There are a lot of great things about going on a shoot in the UK, but sadly the weather can never be guaranteed. That means we can often spend a lot of time out and about in the rain and, naturally, our rifle will get wet.
Of course, that doesn’t cause problems on the shoot itself but if you don’t clean your stalking rifle properly once you’re home and in the dry, it can lead to corrosion and damage in your gun.
Your first priority should be making sure that it’s able to properly dry out. As Shooting UK explains, you need to begin by taking out the bolt and removing the metalwork of the breech from the stock.
In general, there are just two screws to undo to achieve this, although the publication notes that it’s only really necessary if the gun has been truly drenched with water. If you’re not confident in taking these elements apart then find a professional to clean your gun.
Once you’ve removed the bolt, and possibly separated the breech from the stock, you need to leave your gun to dry. Place it and any parts you’ve removed onto a sheet of newspaper and leave them to dry naturally.
If your rifle has a wooden stock, do not put it anywhere like an airing cupboard or near a heat source as this will warp the wood.
Only once the barrel and stock are completely dry and all the moisture has been removed should you start cleaning it. Begin by cleaning the bore using a nylon or phosphorus bronze brush. Add some copper solvent to the brush and carefully work it through the bore.
When it comes out of the muzzle, add a couple more drops of solvent and bring the brush back up the way it came. Pull the cleaning rod back and forth a few times to make sure that there’s a sufficient coating of solvent.
Leave the barrel to soak for 10-15 minutes, before using a clean cloth or cotton patches attached to a rod to remove the solvent. Keep pushing these through the barrel until they are coming out relatively clean.
It’s important to remove all the copper from the bore because if it’s left there it can be corrosive, leaving corrosive deposits between the copper and the metal. If these build up over time they will affect the accuracy and cause pitting in barrels.
Don’t forget to also clean the chamber in case any deposits of copper have been left there too. Next, clean behind the barrel in the action. You should focus on the point where the bolt locks onto the abutments and where the lugs go. It’s important to clean away any residual debris. Finally, oil the bore.
You should leave cleaning the action to a professional gunsmith, but one thing you can check yourself is whether there are any bits of debris in the well in front of the bolt lugs. If so, carefully remove it.
Wipe the barrel with a lightly oiled cloth, and give the woodwork a wipe with a clean rag and you’re ready to put your gun away.
Remember that there are different stalking seasons for different species of deer and that these can vary between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The only exception is muntjac deer, for which there is no closed season.
If you need a gun valuation, contact us today.