There are Many Reasons for Good Gun Care

You’ve seen it in all the old war movies, where the mean, crusty old drill sergeant always chews out new recruits about the importance of keeping their firearms clean. And rightly so, in the military world firearm performance is life or death.

Fortunately, things are not normally so vital at the rifle and shotgun range or on hunting trips for whitetails, pheasants, turkeys and ducks. However, a clean firearm does give you an added comfort... a confident edge. . .when the moment of truth arrives. A clean firearm is indeed a lot less likely to mal-function and is also more accurate.

It’s also true for the most part that there are two kinds of hunters out there. Those that clean their guns and return home from hunting happy; and those that don’t clean their guns and return home with a game bag filled with shoulda-coulda- woulda excuses.

Of course, there’s another reason for cleaning guns and that’s simply to protect your investment. Some firearms are very collectible and worth lots of money. Some are worth even more in sentimental value. Sportsmen have long passed their firearms down from one generation to the next. Perhaps your dad or grandfather passed down his first shotgun to you. Maybe you would like to pass yours to your children? lf so, you have to take care of it and clean it regularly. Again, the reasons for cleaning guns are many, but also note there’s a specific way you need to go about it.

GUN CLEANING KNOW-HOW

First and foremost, make sure the gun is unloaded. Check the barrel and magazine. Always assume it is loaded. There is no such thing as being "too careful." All major firearm manufacturers and top experts agree that to properly clean a firearm, one must clean from Breech-to-Muzzlel"'. By cleaning from Breech-to- Muzzle, you take the powder residue out in the direction the bullet travels--away from the clean chamber and receiver. If you were to do the opposite (clean from muzzle to breech), you would be pulling this residue back into the gun and dumping it into the chamber and receiver. This will cause malfunction. It is also important to note that you must use a solvent-soaked patch on barrels First, before using a brush. The solvent and patch will remove sand, dust or other particles that might damage your barrel when caught up in the bristles of a cleaning brush. (For added information on gun cleaning, see Gun Cleaning Rules," also on these pages.)

TAKE CLEANING SYSTEM WITH YOU

With all this in mind, it’s certainly no bad idea to have a cleaning kit with you in the field. Appropriately, Otis Technology, Inc. is listed by many shooting experts as the most advanced gun care systems in the world. The small compact system has everything needed to clean shotguns, rifles and pistols—all in a small kit that can easily fit in your hunting jacket or pack. But not only is Otis, Inc. system handy; it’s also effective, bringing a gunsmith level of cleaning to the field. This convenience is certainly needed, especially should the barrel of a firearm become lodged with mud, sand or some other debris. In such cases you certainly have a safety hazard in your hands. And it’s a predicament that needs more than a quick-Held fix such as running a stick, limb, etc down the barrel. You want to be certain the barrel is clear. Otis, Inc. includes a special tool, (a bore obstruction remover) in its systems, made especially for such problems afield.

NO TIME LIKE NOW WHEN IT COMES TO CLEANING

It’s always easy to put off cleaning your firearms, especially after a fun-filled day of hunting or shooting targets. But cleaning guns is not a job you should put off. Again, you want to protect the investment you’ve made in your firearm, ensure accuracy and fend off future malfunctions. And besides, guns actually come clean easier after being fired as opposed to being stowed away and cleaned later. In this down time debris, moisture and other elements actually bond more firmly to the metal. Think of it this way: it’s like leaving mustard on your dishes, the longer you leave them sitting after the meal; the harder they are to clean. So get to it, as soon as possible, for ease of cleaning and because you know it’s a job that will benefit you the next time you get to go hunting.

GUN CLEANING RULES

Otis Technology, Inc. lists the following gun cleaning rules to help protect your firearms.

1. Always clean from Breech-to-MuzzIe"‘ in the natural direction of the bullet. When you fire your gun, the powder residue and dirt are in the barrel. The chamber and receiver are clean. If you run a brush or patch from the muzzle end you will push this dirt, residue, and moisture into the chamber and receiver. This is a major cause of stuck cases or problems with lever actions and auto-loading rifles and shotguns. If you push or pull a brush back toward the chamber, you will notice the brush will throw the debris from the bore back into the chamber and locking lugs.
2. Center the tip and rod. Be careful not to let either rub the bore. All firearms record their history. This is the reason most people look down the barrel of a firearm. An experienced eye can tell the method of cleaning, the number of shots, and the gun maintenance applied to the firearm. Many marks are caused by people who carelessly let the tip or rod rub the inside the barrel.
3. Use clean patch surface each time you go down the barrel. This is similar to mopping a floor and rinsing the mop out. When you are using your firearm you will get abrasive dirt in the muzzle. The patch with solvent will flush this dirt out in the shortest distance. If you use this patch surface again, the dirt will be deposited in the chamber and neck. The next bullet down the barrel picks up this dirt and erodes the throat. This is the exact equivalent of cleaning in the wrong direction.
4. Never run a brush in the barrel first. This will damage the firearm. The brush will pick up dirt, moisture or powder residue and deposit it into the chamber or receiver. Never dip a brush in solvent. The solvent at the brush core will collect dirt and drop it into the receiver and chamber.
5. Never go back and forth reversing the brush. This will bend the bristles on the brush. This is the equivalent of bending a wire back and forth until it breaks. You will always ruin a brush if you reverse it while in the bore.
6. Use only a few drops of solvent lubricant. Many people think the more solvent the better. However, this will damage the firearm. Use only the solvent that the patch will absorb. If you use too much, the solvent or oil will drip down into the trigger mechanism. This will cause a gummy trigger. If you use too much oil, it will drain back toward the stock and cause premature failure of the wood.