Recommended equipment for cleaning firearms:
Rifle holder - Homemade as displayed; MTM Portable Maintenance Center $31.90;
Wooden custom made holders $35 to $85.
Cleaning Rods - Plastic coated by Dewey; Parker Hale. Tetra - $30
Stainless steel by Belding & Mull - $
Others available at $15 +
Bore guides - MTM brand plastic at $7.50 (be sure it fits properly)
Others at $10 and up
Solvents - Homemade mixture of Wisk laundry detergent and water is good for
powder fouling (cheap too), or Slip 2000 Copper Killer (non-toxic,
biodegradable; http://www.slip2000.com/) To remove copper fouling
use BoreTech Eliminator(http://www.boretech.com/)
Oils - Tetra oil ($7.50/4 oz)(http://www.tetraproducts.com/default_wf.asp), or
Slip2000 best (8.5/4oz); Break Free CLP($5.00/4oz)(used by military);
Rem Oil ($1.65/1oz); TSI301 (http://www.tsi301.com/main.htm)
Grease - For bolt lugs and other heavy friction areas. Tetra Brand grease
($5.50/3oz);
Shooters Choice All Weather Grease ($5.00/100cc);
Brushes - Bronze bore brushes at about $1.70 each are best. Avoid stainless
steel. New solvents call for nylon brushes.
Patches - Any cotton flannel cleaning patch is OK. Boxed patches are about
$2.99/100; Old white cotton t-shirts are good, and flannel is available
at any dry good store.
Gloves - Surgical gloves are great. Any solvent that will remove copper fouling
will do bad things to your liver and kidneys. Solvents can be absorbed
through the skin, or inhaled. Use good ventilation. BoreTech is non-
toxic.
Wiping Cloth - Any brand with silicone oil works well.
Method:
Put the rifle in the rifle holder. Open the bolt, be very certain that the rifle is unloaded. Remove the bolt (on a bolt action), install the bore guide and put an old rag on the buttstock to protect the wood. Run a few wet patches through the bore to remove powder fouling. When they come out clean, run a dry patch through the bore. Run another patch wetted with bore cleaner through the bore, and let stand at least 20 minutes. Run another patch with solvent through, and if it is blue or green scrub the bore a few times with a bronze brush. Another patch with solvent, and let stand. Continue until patches come out with no discoloring. Next dry the bore and chamber with dry patches. If the rifle is to be stored for an extended period the bore can be protected with a light coating of high quality gun oil. Before the rifle is fired again be sure no oil remains in the bore.
In dry climates like Wyoming, usually it is not necessary to oil the bore between shooting trips. In other areas of the country the bore should be oiled from weekly to every other month.
The final stages in rifle cleaning are to wipe the exterior of the firearm with the silicone cloth. Before installing the bolt, clean the bolt face and apply an all weather grease to the bolt lugs and the cocking lug area. Install the bolt, open and close the action a few times to distribute the grease.
Store the rifle unloaded and uncocked. Usually the bolt can be closed on an empty chamber while holding the trigger back. This will result in an unloaded, uncocked clean rifle ready for storage.
Next time you go shooting, remove the bolt and check to be certain the bore is clear before loading and firing the rifle. An obstruction in the bore could cause serious injuries. Safe shooting habits will keep your new hobby fun, careless habits can cause years of misery.