It seems to form a barrier between the corrosive fouling and the metal.
The fouling then comes out very easily in the form of a powdery grey residue rather than the usual sticky, sooty mess.
It’s always worthwhile to take the time to check an old gun thoroughly. You want to make sure that it is safe and if you’re buying it second-hand, you want to make sure that it doesn’t need a lot of expensive repairs. (Read our piece on gun stock shine –…
Q: How often should you clean an airgun barrel? I’ve just cleaned the barrel of my air rifle and, rather than improving its accuracy, it seems to have had an adverseeffect on grouping. I used a proper cleaning kit but I’m concerned that I may have caused permanent damage to…
The season’s over now, and we have another seven months before low-ground shooting opens once more. But that does not mean that shooting kit should simply be abandoned until the autumn. This is the ideal time to scrutinise our kit carefully and thoroughly, service shooting gear if necessary and ensure…
Today’s performance fabrics such as Gore-Tex mean that we can stay outside in wet, freezing temperatures for longer than ever before. But what about caring for your air rifle in cold and wet weather? What do you need to know about maintaining it, so that it continues to perform well…
The ideal weight of a shotgun trigger is usually a setting of about 4lb – anything under 3lb is dangerous and anything more than 5lb is a handicap. So if want to lighten your shotgun trigger, how do you adjust trigger-pull? (You might also like to read about trigger ‘freeze’…
Home gunsmithing The guns you may be planning to work on were made by time-served craftsmen at the top of their game. Time may have been unkind to their creations, but unskilled gunsmithing, restoration or repair work is the unkindest cut of all, to paraphrase a line from Shakespeare’s Julius…
Choosing gun oil I have been asked on numerous occasions by those new to the world of shooting whether gun oil is any better than any other oil you’d pick up at the hardware shop? And what about gun maintenance products. Won’t good old WD-40 or 3-in-1 do the same…
At the end of a shooting lesson I usually give some time to show a pupil how to clean a shotgun. It’s an important part of gun maintenance. Whilst professional shotgun cleaning at the end of the season is always worthwhile, every shooter should know how to clean a shotgun…
Always store guns muzzle down Which way up (or down) should you store your gun when you put it back in the gun cabinet? Well, the answer is that you should always store guns muzzle down. Wondering why? It’s very logical when you think about it. The reason is that…
Dangers of obstructing gun barrels In the countryside, normal life goes on in wintry weather. And that includes shooting, which usually thrives in snowy conditions. A bit of old-fashioned hard weather keeps the birds from straying, while a decent covering of snow adds a winter wonderland aspect to a driven…
Take 10 minutes to clean a semi-auto shotgun properly every time you use it and you’ll avoid a lot of issues. Another reason is that you also save money on repairs and get more for it if you ever want to trade it in or sell it. Lack of cleaning…
Bruce Potts finds out what happens when you shorten a barrel and fire .270 Winchester rounds
What can you do if your choke tubes are stuck fast in your shotgun? And how can you prevent this happening?
Storing a shotgun The usual way I care for my shotguns when I put them away at the end of the game season is as follows: Intermittently strip the gun. Make free with gun oil, drenching ejectors and breech so they look like the aftermath of a shipping disaster in…
Professional shotgun cleaning Faced with a bill of just over £800 for putting his grubby old gun back together, a local sportsman wasn’t very receptive to my advice that it was a good idea to invest in professional shotgun cleaning at the end of each season, or every two at…
Problems with rifle accuracy frequently frustrates rifle shooters. It’s not surprising really. A rifle is a fine precision instrument. Everything within it needs to work correctly. Many things can affect rifle accuracy. Some you can fix yourself, others you will have to bring to a gunsmith’s attention. Four things that…
I have finally, after much grunting and cursing, succeeded in loosening and removing the stock bolt from my Miroku 6000. When I re-assemble the gun after cleaning the action, must I put the bolt back as tight as it was?
Gun cleaning: I have been told that if I clean my .22 rimfire it will lose its accuracy. Is this true?