A BushWear Guide to Cleaning & Storing Your Firearm
With the season now over, it is important to clean and store your guns properly. If stored unprotected your prized firearm can fall victim to easily avoidable corrosion - the gradual breakdown of metal which affects your firearm’s longevity and safety. It is absolutely vital to clean your gun properly and provide lasting protection when putting it away for any length of time.
Cleaning
Common sense first; before cleaning your rifle or shotgun make sure it is safe and unloaded, then dismantle it. Cleaning is easy with the right products; spray a small amount of Napier Gun Cleaner and Lubricant down the barrels or chamber, leaving for approximately 1 minute, which allows the chemical to soften any lead and plastic deposits or fouling caused by cartridge cases. Place some Napier Ultra Clean (a self amalgamated fabric that is rough on one side, smooth on the other; effectively acting as a brush and a mop on a roll) onto a jag and run through the barrels (breech to muzzle) 3-4 times, or until the outer layer of Ultra Clean emerges from the barrel clean.
Reassemble your rifle or shotgun and apply a light coating of Napier Gun Oil to the outside of any wear areas and wipe over, making sure everything is free running. Napier Gun Oil and Napier Gun Grease both contain VP90, which will protect the gun from corrosion. Wipe off any finger marks with a microfilament cloth and your gun is now ready to be put in storage until next season. Rule of thumb when lubricating a firearm: If you can see the lubricant, you’ve probably used too much. Remember: a little dab here and there is all you need.
torage
After taking the time to clean your gun, how do you ensure your firearm won’t pick up rust or pits during long term storage? Napier’s VP90 Corrosion Inhibitor is a fantastic dry, odourless sachet, which you simply pop into your cabinet to ensure any metal surface is protected. A single sachet will protect 1 cubic square metre for a period of 12 months, after which you should replace.
If your gun cabinet is hidden away in a location which is perhaps not as dry and warm as the rest of the house then moisture can be a serious problem. Excessive moisture will cause rapid corrosion and pitting on metal surfaces. LOCKDOWN have a range of products to tackle this problem, starting with their Silica Gel
Bag, which will absorb moisture from the air inside the cabinet, causing the crystals to change colour once fully saturated. The silica can then be recharged in the oven for use again and again. The LOCKDOWN Hygrometer provides accurate humidity readings, with a large, easy to read dial. Completing the set is the
LOCKDOWN Dehumidifier Rod, which is available in two sizes (12’’ & 18’’) and comes equipped with interior mounting brackets. The Rod works by warming the air in the cabinet, causing convection so the air circulates throughout the safe. The Rods require mains power so you will need to make a hole in your safe
to allow the cable to run through. Armed with LOCKDOWN, your treasured, valuable firearms will be protected against humidity, mildew and condensation.
If your gun will be in storage for an extensive period it is good practice to release the tension on the firing pin. Tipton Snap Caps (rifle) or Brass Snap Caps (shotgun) are handy and inexpensive products that enable you to safely dry fire your gun, releasing the tension on the springs and extending the life of your firearm.
If you are unsure of how to use any of these products or the steps involved, then we welcome you please to get in touch. You can leave a comment below, email us sales@bushwear.co.uk or alternatively call the BushWear experts on 0845 226 0469.
Coming up we will be doing a series of articles on how to clean and store your rifle and/or shotgun, looking at the processes more in depth. There will also be tips on how to get your gun ready for the new season, servicing your firearm and how to use a bore guide.
