Gun care crucial for winter shooters

By the end of November most hunting rifles and shotguns have been thoroughly cleaned inside and out, then stored in a gun safe or cabinet until the next bird or deer season. Over the last few years however, more and more outdoorsmen are participating in winter shooting sports. Rabbit hunting, crow hunting and of course trap competition at the local rod and gun club are favorite cold weather pastimes.      Due to the frigid weather as well as frequent temperature changes to the guns while transferring from house to vehicle to outdoors and then back, firearms used regularly in winter weather require special attention. This is especially true for flat-shooting long range varmint rifles where pinpoint accuracy is tantamount to success on wily predators that offer only rare, random shot opportunities.
Current prices on high quality shotguns or name brand rifles can easily top a thousand dollars. Regular interior and exterior cleaning maintains the weapon’s quality and appearance should resale or trade-in be possible.
Guns regularly exposed to extreme changes in temperatures encountered by winter shooting need special protection. Barricade by Birchwood Casey comes in a spray can or handy wipes in single carry-along packets, and is the finest exterior and interior protectant I’ve found in years. Take a shotgun on an ocean hunt without some sort of protective coating and within two hours rust can be seen forming on exposed metal. A quick spray of Barricade and wipe down before any hunt near sea water, in rain or snow, or when a firearm is going from 75 degrees to below zero temperatures will truly prevent damage.
For cleaning the inner barrel of scatterguns, more than a ramrod and patch is necessary. Lead loads were soft and left few impressions on shotgun bores, but the steel and non-toxic pellets required for current waterfowl loads leave more than powder and shot residue behind. Use a strong solvent on at least two patches first, than a brass bore brush to clean away stubborn remnants, another solvent soaked patch and finally a soft bore mop or cloth bore snake lightly coated with a moisture displacing product.
Shotgun trigger and safety mechanisms, recoil spring systems or gas operating rings and tubes should be removed annually at least. Using soft patches, a tooth brush, a small, long bristled paint brush and a polishing cloth made especially for firearms, each part should be carefully and thoroughly degreased, then scrubbed free of debris, cleaned and lightly coated with a moisture resistant protectant.
One of the most prevalent errors made when cleaning firearms is the application of too much lubricant and protectant. These products only serve to attract and hold dust, dirt and debris during months of storage, all of which lead to malfunctions of one sort or another. A misfire due to grit in the trigger mechanism or failure to eject a shell can be frustrating, but a poorly functioning safety can prove deadly!
A bit more time-and-effort applied to the lands and grooves of pinpoint shooting barrels on varmint rifles will be required to assure these 200 to 400 yards shots travel true. As well as the normal swabbing with cleaner, degreaser and protectants on patches, hard bristled brushes and soft bore mops, a couple of special liquids are also in order. Along with powder and carbon fouling a rifle barrel, a buildup of lead and copper produce the greatest deterrent to consistent accuracy. At least two rounds of scrubbing and brushing with a liquid lead remover, then a copper removing liquid should be undertaken after every 50 rounds to assure ballistics and accuracy.
Some newer gun care solvents and lubricants that have proven very effective are: Barricade and Gun Scrubber by Birchwood Casey; Hoppe’s BoreSnakes and Elite Bore solvent; and Shooters Choice Lead Remover, Copper Remover, Rust Prevent and FP-10 Lubricant Elite. These cleaning and protective firearm products do it all. Proper gun cleaning is time consuming and tedious, but it helps maintain gun value and assures proper function. During winter months, proper firearm care is even more essential and it all comes down to you.