ByProper cleaning of your rifle helps lengthen its life and prevents it from growing rust. You may enhance the accuracy of your rifle for more effective hunting when you conduct adequate cleaning and use large rifle primers from established distributors. For safety, always check whether the gun is loaded before cleaning. Here are a few steps to safely clean your rifle:
1. Gather Materials for Cleaning
Start by gathering all the items you require for cleaning. Have a clear surface to work on and a place where you can set your rifle and large rifle primers. A spray bottle of cleaner and a rag aid in cleaning the rifle parts. Look for a bore cleaning solvent, gun oil, and a cleaning rod.
Find patches that will fit your gun’s barrel. Soaking the patches in a cleaning solvent makes them effective for cleaning stains and rust. Get latex gloves that protect your hands from coming into contact with the oil and solvent that you use for cleaning. Having a rifle stand lets you put the rifle in a convenient position as you clean.
2. Unload Your Rifle
Remove the magazine and ammunition loaded in the firearm. Also, remove the internal magazine. While doing this, have your gun pointing in a safe direction to reduce the risk of accidents. Once the gun gets unloaded, pull your rifle’s bolt open. Press the trigger and hold it down so that the bolt slides out of the rifle’s back. Place the bolt aside from your workstation on a surface that is clean and dry or on a rag.
3. Check for Corrosive Ammo
You may have to spray a cleaner down your barrel to help decrease the likelihood of chemicals leading to rust covering and damaging the area. A suitable cleaning solvent helps extract residue left behind after you fire your ammo. When spraying the cleaning solution, check to see whether it flows out on the opposite side to know if you are putting it in the right place.
4. Use a Cleaning Rod
Screw a patch attachment to a cleaning road. You have to soak your patch in a bore solvent. You then run your patch from back to front as it passes through your rifle. Avoid running the cleaning rod through your barrel while starting from the muzzle. This could scratch the crown and affect your rifle’s accuracy. Carefully apply a solvent while keeping it away from the stock so it avoids corroding the metal inside your barrel.
5. Brush the Bore
A bronze bore brush dipped in solvent is used to clean the bore. Run the brush through the bore several times. If you wait longer periods of time in between cleaning your bore, run the brush through the area a few extra times.
The frequency depends on the amount of shooting since the last time you cleaned your rifle. Brushing helps extract lead fouling likely to have accumulated in your barrel. This step helps improve your accuracy by countering lead build-up that loosens the bullet’s grip and lowers accuracy.
6. Oil and Clean
Soak your patch in oil and attach it to your cleaning rod. Move it up and down your rifle. The patch should come out of the bore with a black residue on it. Keep putting new patches and running them down the bore until they come out clean. Flipping your patches to get a clean side helps you conserve the patches available.
If you have a short cleaning rod, have it pass through the barrel from both sides for a more thorough cleaning. Be careful when passing your patch through the barrel end to avoid scratches that affect accuracy.
7. Clean the Bolt and Magazine
Use a rag to wipe your bolt carefully as you remove dirt or powder residue. Check the bolt face for any residue that needs to be removed. Use an oily rag to wipe the part where the bolt joins the gun and the magazine. When you have more time to clean, you can take the magazine apart and clean the gun parts individually while oiling.
Get Large Rifle Primers Today
Use large rifle primers and other rifle parts with the help of established suppliers. Following tips for cleaning your rifle parts enhances accuracy when hunting or shooting competitively. Implement safety measures like checking to see whether the gun is loaded and pointing it in a safe direction. Contact firearm providers today to learn more about the steps for safely cleaning your rifle.
