Don't Be Nonchalant About Deer Rifle Care; Do It Now

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Self-care has never been a strong suit for me. I visit the dentist and dermatologist occasionally, and if all goes well I accept that as a clean bill of health for the rest of this temple. Likewise with my deer rifles. After each hunt, I’ll lubricate them to prevent rust spots. At season's end, I’ll floss a pull-through cleaning kit down the barrels and call it a day.

These half-measures cost me severely several seasons ago on a short-notice August deer hunt in the Low Country of South Carolina. I packed my go-to rifle, a reliably accurate Savage 110 Tactical in .300 Win. Mag. that I’ve been shooting since my teens, and was confident with it for long-range beanfield hunts.

I endured the sweaty Opening Day evening envisioning a grand buck in velvet adorning my office wall. Miraculously, I daydreamed that very animal from the woods, and the 200 yards separating us was a cinch with that rifle.

I missed. Terribly disappointed, I chalked it up to a yank or misfortune, but something still felt askew. Back home, I visited the range and found the rifle spraying bullets all over the paper, uncharacteristic of the old Savage. At 100 yards, it was anyone’s guess where the next shot would land.

Discouraged that maybe I’d burned out the barrel over the decades, a bore light revealed serious copper fouling. When was the last time I’d deep-cleaned this rifle, I wondered?




Gun Maintenance Wake-Up Call

Cut to another range session after two weeks of steadily scrubbing copper solvent down the barrel until it stopped dribbling green sludge into a bucket, and the rifle was again performing to standard.

Not blaming for certain that the fouling is why I missed the big buck, but this was a needed wake-up call, my failure to check the zero on my rifle prior to the hunt notwithstanding. To anyone who will listen, I’ve become a cautionary tale about the importance of regularly maintaining deer rifles.

I spent time researching rifle care, compiled this information, and have since adopted a new cleaning regimen to avoid future misfortunes. Here’s the rundown. (As always, be sure the gun is unloaded prior to cleaning!)

Gun Maintenance Basics

• Lubricate After Hunts – The basic play in maintenance is to apply lubricant to the exposed metal of the rifle to prevent rust and corrosion caused by handling the firearm and exposure to the elements. After each hunt, brush away the visible dirt and dust. Apply some lubricant to a rag and wipe down all the exposed metal and any moving parts. Don’t use too much or it can build up and trap grime.
• Regular Bore Work – Most people don’t bother with this over the course of a hunting season, but given the stressors the outdoors inflict upon firearms, it’s wise to run a few patches of all-purpose cleaning solvent down the barrels followed by a pull-through cleaning kit to remove dust, sand, rust and burned powder from the bores. Some folks find a little fouling will maintain accuracy; these kits won’t change much in that regard.
• The Deep Clean – At season’s end, scrub the rifle bores. A dedicated copper solvent with a one-piece cleaning rod is the play here. Rifles should be secured in a vice or mount, and the cleaning rod inserted from the breech to prevent gunk from going into the magazine and action. Apply the solvent and run appropriately sized bore brushes and patches until no fouling remains.
• Check the Bits & Pieces – Take the time to inspect the rifle accessories. Are the sling lugs tight? Is the scope secure and the lenses clean? Are all screws and bolts present? Best to check now for these issues before they arise next November.
• Visit a Professional – On that note, every few years visit the gunsmith for a thorough cleaning and inspection, where the gun will be disassembled to the screws, pins, and springs. Beyond just making the rifle shine again, there is a diagnostic component here, allowing a professional to address any weaknesses or future problems so they don’t pop up at inopportune times.

Nonchalance regarding your rifle’s care is one excuse for a failed deer hunt that is eliminated with a little TLC. Otherwise, that easy shot at a giant buck could quickly turn into an uninvited learning experience.

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