gun cleaning

s-cogan

seen an end of season thread about but thought id better start a new one because this is general cleaning


i recently got a shotgun
it's a pre WWII side by side, in tip top condition, i have it about 3 weeks, and ive fired 20/30 shots.
i dont know what im meant to do about cleaning it or how often.
i keep meaning to get a cleaning kit for it but sure ye know yeerselves how things get put off.
ive heard a few horror stories about over-oiling the gun and how this affects it.


any advide on procedure/regularity is well appreciated.
thanks boys

Double Barrel

s-cogan
First off - congratulations on the gun, now go and buy the cleaning kit.
Take the gun apart - foreend, barrels, receiver (leave the stock attached) for now. Clean the bores with a bronze wire brush and bore solvent and then a clean cloth until the cloth comes out clean. Lightly oil the metal surfaces, reassemble and put away.
I think one can accomplish the rudimentary stuff oneself- clean the bores, oil the stock and foreend etc. but when it comes to taking a boxlock or sidelock apart for a thorough cleaning and tuneup, it is best left to a professional.
Thorough cleaning moves into the realm of completely disassembling, cleaning, and then reassembling fairly complex mechanisms. Not for the uninitiated. The first skill required in such disassembly is to learn to properly grind screwdrivers. Few gun owners have a grinder much less the skill to grind the blade. Buggered screws (pins) are expensive to replace and are a tell tale sign when it comes time to trade.
Good luck.

noodle650

no need to go out and buy a complete kit, first, get a Hoppes Bore snake, some spray on 3 in 1 oil and some rags, gtive the barrels a good go through until theya re clean, then rub the barrel down with oil, rub some linseed oil into the stock and forend and just make sure there is no gunk in the action!
best
Noods

s-cogan

Double Barrel wrote: »

s-cogan
Clean the bores with a brass brush and bore solvent and then a clean cloth until the cloth comes out clean.

do i just push the cloth through on a jag, yeah??

Double Barrel

Yes.

Dvs

s-cogan wrote: »

do i just push the cloth through on a jag, yeah??

You can also use a tampon to clean the bore after using the brush,
remove it from the applicator, fluff it up and push through the bore with cleaning rod, its a tighter fit than a patch of cloth and does a better job.

regular tampons are 12 gauge

Dvs.

s-cogan

Dvs wrote: »

You can also use a tampon to clean the bore after using the brush,
regular tampons are 12 gauge

Dvs.

sir, i salute you.