Some people are new to shotgunning and aren't sure of the best and easiest ways to clean their gun, while even experienced shooters develop bad habits after a while. However long you have been doing it, there are some cheap, easy ways to clean a shotgun so that it lasts longer and so that you can spend less time cleaning and more time on the field:
1. Use a plastic syringe to apply the grease when you're assembling your gun before you shoot. This saves big on q-tips and paper towels. Monoject makes great little syringes for cheap. I found it helpful not to bother with cleaning the grease out of the syringe, but rather just to keep it full of grease and in a little plastic baggie with the rest of my gear. (By the way, liquid oil won't work with the syringe and will just make a mess; it needs to be gun grease.)
2. Clean your shotgun while it is still warm, right after you're done shooting. People make a big mistake when they clean it at home or later in the evening, because the grime is usually caked on and solidified by then. The grease and grime is much easier to remove while it's in a more liquid or a softer state. It's also less likely that stuff like lint or fibers from your gun case will collect on the gun, and it is less likely that your gun will get your case dirtier than it has to be.
3. If you use a "bore snake" to clean your barrels, make sure you pull it in the right direction. You need to run it out of the barrels, not into them. If you don't, the metal bristles on the bore snake will rub against the rifling in the barrels, which could disrupt the tiny rifling grooves and your shot pattern. The right way is to load the bore snake in where you load your shells, and pull it out the end of your barrels. It only seems natural to run the bore snake in the same direction the shot travels, but many shooters don't.
4. Release the triggers of your over-and-under shotgun after you're done shooting. You need to do this so that the triggers are not under any spring pressure when your gun is not being used--which means they are more likely to last longer. If you know how to release the triggers of an over-and-under, great. If you do not know, here's how: First, take apart your gun, so that the fore-end, barrels, and receiver/stock are all separate. Look at the flat surface of the receiver, and find the firing pin. Push the firing pin in with your finger, and simultaneously pull the trigger twice. You should hear two clicks; your triggers are released, and you're all set to put the gun away.
5. If you shoot with gauge tubes, clean the outer, 12-gauge barrel from time to time. You do not want to have to wrestle the tubes in and out of the gun when you want to shoot in a different gauge, and you'll want to clean the outside of the tubes as well, while you're at it. Just remove the tubes, wipe them, run the bore snake through the 12-gauge barrel, and reassemble if you'd like.
Shotguns come in many shapes and varieties. Some shotguns are made for hunting
purposes and some are made for tactical uses. This article is only concerned with shotguns
intended for the purpose of hunting. Shotguns come in many different actions and gauges.
The 12 gauge is king of the hunting world. It can do most anything that a hunter calls on it
to do. The 12's big brother is the 10 gauge. This gauge is used mainly for high flying geese
and ducks. Turkey hunters also use this gauge because of it's superior knockdown power.
You still can find 16 gauges on the used gun market. The 20 and 28 gauge shotguns have
their uses mainly for bird hunters. The 410 gauge is a minuscule number that should only be
used by experienced hunters if lethal hits are to be considered. Shotguns come in many fascinating actions. The pump and semi automatic shotguns
probably rule the roost here in the United States. The semi's come in several configurations
One version uses a piston in the forearm that bleeds off gas from a fired shell that is used
to cycle the action. This permits a fired shell to be expelled and a new shell to be made
ready for firing. Inertia driven shotguns are operated by the rearward force of the recoil which
activates a mechanism that does the same thing as the semi's. It expels a fired shell and
inserts a new shell into the chamber. Bolt action shotguns have been made to suit the gun
lovers fancy. Prices vary in shotguns with this action. Double barreled shotguns are made
for general use along with cowboy action shooting and bird hunting. Over and under
shotguns have two barrels. One barrel is positioned above the other with each barrel usually
having its own defined choked barrel. Single shot shotguns are also offered to the public in
prices ranging from the economical to the very pricey.
Shotgun barrels come in many different lengths and sizes. The shorter barrels are usually
used for close cover bird hunting. The longer barrels are used for longer range situations like
high flying geese and ducks. Studies have been made that suggest a 24 inch barrel is all
that you need to achieve maximum speed from a fired shell. I still like longer barrels for
distance shooting because the longer barrels enable you to establish a better sight picture
on your target. Some of these barrels are ported to reduce felt recoil. Barrels are offered in
many configurations for their intended uses. There are rifled barrels for deer hunters. Slug
barrels also fit into this category. Stainless steel barrels and coatings from camouflage and
blue to green are also offered.
Chokes are used on guns to give the gun a desired patterning effect. Full and turkey chokes
offer constricted surfaces that offer longer ranges and tighter groups. Modified chokes are for
general purpose use. Improved and improved cylinder offer wide patterns at close ranges. Some chokes are fixed on the barrel and others offer an interchangeable system that can
be removed and replaced with considerable ease.
There are shotguns offered for standard 2 3/4 inch shells. There are guns offered for 3 inch
variations. There are guns that can fire 2 3/4 , 3 inch and 3 1/2 inch shells interchangeably
out of the same mechanism. There are also guns offered that fire only 3 and 3 1/2 inch
shells. There is something out there for everyone and every hunting situation. Take
advantage of and enjoy this incredible opportunity if you are a serious gunner.