Patches – get the right size
“Make sure your patches are the right size. That will save you some grief,” Lawhern says. “If you need a jack hammer to get the patch all the way through the bore, off-center the patch by placing the jag tip halfway between the center of the patch and one corner.
“If it’s still too tight then use a smaller patch,” he says.
Next, alternate a wet patch with powder solvent and then a dry patch down the bore. Repeat until you no longer get gray or black on the patches. After that, switch to the copper solvent.
“Read, understand and follow the manufacture’s recommendations for copper solvent,” Lawhern says. “The vast majority of copper solvent has ammonia as a base component. Left in your bore too long and it will cause pitting. You won’t be happy if that happens. When you no longer get green or blue on your patches you are almost done.” For shotguns copper solvent is usually not necessary.
Bore brushes? Maybe not For rifles and handguns a bore brush is not needed, Lawhern says.
“For shotguns, a bore brush should be used to remove stubborn spots,” he says. “Bore brushes should only be nylon or bronze bristled. For the average person that takes care of their firearms properly, you don’t need them.”
Next, soak a single patch with gun oil and run it down the bore, remove it from the jag tip and use that patch to wipe down the outside of your firearm. No additional oil will be needed. Remove the bore guide and clean the action, including the bolt and chamber area with either patches or cotton swabs. Be sure to lightly oil the inside of the action when done.
Clean work area, tools
Lastly, return all components to their proper storage area. Wipe off your cleaning rod with a dry patch and toss the used patches along with the newspaper. Wash your hands to remove solvents, oils, powder residue and lead.
“This is basic stuff,” Lawhern says. “A lot of folks learned how to clean their guns by watching others doing it; I know, because that’s how I got started too. I still have my jointed aluminum cleaning rod from the local department store. Today, it’s a conversation piece and never leaves its plastic case.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Lawhern, Conservation Warden, 608-266-1317
