Whether you are field stripping or completely disassembling your shotgun, different cleaning procedures apply. Basic field stripping will be covered in this post. Proper disassembly of the weapon is outside the purview of this page due to the diversity of shotguns.
1. Empty the shotgun fully
The most important phase of the entire cleaning procedure is this one. You must take out your magazine (if one is available) and any ammo that may be loaded within the firearm, even in internal magazines, to protect both yourself and anyone around you. Only carry out this action while aiming the gun safely. Make careful to do a complete inspection both tactilely and visually (feel). Never depend on the safety of your handgun since mishaps may and do occur.
2. Upkeep of the shotgun
For proper cleaning, you may need to partially disassemble some shotguns, even removing the barrel. For further information, consult the company’s instruction manual. A cup, can lid, or other container can be used to store any shock absorbers or other small bits to prevent them from becoming misplaced.
Remove any loose particles from the action, bolt, receiver, frame, and chamber using a cleaning instrument, such as a utility brushes or cleaning swabs. Use a cleaner/degreaser spray on field weapons that have a lot of dirt or debris on them. Applying a little amount of cleaning and letting it set for a few minutes before brushing will help eliminate heavy fouling. Apply a wipe or cloth to cleared fouling to remove it.
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As you turn your attention to the barrel, you should put little bore solvent on a cleaning patch and run it through the barrel using a cleaning rod with a jag, brush, or patch holding tip. As you run your patch through your gun, keep an eye on the amount of dirt or residue that comes off. This will help you determine how clean your gun is becoming. Bore cleaning must be used repeatedly, and scrubbing with a bronze brush may be necessary to remove plastic wad fouling. To avoid a brush tip getting caught, make sure you run it all the way through the barrel before reversing. To ensure that your barrel is clean and dry, apply numerous dry patches after your bore cleaner-soaked patch.
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3. Use lubrication as required
After thoroughly cleaning your firearm’s mechanism, bolt, and receiver, you should properly oil and lube its moving components. This will vary depending on the kind of gun you’re cleaning and the lubricant the manufacturer recommends. Most of the time, you should lubricate:
- contacting edges (metal-on-metal, bolt lugs, rails, guides)
Except for long-term storage, avoid lubricating the interior of the barrel or chamber. This may result in intense shooting pressure and the possibility of a catastrophic (BOOM) failure. Misfires or squibs can result from lubricant on the ammo.
One widespread misconception is that when it comes to lubricating your handgun, more is better. You want to lubricate where necessary, but too much might leave behind excessive residues, which can cause problems with handling and malfunctions (slippery). Because they assist regulate the quantity of oil or lubrication used in any particular location of your pistol, lubricating cloths are a great tool.
On bearing surfaces, pay attention to worn metal in places like your action bars (on a pump action), hinges (on a break action), and bolt lugs. On a well-used weapon, the coating may occasionally reveal bare metal. That’s not necessarily an issue because it indicates that your gun is improving its efficiency. It is necessary to lightly lubricate worn regions.
4. Clean all of the components
Use a clean, dry cloth to polish your gun after you’ve cleaned and oiled it. This gets rid of any residue and oils or moisture that you might have missed in stages two and three. Once you’ve finished cleaning every part, polish and preserve your pistol with cloths that have been coated with wax. It’s also advised to quickly wipe and polish any wooden components on your shotgun.
5. Reassemble and look for any anomalies
After everything has been cleaned and dried, it’s time to begin putting your shotgun back together. You should carefully examine each piece as you assemble it during this procedure, taking note of any damage, abnormalities, or excessive wear or play (movement). Sometimes there will be dents or scuffs. Other damage reduces the worth of your gun and raises questions about safety. We urge you to take any suspicious items you discover during your investigation to a reputable gunsmith or local weapons store. They’ll conduct a more thorough examination and provide you advice on how to proceed in order to maintain continuity and dependability.
You can utilize this procedure to apply antimicrobial oils to weapons before using a storage system for long-term preservation.
After cleaning a firearm, don’t forget to use a cleaning cloth to scrub away any lead or other heavy metal particles from your hands and work areas.
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