By Jim Chapman

Whether you’re a weekend plinker, avid hunter, or professional shooter, safety should be your number one concern. A clean and well maintained firearm is something we all can do to assure your outing will be a safe and enjoyable one.

Here at Mark’s Outdoors I clean hundreds of guns every year and find that the majority of problems with poor feeding of shells, accuracy problems, ejecting, or excessive wear and failure of parts are caused by lack of maintenance. These are all things that could transform you from shooter to spectator or cause serious injury.

Though cleaning allows you to spot potential problems with your firearm before they occur. This includes obstructions in the barrel or cracked stocks. Follow the manufacturers’ instructions for disassembly and also follow the following steps:


1. Run a patch with nitro powder solvent through the bore.
2. Use a bore brush to remove powder, lead, or copper build up.
3. Run a dry patch through and repeat steps, 1 thru 3 until patch comes out clean.
4. Run a patch with gun oil through and you are done with the bore.
5. Clean the action with solvent and a small brush, wipe off and spray on a light coat of gun oil.
6. Wipe the outside of the barrel with an oiled cloth. Remove any light rust with a steel wool and gun oil.
7. Clean stock with stock sheen and conditioner and or gun stock wax.
8. Wipe down scope (if applicable) and clean lenses with lens cleaner.
9. Periodically wipe down metal parts with a silicone cloth and inspect for any rust. If you eat rust before it pits the metal you’re ahead of the game.

Remember the old saying, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". At the end of the season or after extremely heavy usage, bring your gun in and let us give it a deep cleaning. We completely disassemble your gun, run it through our heated ultrasonic cleaner and remove residue for all cracks and crevices as well as gas ports or rifle bolts.

Mark’s carries a complete line of gun care products, cleaning kits, gun socks, and cases to help keep your gun looking new and operating properly.

Drop by the store and browse through our gun accessory isle, then have a cup of coffee on us and ask any questions about gun care at our service department. Can’t get by the store? Call me at 205-822-2010 and I’ll be glad to assist you via the telephone.
See you soon and have a safe and enjoyable outing.