Cleaning BEFORE shootings?

[tamara]

We've had lots of discussions about how to properly clean after you are done shooting.

Now, how do you clean before you go shooting, after your gun has been in its case a week or more?

How do you clean the nipples? Before loading, do you put any kind of lubricant on the nipple threads? How about in the bore?

 

[roundball]

We've had lots of discussions about how to properly clean after you are done shooting.

Now, how do you clean before you go shooting, after your gun has been in its case a week or more?

How do you clean the nipples? Before loading, do you put any kind of lubricant on the nipple threads? How about in the bore?

I do all that as part of the cleaning/lubing/storing activity....when it's time to shoot, I run a dry patch downbore to pull out excess borebutter, and let the games begin.

If preparing for a hunt, I'll wipe off the pan, frizzen, and flint with an alcohol rag just as an added step for peace of mind.....but I don't do that for the range and have never had a misfire for not doing it.

 

[2172]

If I'm shooting percussion, and I remember, I fire a cap...that's it. If flint, I wipe the pan..have never had a problem that made me think I should do anymore..Hank

 

[Swampman]

Before hunting season, I swab the bore with an alcohol patch or 2.

 

[buckknife]

My factor guns all have the paten breech and i feel it should be protected as well as the barrel.So i make sure my storage lube is in that area as well as the bore.
I pour about one ounce of rubbiing alkey or the denatured stuff,dont seem to make much difference,down the bore on a pluged nipple or vent.Place my finger over the muzzle and slosh it back and forth and then let it drain out the muzzle.Give it a good dry patchen ramming air in and out the breech each time.when im convinced everything is dry i fire 2 caps or flash a pan on a empty gun before loading.
Ive learned the hard way that any moisture from oil or any thing wet down in that paten breech will kill ignition when the powder sucks up the moisture.

 

[Landngroove]

As the others have said, I wipe the bore with a dry patch to absorb any oil/lube left in the barrel from cleaning/putting away. If percussion, I snap off two or three caps to dry the flash channel, from oils, if flint, wipe pan frizzen with alchohol, and dry.

 

[oomcurt]

I put anti-sieze on the nipple threads after cleaning..then leave it alone till the next cleaning. The night before I go shooting I make sure to remove any oils from the bore...so it is totally clean. That's it. When I get to the range I will fire one or two caps just to make sure aiming at some strands of tall grass in front of me at the firing line. Some might get a little touchy about that...so be it...most everyone in my club does that. If I am going hunting...same thing with the exception of the lock...no lubrication anywhere. I learned a long time ago..some lubes can get like gum in cold weather.

Ooops, sorry..I meant this post to be in response to Tamara.

 

[CrackStock]

I soak a cloth patch in alcohol and run that down the bore. I let that dry for a few moments and then load. My patch lube will protect the bore well enough for a few days of hunting or a day of shooting.

CS

 

generally speaking, it is best to start shooting with a clean dry gun. If you have put it away with a good coat of grease in the bore, it is a good idea to swab it out (some will disagree, as long as the grease is nonpetroleum based, like tallow or wonder lube, it shouldn't hurt). I like to check the vent hole or nipple to ensure that they are clear. The ritual of running a patch down the bore before shooting also should catch any problems such as an already loaded piece. One day many years ago now, I went deer hunting with my then new .45 longrifle and the thing would not fire! I had to pull the charge. On further inspection I found that I had somehow left a patch in the bore, which blocked the ignition, and loaded on top of it! These days I check the bore more carefully. On mid to large bores you can see the bottom of the barrel/breech face with a minimag light or similar device--I use it to check for buildup after cleaning, too.