storing gun with lubed barrel, but what about varmints

[edmonds]

"They" recommend that if you are not going to use a gun for a few days, you coat the barrel with a light film of oil (or solvent) to prevent rust. Of course, you have to remove the oil/solvent before firing.

But what if you want to keep a gun available for varmints (coyotes etc)?

[Txrider]

Originally Posted by edmonds

"They" recommend that if you are not going to use a gun for a few days, you coat the barrel with a light film of oil (or solvent) to prevent rust. Of course, you have to remove the oil/solvent before firing.

But what if you want to keep a gun available for varmints (coyotes etc)?

I always clean my barrel inside with a brush and solvent and leave it lightly oiled inside the barrel after use. Maybe oil it again if it sits a long time. Nothing you would have to clean out before firing it, it's just a little oil on the surface wiped on with a cotton patch down the barrel.

I also lightly oil the outside, wiping it down with a lightly oiled rag after handling, and every once in a while if not used, as oils from your skin handling it will eventually start rusting if your gun is left out so you can grab it for varmints.

[pheasantplucker]

I run a tiny bit of oil in each barrel after each cleaning. Not even half an eyedropper full. Be sure barrel is pointed down (in storage)so oil doesn't run into receiver. I don't worry about cleaning out barrel next time I fire it. First round will clean it out fine.

[wy_white_wolf]

After cleaning I just wet one of the cleaning pads down oil and run it down the barrel. Never worried about cleaning out the oil before firing.

[watcher]

Every shooter I know leaves a film of oil in the bbl after cleaning. The only ones who worry about it are the ones who are very serious target shooters. They claim that that film of oil will change where the first round hits. If you are just trying to hit a critter there's no problem.

Now if you are going to store the weapon for a long time and you grease the bbl then you should play it safe and clean it out first.

[gwhilikerz]

It used to be a ritual when we boys were hunting with Dad that we would fire a shot the night before the season opener "to clear the oil and foul the barrel". We didn't clean the barrel again until we were through for the season.

[jross]

I notice it was mentioned leaving oil or solvent in the barrel. Do not leave any solvent in a barrel if your are going to store it, only a thin film of oil. Solvent dissolves or softens lead and plastic and should only be used for cleaning, not storage. I use GunSheath inside and outside a gun for storage or in the field. GunScubber for cleaning.

[oneokie]

Good advice given. The chamber is the only problem area for more than the lightest coating of oil. Oily chamber prevents the cartridge case from gripping the chamber walls, thus increasing the thrust on the bolt when fired.

[7thswan]

I keep shotguns arround, with a cutoff sleeve of a sweatshirt over the barrel. Not sewn on the end just flipped over.

[JJ Grandits]

People tend to over oil their guns. When a light coat of oil is recommended it should be a VERY LIGHT coat. Firearm actions should be almost dry. Too much oil will screw up a gun. A properly cleaned gun can be stored for a long time before any fear of rust becomes a problem. I have guns that have not been out of the cabinet in 2 or 3 years that are ready to go.

[Cabin Fever]

After cleaning, I run an oiled patch thru the barrel and then a dry patch to remove any excess oil. The dry patch will still leave a very light film of oil on in the barrel. That’s it, no cleaning of the barrel just prior to shooting, I’m good-to-go.

The concern, as I understand it, is when a heavy coating of oil or grease is left in the barrel. In this case, the oil can acts as a bore obstruction and may cause barrel ringing (ie, bulging), especially in high velocity smallbore rifles. Oil, like water, is very difficult to compress. Normally, when a cartridge is fired, the slug expands and is forced into the rifling as it moves down the bore. If however, there is non-compressible oil in the rifling instead of compressible air, the bullet cannot expand and extremely high pressures are created that can cause the barrel to bulge. At least that’s the theory, I;ve never seen it happen.

[radiofish]

OK I see different views of how to store a firearm..

From my many years/ decades of experience with weapons from 1st as a Marine and doing target shooting, hunting, plus CCW carry - I always leave a light film of oil in the barrel and after 'field striping' them - wipe the actions, bolts, and exposed parts, and then the exterior of the weapon using 'RemOil' or a suitable 'gun oil' applied with a rag. Even while in the Marine Corps working in the armory servicing who knows how many M-16A1 rifles and the M-60 machineguns, that was the practice. Except the military issued powder solvents and gun oil comes in larger sized OD metal containers.

If the weapon is in long term storage with 'gun grease' inside the barrel, always clean it 1st before firing!!!!!!!
The barrel and/ or the action may burst causing serious injury, let alone getting a 'bulge' in the barrel from firing a round in a weapon with a fouled barrel!!

No need to remove the light film of oil in the barrel, before firing a firearm.

I always every time clean and oil/ lube my weapons after firing them, for whatever reasons - always.

[tarbe]

"Firearm actions should be almost dry".

This is a generalization that has a number of exceptions.

My 1911s run best with a liberal amount of oil between the slide and frame.

My M1A always has grease on the bolt and roller.

I always oil the bearing surface of the lugs on my bolt guns, to prevent galling.

Just a couple of exceptions..........


Tim

[Chuck R.]

I differ from a lot of folks. IF it’s a rifle I’m using regularly like my varmint rifle which I use for muskrats etc. or my deer rifle during the season, I don’t clean the bore till I see a decrease in accuracy or the season is over. I will wipe it down and clean the action as needed.

My normal deer season routine is shoot for practice during the summer, clean, then verify zero right before the season. Then I don’t clean again until the season is over or there’s been inclement weather and the rifle got wet. The cleaning and oiling does affect the POI of the next shot, how much it matters depends on the distance and size of target.

My varmint rifle I’ll clean about every 100 or so rounds. I’ve got a match grade .22RF that I only clean about every 500-1000 or so rounds when I start to see the accuracy drop off. The stuff I don’t shoot regularly I clean after each use. About every other year when the weather’s crappy or I’m bored I’ll drag everything out the safe and run a dry patch through the barrel followed by a oiled bore mop.

I’ve never seen an issue with an oiled barrel being shot, grease may well be another story. I lightly lube actions, especially where there’s “shiny spots” from wear. When I do clean and lube a barrel, I usually use a bore mop that has just enough oil to leave on my fingers when I squeeze it.

An AR is a different story, those I run “wet” with plenty of lube on the bolt and in the expansion chamber of the bolt carrier, any place that’s shiny on the bolt and bolt carrier gets a drop of oil.

Chuck

[texican]

Hmmm, very interesting concept... cleaning and oiling up firearms! Amazing! My head is spinning like Linda Blair.

IF I'm putting a shotgun or rifle up for the season, it'll get some lube. The weapons I use regularly... hardly ever, and sometimes Never, see cleaning or lube... because, I'd be doing nothing but spending my time cleaning/lubing. My most well used firearm is my fork and spoon gun... it's stored with the forks and spoons in the drawer, and is used almost as much as the fork and spoons... hardly a day or two doesn't go by without having to fire it. Its almost 30 years old, and never been stripped... I spray some oil on it when it jams too much...
The blue patina is gone and it's a polished old steel look... used enough rust can't get a foothold. No way I could store it with a lube on it that'd need cleaning before use... when I need it, I need it Now, not ten minutes from now...