Before you start rummaging through fishing tackle, looking forward to spring, there are some end-of-season housekeeping chores that need to be attended to.

Author: Frank Ross

Good gun maintenance ensures many years of service.

Except for Spring Snow Goose, Turkey, Sporting Clays and Trap, "Trigger Time" is about over for the year. Now all we sportsmen have to look forward to is fishing, and the occasional varmint outing. What's a guy to do?

Before you start rummaging through fishing tackle, and gearing up for the early bite, there are some housekeeping chores that need to be attended to. I'm not talking "honey-do". These are "money-do" chores. If you don't take care of your firearms properly, eventually its going to cost you some money!

Before you stow your guns for a long summer of moisture and heat, make sure they aren't collecting rust while waiting for your return.

There's more to ending a hunting season than a quick wipe down, if you want to be pleased when you open your gun cabinet this fall. Firearms need a little special attention in order to avoid damage that can be beyond repair. Once rust gets a foothold, pits and surface flaws will mar the image and value of your gun for the rest of its life.

There is also the issue of jams and failure at the critical moment when a split second delay means lost opportunity. Here's the way to avoid all that potential misery and frustration.

Break Down the Gun for Complete Cleaning
For a through cleaning, begin by breaking down your firearm as completely as possible, according to Wes Dillon, Cabela's authority on firearms, and curator of the Gun Library at Cabela's Sidney Retail location. "Take the action, barrel and trigger group apart, if possible," he says. "The more completely you can take your rifle or shotgun apart, the more completely you'll be able to thoroughly clean it." A good quality Gun Care Caddy will help organize your cleaning gear and reduce lost parts. You may also want to consider a metal gun vise, or the traditional hardwood gun vise.

Cabela's hardwood gun vice.

"The idea is to remove as much moisture, dirt and grime from the gun to prevent excess wear and tear on metal surfaces, and to prevent the gun from malfunctioning in the field," he said. "Of course rust damage is always a primary concern as well."

Dillon suggests using aerosol solvents like Birchwood Casey products or Remington Action cleaner to get into hard-to-reach places. "The pressurized stream from the aerosol can will help remove stubborn, hard-to-get-at particles of dirt and accumulated grime that can damage metal and cause your gun to quit when you need it most."

He urges shooters to pay special attention to moving parts, like the trigger assembly. "Clean these parts especially well, since it is one of the most important areas of your firearm and one of the easiest to clog with dirt."

Dillon says that he tells many of his customers to soak the trigger groups of their guns, especially pump and semi-automatic shotguns, in a can of diesel fuel for 24 hours. This soaking will remove really stubborn grime and dirt. "But I also warn them to make sure they only put the metal parts of the gun in the fuel. Diesel fuel will ruin wood. Blow out excess solvent with compressed air if possible"

Make use of an old toothbrush to clean the tight corners and areas a rag can't reach. They make an excellent tool, which will speed up the process of completing a thorough cleaning.

Before re-assembly, apply a light... very light... coating of light machine oil or a dry lubricant like Hoppe's Dry Lube. Too much oil can create a gathering place for moisture and dirt, not to mention it will eventually saturate the wood and cause unsightly appearance problems with your stock.

Caring for the Stock
Nearly 90 percent of all modern firearms have polyurethane finishes. Care of the wood is basically a simple wipe down with a soft cloth dampened with soapy water.

According to Dillon, that is all that is needed for poly-coated stocks. However, oil-finished stocks found on higher quality shotguns and rifles are a different story. "Oil finished stocks require the same basic care you give fine furniture. They need to be cleaned and then oiled and/or waxed."

Homer Fornby's furniture cleaner and polish is high on his list of wood care products. He also recommends Purdey's Warthog and Birchwood Casey products. "Don't scrimp with an oil finished stock. With proper care it will last a lifetime."

Choke Tubes
The main cause of fouling is plastic wads used in modern loads, according to Dillon. The plastic can corrode metal parts quickly, so clean your choke tubes well, and clean them often to prevent problems. "A good solvent will take off the fouling and then a light coat of oil on the threads is all that is needed." He recommends only tightening the choke tubes by hand.

Bore guide.

There is no difference in the approach to cleaning barrels of shotguns or rifles. Always clean them from the breech end, moving toward the muzzle. A bore guide can be helpful in aligning the cleaning rod down the axis of the bore. "Swab the barrel with bore cleaner and/or solvent to remove lead, plastic, moisture and anything which can foul a barrel and cause metal damage. Bronze or plastic brushes help remove stubborn deposits. Remember to use only caliber and gauge specific brushes. A big brush in a small bore can cause damage," he said. Use solvents such as Hoppe's #9 Plus and similar solvents by Tetra Gun or Shooter's Choice. Adding a word of caution, Dillon reminds us to, "Make sure you use the solvents and cleaning materials in a well-ventilated area."

Storage
"Parallel your gun storage to your environment," he says. "Store your firearms outside of a case where air can get to them. Hard-sided gun cases with foam interiors are a big no-no for long term storage. The foam will deteriorate when in prolonged contact with oils and solvents." Dillon doesn't like to see guns stored in the silicone-treated sacks for long periods of time because the sacks can attract moisture, which causes rust.

When storing your guns for fishing season, he suggests putting them in a gun safe, gun cabinet, or closet where children can't get to them, --preferably with a trigger lock in place-- away from direct sunlight and high humidity. "That means no basements, unless they are climate controlled, and don't store you firearms near a bathroom where humidity can be extremely high." In high humidity environments, a commercial grade desiccant or electric dehumidifiers can help reduce moisture concerns in closets or safes.

If you live in a house with more than one floor, storing them on a level with a bathroom overhead is a major disaster waiting to happen. Water always runs downhill, and eventually -even in new houses- water will leak or run over its containment.

One of the most important aspects of this process can be derived, by sharing this cleaning experience with a youngster. Learning the proper way to care for your valuable firearms will give them a greater appreciation for their value, and prepare them for that day when they will own such a treasure.

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