My bet is: if you’ve ever had the feel of a shiny, new firearm, you really want to have the items needed to clean your rifle among your kits, for obvious reasons.
A firearm doesn’t feel that new after a long while. Once you take it out of its box, it’s never going back in as it came. It’s only natural (sadly) that your rifle’s accuracy will depreciate as you spend more & more time at the range.
This is where maintenance comes in. You’ll have to keep your firearm in good shape by cleaning it regularly, but before this can be done, there’s surely a list of tools to own.
6 Fundamental Items Needed to Clean Your Rifle
You want to have the correct cleaning equipment before attempting to clean your rifle. This will prevent unnecessary breakages in the process & you’re prevented from stumbling due to lack of preparation.
Let’s see what you need to get your gun cleaned.
Bore Brushes
Bore brushes are your tool for removing carbon accumulation in the barrel of your bolt action, semi-autos & rifle. They are available in two materials: nylon & bronze. As you may already suspect, the nylon model is typically flexible, so it can wipe curved areas along the shooting channel, while the bronze model deals with guns shooting heavy carbon.
Cleaning Swabs
These are required to remove particles or leftovers that may be clogging up your barrel. They are also handy for removing excessive lubricant from the rifle.
Cotton Patches
These are meant to be affordable, so you can buy & use as many as necessary until your rifle looks like its old new self. Cotton patches are to be mixed with a solvent for effectiveness.
Solvent
A solvent is hard to lubricate your gun. There are various options to buy online or offline, so while shopping, check for the product with the lowest dermal toxicity & settle for it. You don’t want to experience skin burns from using one with a harsh dermal presence.
Cleaning Rod
Your cleaning rod has to be the most important of the bunch, as it serves as the anchor for your swabs, brushes & cotton patches. To buy the appropriate size for your rifle, measure its barrel length & caliber before buying.
Rifle Holder
It would be much easier if you had a holder keeping your rifle in place as you disassemble its various parts for cleaning. A rifle vice will make the job much simpler. Apart from the support provided to your rifle, there is a side slot for storing all tools & loosened screws.
Disassembly Tools
To start with, you need to remember the tools that’ll get you access into the rifle’s guts. Most firearm modems need a screwdrivers’ kit for this purpose, while other unique rifles may need proprietary tools. Know your model’s specific disassembly guidelines before making a purchase.
Concluding the Items Needed to Clean Your Rifle
There are several additional items needed to clean your rifle, but the six shortlisted above are most essential. There’s no need to buy extravagant tools if there’s no need for them. Anyway: have you cleaned your rifle recently? What & what did you use?