Cleaning Question

fsfty · April 12, 2011, 12:12 PM

Is there any reason why I shouldn't clean the barrel through the muzzle end after a light shooting at the range? There really isn't a crown to protect...just askin'...thanks.

mrgoodwrench76 · April 12, 2011, 12:36 PM

The only issue I see with it is that your pushing 'gunk' back into the breach. What model are we talking about?

fsfty · April 12, 2011, 12:40 PM

Remington 870 Express...Don't want to deal with taking out the mag tube / spring just to clean for 25 shots...Its gonna go next to the bed and probably not be shot again for a year or so. Would cleaning muzzle to breach, and cleaning the chamber suffice?

Poodleshooter · April 12, 2011, 12:50 PM

Why would you take off the mag tube/spring? Just take off the cap, and the barrel, and then clean from the breech. It takes 5 seconds to remove the barrel.
No need to clean anything else for just 25 shots.

fsfty · April 12, 2011, 12:51 PM

My 870 has the clamp holding together the barrel and the magazine tube...must be removed before removing the cap...

mrgoodwrench76 · April 12, 2011, 12:52 PM

First off, how in the world can you shoot 25 times and be done?

Cleaning the way you describe would be fine as long as all the residue is removed and everything is properly lubricated.

With some practice, removing the barrel can be done very quick and easy. Considering the shotgun will be stored for long periods of time, great care should be taken to keep it clean and well maintained to prevent corrosion. Remember, 'gunk' can get to far more places than the barrel and chamber. If it were me, I would completely disassemble, clean, and reassemble with gloves on

.

zippy13 · April 12, 2011, 12:54 PM

Its gonna go next to the bed and probably not be shot again for a year or so.

That's on the long side for cleaning a gun that's supposed to be ready for instant service. You should do a complete proper cleaning annually even if it hasn't been fired.

TheKlawMan · April 12, 2011, 01:06 PM

I think I understand your reluctance to removing the barrel, if you are concerned about scratching the barrel with the barrel clamp. Don't be. Just be careful and it isn't a problem.

Even if the gun only has a box of ammo throught it, it should be cleaned and especially if it is going to sit for months and months.

I gave you a link to the AI&P Tactical sight. There is one aspect of cleaning it recommends with which I cannot agree; the use of paper towels as cleaning patches. That is fine if the barrel is off the gun. If it is on the gun you risk a small piece of paper tearing off and getting stuck inside your receiver. I had this happen by running a piece of paper towel down the magazine tube.

It only takes two minutes to remove and reinstall a barrel; 5 if you have the extension for the magazine.

AllenJ · April 12, 2011, 01:33 PM

Have you thought about getting a bore snake? No need to take the barrel off and you can clean from the chamber to muzzle.

mrgoodwrench76 · April 12, 2011, 02:06 PM

Unless you clean a bore snake EVERY time you use it. And I mean every time you pull it through your barrel, then it is useless. All your doing is dragging more debris through your barrel.

oneounceload · April 12, 2011, 03:05 PM

Bore snakes work just fine for what you are talking about - they are great for a light cleaning after a few shots

fsfty · April 12, 2011, 03:16 PM

I do have a 12 gauge boresnake...I guess I could run it through the chamber without removing the barrel, correct?

oneounceload · April 12, 2011, 03:27 PM

yep, put your favorite cleaner on it - I place mine on the puffy section between both brushes - one or two pulls and good to go. For storage, you can always afterwards run a lightly oiled patch from the muzzle (LIGHTLY being the key word)

BigJimP · April 12, 2011, 06:31 PM

yes, the bore snake will work a lot better from the receiver end than shoving all that gunk into the reciever ...

but if you're going to put it away - and not shoot it - for over a month ...then you really need to take the barrel off the gun / and drop the trigger group out / and clean and lube the receiver and everything.... ( its not just the barrel that gets dirty ) ....

highvel · April 12, 2011, 06:43 PM

Once you learn how easy the 870 is to dismantle and clean, you will be doing it in a couple of minutes and cleaning it completely.
Just be careful of the breech end and the fairly sharp edges of the barrel where it fits into the receiver!

BigJimP · April 12, 2011, 06:46 PM

that's what band-aids are for Highvel ....( we've all left a little blood on the insides of receivers ...)....

highvel · April 12, 2011, 07:09 PM

I just rmembered y-e-a-r-s ago when I was running a tornado brush down my 870 barrel, when it cleared the muzzel I lost about a pint on that one!

pato · April 12, 2011, 07:16 PM

Like a one blogger noted, you are pushing junk upstream instead of downstream. Bad habits are hard to change when formed, better not to form it.

April 12, 2011, 12:12 PM	#1
fsfty Senior Member Join Date: May 23, 2009 Posts: 201	Cleaning Question Is there any reason why I shouldn't clean the barrel through the muzzle end after a light shooting at the range? There really isn't a crown to protect...just askin'...thanks.

April 12, 2011, 12:36 PM	#2
mrgoodwrench76 Senior Member Join Date: March 4, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 487	The only issue I see with it is that your pushing 'gunk' back into the breach. What model are we talking about? __________________ God Bless America!!

April 12, 2011, 12:52 PM	#6
mrgoodwrench76 Senior Member Join Date: March 4, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 487	First off, how in the world can you shoot 25 times and be done? Cleaning the way you describe would be fine as long as all the residue is removed and everything is properly lubricated. With some practice, removing the barrel can be done very quick and easy. Considering the shotgun will be stored for long periods of time, great care should be taken to keep it clean and well maintained to prevent corrosion. Remember, 'gunk' can get to far more places than the barrel and chamber. If it were me, I would completely disassemble, clean, and reassemble with gloves on . __________________ God Bless America!!

April 12, 2011, 02:06 PM	#10
mrgoodwrench76 Senior Member Join Date: March 4, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 487	Unless you clean a bore snake EVERY time you use it. And I mean every time you pull it through your barrel, then it is useless. All your doing is dragging more debris through your barrel. __________________ God Bless America!!

April 12, 2011, 06:43 PM	#15
highvel Senior Member Join Date: January 21, 2010 Location: Powhatan VA Posts: 633	Once you learn how easy the 870 is to dismantle and clean, you will be doing it in a couple of minutes and cleaning it completely. Just be careful of the breech end and the fairly sharp edges of the barrel where it fits into the receiver! __________________ Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.--Mark Twain "I have opinions of my own 'strong opinions' but I don't always agree with them."--George Bush

April 12, 2011, 12:40 PM	#3
fsfty Senior Member Join Date: May 23, 2009 Posts: 201	Remington 870 Express...Don't want to deal with taking out the mag tube / spring just to clean for 25 shots...Its gonna go next to the bed and probably not be shot again for a year or so. Would cleaning muzzle to breach, and cleaning the chamber suffice?

April 12, 2011, 12:50 PM	#4
Poodleshooter Senior Member Join Date: August 7, 2000 Location: Floating down the James River in VA Posts: 2,599	Why would you take off the mag tube/spring? Just take off the cap, and the barrel, and then clean from the breech. It takes 5 seconds to remove the barrel. No need to clean anything else for just 25 shots.

April 12, 2011, 12:51 PM	#5
fsfty Senior Member Join Date: May 23, 2009 Posts: 201	My 870 has the clamp holding together the barrel and the magazine tube...must be removed before removing the cap...

April 12, 2011, 12:54 PM	#7
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	Its gonna go next to the bed and probably not be shot again for a year or so. That's on the long side for cleaning a gun that's supposed to be ready for instant service. You should do a complete proper cleaning annually even if it hasn't been fired.

April 12, 2011, 01:06 PM	#8
TheKlawMan Junior member Join Date: June 23, 2009 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 2,149	I think I understand your reluctance to removing the barrel, if you are concerned about scratching the barrel with the barrel clamp. Don't be. Just be careful and it isn't a problem. Even if the gun only has a box of ammo throught it, it should be cleaned and especially if it is going to sit for months and months. I gave you a link to the AI&P Tactical sight. There is one aspect of cleaning it recommends with which I cannot agree; the use of paper towels as cleaning patches. That is fine if the barrel is off the gun. If it is on the gun you risk a small piece of paper tearing off and getting stuck inside your receiver. I had this happen by running a piece of paper towel down the magazine tube. It only takes two minutes to remove and reinstall a barrel; 5 if you have the extension for the magazine.

April 12, 2011, 01:33 PM	#9
AllenJ Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 2009 Location: Northern California Posts: 1,766	Have you thought about getting a bore snake? No need to take the barrel off and you can clean from the chamber to muzzle.

April 12, 2011, 03:05 PM	#11
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	Bore snakes work just fine for what you are talking about - they are great for a light cleaning after a few shots

April 12, 2011, 03:16 PM	#12
fsfty Senior Member Join Date: May 23, 2009 Posts: 201	I do have a 12 gauge boresnake...I guess I could run it through the chamber without removing the barrel, correct?

April 12, 2011, 03:27 PM	#13
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	yep, put your favorite cleaner on it - I place mine on the puffy section between both brushes - one or two pulls and good to go. For storage, you can always afterwards run a lightly oiled patch from the muzzle (LIGHTLY being the key word)

April 12, 2011, 06:31 PM	#14
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	yes, the bore snake will work a lot better from the receiver end than shoving all that gunk into the reciever ... but if you're going to put it away - and not shoot it - for over a month ...then you really need to take the barrel off the gun / and drop the trigger group out / and clean and lube the receiver and everything.... ( its not just the barrel that gets dirty ) ....

April 12, 2011, 06:46 PM	#16
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	that's what band-aids are for Highvel ....( we've all left a little blood on the insides of receivers ...)....

April 12, 2011, 07:09 PM	#17
highvel Senior Member Join Date: January 21, 2010 Location: Powhatan VA Posts: 633	I just rmembered y-e-a-r-s ago when I was running a tornado brush down my 870 barrel, when it cleared the muzzel I lost about a pint on that one! __________________ Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.--Mark Twain "I have opinions of my own 'strong opinions' but I don't always agree with them."--George Bush

April 12, 2011, 07:16 PM	#18
pato Member Join Date: February 19, 2011 Posts: 21	Like a one blogger noted, you are pushing junk upstream instead of downstream. Bad habits are hard to change when formed, better not to form it.