Reprinted with permission from Fluoramics
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Hunting weather is not always kind to firearms. See how Fluoramics Gun-Care Kit can help keep your gun(s) well maintained, clean, and lubricated. Rust prevention is also added so that your weapons cycle and fire as designed.
hunting weather is not always kind to firearms
Here in Minnesota, we enjoy deer hunting when there is snow on the ground, and for our waterfowl hunters, well . . . the wetter and foggier the better! But all of this moisture on a firearm can easily start the formation of rust.
So during hunting season it is imperative to keep guns well maintained. Guns need to be cleaned, lubricated, and protected from corrosion so that firearms cycle and fire as designed.
I am writing today about what I do to prepare my guns for the end of the season, knowing that they will sit idle in a gun safe until spring when I start shooting again.
The very first thing that to do when cleaning your weapon is to ensure that it is unloaded. And then check it again a second time just to be sure!
As for the tear down, disassemble the weapon per the manufacturer’s instructions. For the purposes of this article, I’ll be working on my 30-year-old Remington Model 870 Wingmaster, 12-gauge pump shotgun. I bought this shotgun new and it has never failed me. Mostly, I believe, because I keep it well maintained.
My Key Steps
• When you tear down your weapon, be sure to arrange the pieces in an orderly manner on a towel or cloth mat. This will ensure that the small parts do not roll off the table and end up getting damaged or lost on the floor!
• I’ll then wipe down all components with a clean cloth. I pay particular attention to the little nooks and crannies where gun powder residue and dirt gets lodged. Cotton swabs can help here. I like to add a little Tufoil Gun–Coat to my cleaning cloth when I am removing the dirt and gunpowder residue as it makes the cleaning process much easier.
• Don’t forget about chokes if you are cleaning a shotgun barrel. I normally clean the barrel first using Gun-Coat on cleaning patches or on a barrel snake. I remove the chokes, clean the threads, lightly lubricate the threads with Gun-Coat, and re-install the choke.
• For me, the trigger assembly is the toughest part to clean. There are a lot of places for dirt and grim to hide in that assembly! But again, take your time, and use cotton swabs and cleaning cloths with a little Gun-Coat. If the trigger assembly is really fouled, you may even have to clean it with an ultrasonic cleaner. And after that, add a very fine (VERY FINE!) coating of Gun-Coat to the assembly.
• Once I have the inside of the receiver clean, I add a thin (again, VERY THIN!) layer of Gun Grease to the slots where the slides travel. As everyone knows, it can be easy to over-lubricate a gun so keep that in mind. A little goes a long way! You can use very little Gun-Coat or Gun Grease because both products are extremely efficient lubricants.
• While my 870 does not have them, don’t forget to clean and lubricate magazines if your gun has them. Take them apart and clean the springs, the body, and both end plates. If you do, the shells will transfer to your chamber more smoothly, quietly, and efficiently.
• On a pump shotgun, it can be easy to overlook the magazine tube, magazine follower, and magazine spring. Remove, wipe down, and lubricate them with Gun-Coat, and run the cleaning rod through the tube also. Lots of dirt and grime can collect in there and easily transfer into the receiver area and the chamber.
fluoramics gun-care kit can help keep your gun(s) well maintained, clean, and lubricated.
• After you are satisfied with your cleaning and lubricating, reassemble your firearm per the manufacturer’s instructions. I do a final wipe-down with HinderRUST S4.0 on a cloth on all exposed metal. HinderRUST has fantastic rust inhibitors in its formulation, giving you great protection against rust.
At the end of the reassembly, I’ll cycle the slide a few times, leave the chamber open, place the shotgun on “safe” and put the gun away until Spring without any concerns of rust “growing” on the metal while she waits for me to bring her out again. And, just think, Spring is only 4 months away!
Until then, keep your firearms clean and be safe! A gun is an investment that can last for generations and it should not be neglected!
*Written by Russell Marsolek, a long-time hunting enthusiast.
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