Maintaining and cleaning your hunting rifle

Maintenance of your rifle after a rainy hunting day

It often rains on a hunting day. While it’s important for wildlife and plant life, it’s no friend to firearms: rain can have a detrimental effect on guns, primarily due to the corrosion it causes. After a rainy day, the first thing to do is dry your rifle or shotgun: first with an absorbent cloth, making sure you get between each gap. Then, place the barrel facing downwards so that any remaining water can drain away.

Only when the gun is completely dry can it be cleaned. Cleaning a gun that is still damp would have the opposite effect to that intended and could damage the surface of the materials. This is why it is recommended that you start cleaning 12 hours after the drying phase.

In any case, do not leave your gun to dry near a source of heat such as a fireplace or heater: the wood of the stock will suffer.

Cleaning the inside of the barrel

Cleaning the barrel is so important. The inside of the barrel is cleaned using a rigid swab to remove gunpowder residue and any traces of corrosion. Next, a softer canon swab is used to remove any small dust particles that may be lodged in the barrel. Finally, to complete the cleaning, polish the inner barrel with a soft cotton pad. In all cases, it is preferable not to put any oil inside the barrel, contrary to what was done in the past to avoid corrosion: coatings and new techniques effectively protect the bore of your barrel on a recent weapon.

First of all, you need to dismantle the main parts for effective cleaning: the bolt, barrel and breech. As with daily cleaning, the gun must be completely dry before applying any product.

To begin with, it is important to lubricate the parts of the gun that have not been dismantled, the slide, the ejector and the breech spring, using a lightly oiled cloth to remove any oil residue. Next, proceed in the same way with the dismantled mechanical parts: oil and wipe with a cloth.

Wooden sticks need special attention. Often soiled after a busy season, the squaring should be carefully cleaned with a small brush. When clean, linseed oil should be applied to nourish and protect the wood.

A word of advice when storing your gun: the room in which your gun will be stored may be subject to fluctuating temperatures and humidity levels, such as a garage or basement. In this case, it may be a good idea to place a humidity absorber in your strongbox to avoid any risk of oxidation.