Thread: Firearm Maintenace

G'day Team,

I have not found any threads with this info so figured why not see what tips, tricks & learnings people have picked up over the years.

I've spent a fair bit of time combing youtube and other forums/websites. One of the better videos I watched was this one here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlRHDZfccl0 'Forget the "gun cleaning" stuff - You're cleaning steel'.


I know the basics. No oil left in the barrel before shooting and only a minimal amount of oil ever.

I'm wondering how often/necessary a full disassembly, wipe everything, minimal oil, put back together should be done .. if at all?

I've got an old browning trombone takedown - I'd assume a deep clean on an old rifle will help preserve it. Can't find a manual online in English.

Also.. how many people soak a silencer in fuel.. and have you ever had any problems?

Looking forward to hearing how you operate.

Cheers,
Pat

First thing I see is the reference to steel - can cause an issue as we need to be careful with the stock, components of different materials and especially trigger and bedding material which often takes a very dim view of being exposed to bore cleaning chemicals. Alloy and brass especially can be fussy about chemicals despite the reputation for metal being impervious.

I use a bore guide and have something in the action to catch any spilled chemical. Also, I only go from chamber to muzzle if I can - sometimes it's not an option but it's always better to keep the crap going forwards and out than into the chamber. With copper solvents, don't use a brass jag or bore brush as the chemical will eat that too and give you a false blue reading. Them things are spendy too...

A good thread that will no doubt be flooded with suggestions, I am kept pretty busy with gun repairs etc. and would have to say that a large number of the jobs are related to maintenance (or the lack thereof), so a few suggestions to kick things.

All guns benefit (at least once a year - depending on use and conditions used in) from a total strip down, clean and re-lube

Stainless steel guns DO need to be cleaned and maintained (not all of the internal parts are stainless). I had a Tikka here last week where the firing pin had rusted up solid inside the bolt.

Shotguns (particularly O/U and side by sides) get water and crap ingress under the stock where you can't see.

Bolt actions need the bolts disassembling from time to time, a build up of crap can lead to soft strikes and misfires.

Very often missed is dismantle and cleaning of mags, particularly in 22s, a heap of problems are mag related.


Thats enough from me, let's see what you other learned gents can add. :-)

All makes sense, thanks @Fssprecision... but really not looking forward to stripping down my Winchester Model 88...

Originally Posted by bjp

All makes sense, thanks @Fssprecision... but really not looking forward to stripping down my Winchester Model 88...

I will let you into a secret, you don’t alway have to totally disassemble, sometimes I get them to a certain stage then use an ultrasonic cleaner…… most don’t have one though.

Originally Posted by Fssprecision

A good thread that will no doubt be flooded with suggestions, I am kept pretty busy with gun repairs etc. and would have to say that a large number of the jobs are related to maintenance (or the lack thereof), so a few suggestions to kick things.

All guns benefit (at least once a year - depending on use and conditions used in) from a total strip down, clean and re-lube

Stainless steel guns DO need to be cleaned and maintained (not all of the internal parts are stainless). I had a Tikka here last week where the firing pin had rusted up solid inside the bolt.

Shotguns (particularly O/U and side by sides) get water and crap ingress under the stock where you can't see.

Bolt actions need the bolts disassembling from time to time, a build up of crap can lead to soft strikes and misfires.

Very often missed is dismantle and cleaning of mags, particularly in 22s, a heap of problems are mag related.


Thats enough from me, let's see what you other learned gents can add. :-)

Yeah, that is interesting, I have run stainless Tikas for a fair while now, never been an issue. Pulled them out for a clean tonight after getting home and found rust in the action where the lugs slide back and forth.

No idea why as I have not changed the way I clean, was not in a saline environment, can't think of anything that may have changed to cause it to happen.

It wipes off easy enough, but still, why?

Originally Posted by Fssprecision

A good thread that will no doubt be flooded with suggestions, I am kept pretty busy with gun repairs etc. and would have to say that a large number of the jobs are related to maintenance (or the lack thereof), so a few suggestions to kick things.

All guns benefit (at least once a year - depending on use and conditions used in) from a total strip down, clean and re-lube

Stainless steel guns DO need to be cleaned and maintained (not all of the internal parts are stainless). I had a Tikka here last week where the firing pin had rusted up solid inside the bolt.

Shotguns (particularly O/U and side by sides) get water and crap ingress under the stock where you can't see.

Bolt actions need the bolts disassembling from time to time, a build up of crap can lead to soft strikes and misfires.

Very often missed is dismantle and cleaning of mags, particularly in 22s, a heap of problems are mag related.


Thats enough from me, let's see what you other learned gents can add. :-)

Thanks for sharing some of what you know @Fssprecision, I think thats the best one as of yet. If you've got anything to add I'm sure others will appreciate it as much as I do.

Have you done much rifle bluing?

I seem to have inherited a lot of old worn firearms, all with good bores. I think a new blue would really sort the majority of them out.

I've got some time at the moment with a broken neck and plan to start with my grandads old air rifles.. then progress to my old mans side by side ( I think this is the best progression in terms of ease ) before moving to a 22wm bolt action - then the browning trombone.. this one holds the most sentimental and I've hopefully honed my skills by this stage.

I'll finish with a WWII 303 and a rem 700 300WM from the 60's , I'm having some trouble with the 3 + 1 mag and might have some learning over the next few months to help fix that up. Otherwise I'm thinking of trying 2 get a magazine installed (safer) It Looks a beaut at the minute, original wooden stock. Tempted to sell it, I don't think the kick is any good for my shoulder post surgery.

Online I'm seeing cold bluing, hot bluing, rust bluing and who knows there's probably some blue bluing & red redding out there.. If anyone has experience in this field, please share.

Hoping to find some affordable options, from what I've gathered the cold option could be best.

Originally Posted by 3Ballers

Thanks for sharing some of what you know @Fssprecision, I think thats the best one as of yet. If you've got anything to add I'm sure others will appreciate it as much as I do.

Have you done much rifle bluing?

I seem to have inherited a lot of old worn firearms, all with good bores. I think a new blue would really sort the majority of them out.

I've got some time at the moment with a broken neck and plan to start with my grandads old air rifles.. then progress to my old mans side by side ( I think this is the best progression in terms of ease ) before moving to a 22wm bolt action - then the browning trombone.. this one holds the most sentimental and I've hopefully honed my skills by this stage.

I'll finish with a WWII 303 and a rem 700 300WM from the 60's , I'm having some trouble with the 3 + 1 mag and might have some learning over the next few months to help fix that up. Otherwise I'm thinking of trying 2 get a magazine installed (safer) It Looks a beaut at the minute, original wooden stock. Tempted to sell it, I don't think the kick is any good for my shoulder post surgery.

Online I'm seeing cold bluing, hot bluing, rust bluing and who knows there's probably some blue bluing & red redding out there.. If anyone has experience in this field, please share.

Hoping to find some affordable options, from what I've gathered the cold option could be best.

No have not done any blueing, to be done properly you need heated tanks etc which I don’t have. That said I have heard people have good results with the old style rust blueing, I must get to try it one day

Cheers
Darren

Greg Duley did a great run down on cleaning your semi a few moons ago. Very informative.

for past years and I mean years it has been Remington oil for all bar the bore then only after a solvent hoppes no9 after firing leave overnight and once rags clean then remingtion oil to store and I have had no problems those two products have been my go to for years and I dont see any need to change - for an over night trip I carry a little cannister of break free and will put a pull thru of that in overnight to protect barrel and then dry rag in morning job done - CRC and its equivalents only used to touch up rust spots on firearms I am restoring

look so long as new hunters obey some basic principal's they wont go wrong 1) oils coat and protect but they can cover nastys like rust and in a barrel mettalic fouling - solvents penetrate and use the right one in your barrel follow the manufactures instructions and you cant go wrong a proper solvent will get your fouling out - it may require a bronze brush but there is plenty of tutorials on you tube and good info on here to do the job right - so oils coat solvents penetrate - CRC and WD 40 do not belong near your firearm unless under very specific use - spray that around willy nilly and it will stain your walnut stock and get into places it does not belong- be warned - a little on rust spots yes - less is best - light oiling of moving parts -regular inspection of your rifle is a must - damp is your real enemy- closely followed by barrel fouling and failure to clean a barrel properly -

Originally Posted by TeRei

Greg Duley did a great run down on cleaning your semi a few moons ago. Very informative.

Oh really?

Originally Posted by csmiffy

Oh really?

Tech talk during tv show.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

Tech talk during tv show.

Yeah wasn't sure showing someone how you cleaned your semi would be appropriate.
Nudge nudge wink wink.
Completely different show I would imagine

Most clogging and dust accumulation comes from too much oil. The Winchester 88 is not an easy gun to disassemble and reassemble unless you are well versed in it. Pull the action from the stock every couple of years and wipe it all over with an oily rag and lightly spray some CRC over the bolt. That and correct barrel cleaning should be all that is needed to last for many years. Similar attention to any centrefire rifle will suffice. Don't get into trying to correct non-existent problems.