CLEANING ROD

One of the most important cleaning tools is surely the suitable cleaning rod, without which it is almost impossible to clean the barrel effectively. Unless it is used for shotguns only, the cleaning rod must have a ball-bearing or friction-bearing-mounted handle so that the corresponding cleaning utensil can turn with the grooves and lands. If this is not the case and the cleaning utensil moves over the lands and grooves, soiling will stick in the corners of the grooves and the edges of the lands will be damaged. Therefore, uncoated cleaning rods made of tool steel are also to be avoided, as they also cause damage in the barrel if used imprudently – especially in the particularly sensitive transition area from the chamber to the barrel, a key contributor to the precision of the gun.

An exact match

The cleaning rod must always match the corresponding calibre exactly. For example, a 22-inch cleaning rod fits into a 9.3 mm calibre but has no place there. In the event of higher exertion of force it would offer insufficient stability and would sag. There is thus the risk that the cleaning rod will rub against the barrel and damage it.

Multi-part cleaning rods are recommended only to a limited degree, as with these the threads can loosen or even open due to the rotation in the barrel. The cleaning rod thus would become unstable and could break at the spot in question. However, these can sometimes perform good services in cleaning loose gun barrels. Here, if the only the front part of the cleaning rod is used – without the handle – it can be pulled completely through the barrel, thus preventing the need for retracting it.

A necessary complement when using a cleaning rod is a false lock, with which damage to the transition to the chamber can be prevented. A simple sleeve can also perform good services here. Use of the longitudinal stop prevents the cleaning rod from hitting against the sensitive muzzle. However, it can be used only with pieces of felt. If brushes or patches are used, the work must be performed without a longitudinal stop.

The most important features of a high-quality cleaning rod are doubtlessly those that have a handle with a bearing and a coating, i.e. a tool that cannot damage the barrel. The focus with the handle bearing should be on minimal bearing clearance and on its ability to run smoothly not, for instance, on its rotational speed. The actual handle should fit as well as possible in the hand so that the pressure can be transferred optimally onto the cleaning utensil.

A recommended alternative to the plastic coating is the newer cleaning rods made of carbon, a material that shows itself resistant to all cleaning liquids on the market. In addition, carbon is soft enough not to damage the barrel but at the same time is also extremely stable, allowing even the most stubborn of deposits to be removed without any problem. Another advantage relevant to hunting trips is that cleaning rods made of carbon are at least 50% lighter than spring steel versions, for example.

Brushes

For removing the tough soiling in the barrel, a brush made of soft metal, such as bronze, is to be preferred, so that, on the one hand, it is hard enough to release the combustion residues, but on the other hand not so hard that it damages the barrel. For this reason, wire brushes and steel wool have no business in the barrel.

It is important that the diameter of the brushes exactly match the relevant calibre. If the brush’s diameter is too small, not all the soiling will be removed. If the bristles are too long, they bend backwards, do not concede the pressure ideally onto the inner wall of the barrel and slide over the dirt, thus failing to have the desired cleaning effect. Brushes with as dense a set of bristles as possible made of as thin wire as possible are recommended, as these are the best at removing residues.

Depending on the ammunition used and the gun, brushes with bristles sanded slightly over calibre can also be used for particularly stubborn soiling.

To avoid old dirt being spread in the barrel, the brushes must also be cleaned again and again. BALLISTOL products such as gun part cleaner or Ballistol Cold Degreaser are recommended for the cleaning.

At all events, however, mechanical cleaning should be performed very carefully so that the bristles do not become bent. The gun part cleaner, in particular, achieves excellent cleaning results thanks to the high pressure and the effective mix of its active agents.

Mobile Cleaning Assistants

Metallic cleaning chains such as the Heckler & Koch chain or the armed forces chain are generally not recommended. If you are looking for a handy travel cleaning set for trips, a Flex-Clean cleaning set from BALLISTOL is the best solution. For fast de-oiling, the products BoreBlitz and BoreSnake can also be used. Above all when pulling it through, it should be ensured that the rope or cord does not make contact with the muzzle. It is also important that the cleaning cord be cleaned regularly.

GUN TOW, FELT CLEANER AND PATCHES

For effective barrel cleaning, various aids should also be ready for use, such as patches (small fuzz-free cotton or microfibre cloths) with a patch holder (jag) that matches the calibre, gun tow (Sucol silk tow for rifle barrels and Sucolin hemp tow for shot barrels) as well as standard and super-intensive felt cleaners matching the calibre exactly, as shown in the picture, above right.

Cleaning Assistants

Since compartmentalized parts – and, in some cases, parts that are difficult to access – of the gun must also be cleaned and cared for, other cleaning assistants should also be at hand, such as cotton pads, cleaning cords, woolen wipers and fuzz-free cloths. Cotton cloths are always to be preferred to those made of other materials such as microfibres, as cotton, unlike microfibre cloths, absorbs the dirt into the fibre. Normal, fuzz-free kitchen towel and tissue paper can also be used without any problems and in versatile fashion (matt side to the barrel). Additionally, a toothbrush, pipe cleaners, dental tools made of plastic, toothpicks and shish kebab skewers are often very helpful for gun cleaning and perform good services in the case of small sites that are hard to access.

Chemical Detergents

When mechanical tools are used for the cleaning, only a limited cleaning result can be achieved. This result is significantly improved by combining them with the use of the right chemical detergents. Here, the list of requirements includes, in particular, gun oils, barrel cleaner, cold degreaser and gun part cleaner. However, it is of course necessary to select the correct cleaning agent for each use – a gun oil does not replace a high-quality barrel cleaner.

It goes without saying that the correct cleaning agents are the most important thing for cleaning and caring for your gun properly. If an unsuitable agent is used, the gun can suffer; if cheap cleaners are used, not all soiling is removed and the gun loses its precision or – even worse – it becomes unusable. Therefore, you should be sure to opt for high-quality gun oils like Ballistol Universal Oil. Ballistol Universal Oil can be used for all parts of your gun – from the barrel to the breech mechanism and the magazine to the stock and the leather strap.

In addition, special gun oils such as Gunex, GunCer and GunTec are also available, which, although not as versatile as Ballistol Universal Oil, have special qualities in specific areas.

Use of normal multi-functional oils is definitely not to be advised, as these can neither neutralize the acidic residues nor can they offer longterm protection for the gun. In addition, they may damage the stock wood or the leather rifle sling as well.

Attention should also be paid to the suitability of the products when it comes to chemical detergents. Some solvents and cleaning agents such as acetone or a cheap brake cleaner can attack and damage the gun materials. Therefore, only suitable special cleaners should be used here –such as the gun parts cleaner from BALLISTOL – in order to achieve an optimal result. This cleaner’s extremely effective mix of active agents achieves a convincing cleaning result and thanks to the strong spray jet, soiling can easily be sprayed off, even at sites that are hard to access. Additionally, particularly stubborn soiling on surfaces and guides can also easily be cleaned mechanically using the attachable brush made of stable nylon bristles – without damaging the surfaces, e.g. when browning.

Gun Oil

There are major differences between special gun oil and off-the-shelf multi-functional oils – both with regard to ingredients and with regard to the function of the oil. A good gun oil contains selected base oils, special additives and inhibitors. Thanks to this special composition, a gun oil has unique basic functions – the so-called CLP properties.

C = Cleaning

The oil must be able to release and remove dirt as well as old oil and grease. Of course, extremely good soot-releasing properties are of particular importance here.

L = Lubricating

The oil must possess an outstanding lubricating property. A long-lasting lubricating film on the lubrication sites must be ensured under all climatic conditions, as well as in the case of high pressure. Thus, it must not volatilize.

P = Protecting It must protect metal in particular from damage, wear and rust. To this end, it must spread autonomously – i.e. it must be capable of creeping – and must not stick.

No multi-functional oil from a DIY or discount store can fulfil all of these aspects, which are absolutely essential for gun care. Such products mostly have strengths in on one of these areas but do not cover the other two. Therefore, a special gun oil like Ballistol Universal Oil is essential for cleaning, lubricating and maintaining any gun.

Cases And Gun Holders

For safe gun cleaning, the gun must be secured. This prevents the gun from slipping off the table, ensures that all areas of the gun are easily accessible and improves the cleaning results. A further advantage is when the muzzle is inclined slightly downwards to prevent oils and cleaners running back into the mechanism or the magazine well. There are several options for securing the gun that have proved successful in practice. The simplest method is a vice on a workbench, equipped with chop protectors made of felt. This form of securing the gun offers optimal stability and the gun is also generally located at a suitable height for the cleaning. Gun holders, with which long and short guns can be secured, are also highly recommended. Special range boxes are cases that not only can be used as optimal gun holders for the cleaning but also, at the same time, serve to store cleaning materials.

Chapter 4 Checking

The Individual Clean

The basic steps of gun cleaning are known to all gun owners. However, there is no patented formula for the “right” way to clean a gun – instead, a supposed “right” way is influenced by many factors: the type of gun and its use, the degree of soiling and the ammunition used, to name just the most important ones. Therefore, before cleaning the gun, it is necessary first to check which work and cleaning steps are necessary and actually need to be performed.

This 4th chapter deals with this process of checking the gun and its soiling and precedes the actual cleaning.