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How to take care of weapons?

Lukáš Hajný

In this article you'll learn about how and why to clean your guns. We'll also cover cleaning and maintenance products. First, we'll talk about how to clean firearms. Then we'll get into cleaning gas guns.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO REGULARLY CLEAN GUNS?

It is best summed up by a quote from the famous Czech film The Black Barons. Lieutenant Troník asks: "Control question, comrades. What will our well-known Model 24 submachine gun do if we leave it in the wind and rain? Well?"  Private Vločka: "It will rust, won't it, dude?"  Lieutenant Tronik: "It will rust, correct. What about the barrel? Well, it corrodes, you fools!"

Corrosion and accumulated impurities are the biggest enemies of weapons. Proper cleaning will ensure reliable functioning and a long service life. A weapon is an instrument that must be relied upon 100% under all conditions. Whether it's an assault rifle, hunting rifle, sporting pistol, gas gun, flobert gun or even an air rifle, always remember that it is still a weapon and needs to be treated with proper respect and care.

Nowadays you'll come across corrosion-resistant materials and modern coatings, but don't be fooled. Even such weapons need regular maintenance. Built-up dirt and dust can cause fatal malfunctions. If neglected, a gun can be completely devalued in just a few years.

VIDEO GUIDE FOR GUN MAINTENANCE

HOW FREQUENTLY?

This depends on many factors - what kind of gun you use, where you store it, how often you shoot, what ammo you use, etc. In general, it is recommended to do at least a quick servicing after every shooting session. Simply run a boresnake through the barrel and wipe the metal parts with a greasy cloth. For hunting guns, it is important to perform at least basic maintenance immediately after returning from hunting or patrolling in rain or snow.

It is known that the first signs of corrosion are visible after 24 hours. It doesn't take much time, but in the end you'll be glad that your gun will last longer than your friend who puts his gun in a corner after shooting.

A) CLEANING FIREARMS

There are many types of firearms, so we will only go through the general procedures.

We will pay most attention to the barrel and bore maintenance. The barrel is the most stressed part of the gun when shooting. It also has the greatest effect on shooting accuracy.

After each shot, various residues, gunpowder, lead and copper remain in it. The residue is aggressive against the barrel material - both chemically and mechanically.

For this reason, it is also necessary to clean the corrosion resistant rifling, which may fall out due to mechanical damage. We will now look at how to clean a gun properly.

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1. Perform a disassembly of the weapon necessary for cleaning

Keep safety in mind and follow the manufacturer's instructions.

2. spray the barrel with a larger amount of oil

There are many oils on the market and every shooter prefers something different. From our selection we can recommend the very popular Ballistol oil.

It's made purely from natural substances and has excellent protective, lubricating and preservative effects. It is perhaps the most versatile oil on the market and as a bonus it smells great.

3. Leave the oil to work in the barrel

Then place the gun, or just the barrel, on an absorptive pad, muzzle facing down, and allow the oil to work. In this case it is a good idea to take into account the manufacturer's recommendations, some products can be allowed to work for up to 24 hours.

 

More gun oils

 

4. in the meantime, we'll clean the other parts of the weapon 

Whether you're cleaning a rifle, pistol or shotgun, the same thing still applies. We're trying to remove all the impurities. Prepare a suitable brush for this (even a special tactical toothbrush is perfectly fine, a harder one is best). A soft paintbrush will also prove to be a useful helper, as well as a set of cotton buds and some strips of cloth.

Pay particular attention to the various nooks and crannies, barrel locking, trigger mechanism, etc. Also clean the magazine occasionally, but don't overdo it with oil so that dirt doesn't needlessly stick to it.

5. Coat the metal parts with a thin layer of oil

Thoroughly lubricate all metal parts and friction surfaces. This is where polymer-framed gun owners have a little bit of an easier task.

6. barrel cleaning

We've left the oil in the barrel to work and we can finally start cleaning it. To clean the barrel we use a suitable rod, preferably a brass one, which is the most gentle on the bore. The barrel is always pulled from the chamber towards the muzzle. Lastly, wipe it clean with a piece of cloth. Continue until the barrel is clean.

7. Barrel degreasing

The next step is to degrease the barrel with e.g. rubbing alcohol. This is especially important if you use aggressive solvents. Once the barrel has been degreased, it is advisable to lubricate it with a suitable lubricant. Products from Tetra Gun or F.W. Klever are excellent for this. They reduce friction between the bullet and the bore and have an anti-corrosive effect.

8. polymer stock treatment

After reassembly, wipe the metal parts of the gun with a greasy cloth to form a thin film of oil on the surface. Now comes the often neglected part - the stock. Most polymer stock owners don't give this much thought, which is a shame. We've got a Guntec Plastic Cleaner for their needs. Not only does it clean the plastic beautifully, but it also maintains it.

9. WOODEN STOCK TREATMENT

Wooden stocks require proper care. For example, Ballistol Balsin stock oil will do the trick. It is available for light and dark stocks. It restores the wood's shine, enhances its pattern and protects against rot and mould.

B) Cleaning and maintenance of gas guns

Cleaning a gas gun has its own peculiarities. In many respects the procedure is the same as for a real firearm, the difference comes when cleaning the barrel. In the vast majority of cases, gas pistols are fitted with a hard metal baffle. This leaves many users scratching their heads as to how properly clean the barrel of a gas gun. In addition, acoustic or even pepper bullets can make the barrel very dirty. If you have fired any bullet with an irritant, we strongly recommend the use of rubber gloves.

Cleaning the barrel of a gas gun

Since the barrel is not rifled and no projectile comes out of it, there is no need to pay as much attention to it as with firearms. It is enough to spray it thoroughly with oil and let it work for a while. Place the barrel, muzzle facing downwards on an absorptive cloth so that the oil can wash out the dirt.

After that it's time for the brush, which you usually get with your gas gun. We progressively clean the barrel from both sides. You don't have to follow the process from chamber to muzzle. Finally, dry it with a piece of cloth. After reassembling the gun, wipe the metal parts with a greasy cloth to create a protective film on the surface.

C) Maintenance and cleaning of co2 air guns (replicas)

We can encounter a number of CO2 guns that not only have a very realistic appearance, but also a realistic disassembly. They are maintained similarly to the real firearms, with only a few fundamental differences..

The most important thing to watch out for are the rubber seals. They dry out when using conventional CO2 cartridges. Only use silicone oil to lubricate them. Never use petroleum-based products that are abrasive to the seals. Thoroughly lubricate the gas system and if you discover that any seals are damaged, replace them with new ones. Of course, don't forget to lubricate the metal parts and friction surfaces.

CO2 CARTRIDGES WITH OIL

If you own a replica that doesn't allow a realistic disassembly, CO2 cartridges containing silicone oil are an easy solution. These will take care of all the work for you and thoroughly lubricate the internal mechanism. After 5 - 10 conventional cartridges, we recommend using one oil cartridge.

D) cleaning and maintenance of an air rifle

For an air rifle, we will focus mainly on the rifling and treatment of metal parts. When cleaning the barrel, the same procedure applies as for a real firearm. Quality cleaning tools are essential. Always wipe the rifling dry. Don't overdo it with oil and be careful not to get it on the piston seal so it doesn't get damaged.

long-term weapon preservation

If you're not planning to use your gun for a long time, it's important to treat it with a suitable preservative. Some oils are excellent lubricants, but are not able to protect against corrosion in the long term. Wax-based preservatives provide the best protection, but in many cases these prevent the immediate use of the weapon.

Brunox oil provides excellent properties and reliably protects against corrosion for up to 18 months. It also protects against moisture and corrosive agents, displaces water and has excellent adhesion. The advantage is that it doesn't damage leather, wood, rubber or plastics.

weapon storage

We also cannot forget to store weapons properly. It is important that they are placed in a dry place. A tried-and-tested tip is to put a bag of silica gel in the gun cabinet (or gun safe), which binds moisture.

boresnake as a helper always at hand

The boresnake is also popular among shooters. It is basically a cord that has a brass rod at the beginning. It slides into the barrel and goes all the way to the muzzle.

A brush for rough impurities is built into the front of the cleaning part of the cord. It is available for all possible calibers.

However, a lot of people think that a boresnake will clean the barrel including the chamber perfectly with a few repeated pulls, unfortunately this is not true.

The Boresnake is designed primarily for rapid barrel cleaning before and immediately after shooting. It is small and compact, so you can take it on a multi-day hunting trip.

nanotechnology has already reached shooters

An interesting new product on the market is an anticorrosive and lubricating spray from the Czech manufacturer Nanoprotech. The manufacturer guarantees protection against corrosion for up to 365 days. Nanoparticles adhere to the metal and loosen caked deposits of impurities, gunpowder residue, lead and copper. The dirt can then simply be wiped away.

Additionally, it displaces water and forms a protective film against corrosion. It retains its properties even under extreme conditions from - 80 °C to + 140 °C. It is gentle and does not damage wood, plastic or rubber. You will extend the life of your weapon and ensure its reliable function by using it.

If you have any questions about cleaning, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will be happy to help you.

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Autor článku: Lukáš Hajný

Weapons and hunting expert, ex-Balistas

Weapons and hunting specialist. Dealt with technical questions from customers, filmed video reviews, wrote for the help room and blog. Worked at Balistas from 2017-2022.

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