Maintaining and caring for your rifle is one of the most important responsibilities of a firearm owner. Proper maintenance ensures your rifle stays healthy, accurate, and reliable for as long as possible. Whether you are brand new to firearms or this is your hundredth rifle, following these steps will give your rifle the best chance of filling your tag year after year.
There are many different cleaning procedures and supplies available to the regular consumer. What follows is a recommended procedure based on my experience at Weatherby and in the military, covering everything from cleaning the bore to maintaining the sleek finish on your Mark V® Deluxe from the day you bought it.
-Sean Storms WBY Customer Service Representative II
Bore and Chamber Cleaning
Cleaning the bore and chamber is the most common maintenance task for shooters. Before getting started, gather the following tools and supplies:
- Cleaning rod (single piece preferred)
- Jag set — especially useful if you shoot multiple calibers
- Copper or nylon brushes in the correct caliber(s)
- Bore cleaner/solvent
- Fast-evaporating cleaner (e.g., Gun Scrubber)
- Cotton patches (caliber-specific diameter)
- Copper remover (e.g., Barnes CR-10) for barrel re-seasoning
- Denatured or isopropyl alcohol
Recommended products can be found at your local firearms retailer or through online suppliers such as MidwayUSA. Cotton patches are not caliber-specific, but confirm you have the correct diameter for your rifle.
Pro Tip: Before you begin, secure the rifle on a tripod or gun cradle with the muzzle angled downward and a trash can positioned beneath it to catch patches and any draining solvent.
Step-by-Step: Bore Cleaning
Remove any muzzle devices from the barrel. Then remove the bolt from the action and inspect the bore for any obstructions.
Attach the correct caliber jag to your cleaning rod. Apply a small amount of bore solvent to a cotton patch, seat it on the jag, and guide it from the rear of the receiver through the bore until it exits the muzzle. Always work from the breech side to avoid damage to the muzzle crown, which can affect accuracy.
Remove the jag and replace it with a copper or nylon brush. Run the brush through the bore 6–12 times. You should see small amounts of solvent spray out when the brush reaches the muzzle.
Once you feel the bore begin to smooth out, replace the brush with the jag and run 1–5 patches through the bore to absorb the remaining solvent. Inspect each patch as it comes out — check that it is still wet before discarding. Once patches come out dry and clean, proceed to the next step. If residue remains, repeat the brushing and patching process.
When most of the solvent has been removed, apply a liberal amount of Gun Scrubber, denatured alcohol, or isopropyl alcohol to a patch and run it through the bore. This dissolves any remaining residue. Removing all liquid from the bore is critical — leftover solvent can cause an overpressurization event the next time you fire the rifle.
As a final step, run a few dry patches through the bore to confirm it is clean and dry. At this point, you have completed a routine cleaning, appropriate when you plan to shoot again within the next few months. Long-term storage requires a slightly different procedure, detailed below.
Step-by-Step: Chamber Cleaning
Chamber cleaning does not require additional materials beyond what was used for the bore. A dedicated chamber mop can be used in place of a brush-and-patch combination if one is available.
Select a bore brush large enough to fit snugly in the chamber without becoming stuck. Wrap a cotton patch lightly coated with lubricant around the brush.
Insert the rod into the rear of the receiver. When you reach the chamber, begin rotating the rod clockwise. This keeps the patch secured to the brush and prevents the brush from unthreading. Continue rotating as you push forward until you feel increased resistance at the start of the rifling.
Once resistance is felt, continue rotating clockwise while withdrawing the brush rearward until it is completely clear of the chamber.
Repeat the process using the brush alone, stepping up one size if needed to increase contact with the chamber walls and remove carbon fouling.
Finally, apply a small amount of Gun Scrubber to a fresh patch on the brush and repeat the process once more to ensure no excess lubricant, solvent, or residue remains in the chamber.
Long-Term Storage
Long-term storage cleaning follows most of the same steps as a routine cleaning, with a few key differences. In addition to your standard supplies, you will want Pledge wipes or a similar product to clean the stock.
Complete the bore cleaning as described above, but rather than removing all oil from the bore and chamber, finish by sending a patch lightly coated with clean gun oil through the bore. This leaves a protective coat that shields against moisture during storage.
Using a clean rag with a small amount of oil, wipe down the exterior of the barreled action to protect the metal surfaces.
Clean the stock with Pledge wipes or a similar non-corrosive product. These will remove dirt and oils from the stock without harming or stripping its finish.
Important: Before shooting a rifle that has been stored with oil in the bore and chamber, always remove all oils prior to firing. Failure to do so can result in damage to the rifle.
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