How do you clean your lever action?

[4t5]

Do you clean from the muzzle with a rod ?
Take the action apart and clean from the breech with a rod?
Or do you use a wire like the "OTIS" cleaning system with the action intact?

[Old Ironsights]

Bore Snake. Though I just got an Otis to try.

[20cows]

Hadn't gotten dirty enough yet.

[Terry Murbach]

CLEAN IT FROM THE BACK IF IT TAKES DOWN. CLEAN IT FROM THE MUZZLE IF IT DOES NOT USING A GUIDE BUSHING ON THE ROD. NO BIG DEAL ONE WAY OR THE TUTHER.

[Old Savage]

I clean them all carefully from the muzzle with a guide bushing - the standard 94 with 600+ thorugh it still shoots 3/4" for 3 at 100 yds. So if you are careful with this as Terry said it is fine.

[Tycer]

Hadn't gotten dirty enough yet.

+1

I wipe the outside, the bolt rails, and the exposed lever parts with the action open with a teeny bit of Ed's Red and I may brush out the innards. If I get it really dirty or expose to water, I'll disassemble and clean and then wipe.

I never clean the bore of a cast bullet gun.

I clean the bore of the jacketed bullet guns I have with an Otis system and Ed's Red or bore foam for the hot .358 Win and 30-06 loads.

[AJMD429]

Marlins - pop out the bolt (so easy I love it but I wish the lever screw was an allen-head so it wouldn't need the special screwdrivers), and push-clean with a tipton synthetic rod from the breech. Finish with a bore snake from the rear. Spray out with 'duster' spray or WD-40 if/where needed. Wipe down with silicone cloth.

Rossi's - nylon flexible brush for chamber, and muzzle-clean using patches (pushed if really dirty, pulled if not) or if not that bad, a bore snake from the rear. Spray out with 'duster' spray or WD-40 if/where needed. Wipe down with silicone cloth.

Rugers - like the Rossi's except I pop out the trigger mechanisms and clean them separately.

The one I dropped in mud then fell on - in front of my son who had just told me the mud was really slick - all of the above, plus complete disassembly, swearing appropriately , then reassembly.

I guess I should add - I don't bother to 'clean' them that often - maybe once a year for ones I seldom shoot, and every 300-500 rounds for others, unless some other reason manifests.

[J Miller]

Do you clean from the muzzle with a rod ?
Take the action apart and clean from the breech with a rod?
Or do you use a wire like the "OTIS" cleaning system with the action intact?

From the muzzle with a muzzle protector. No sense to take them apart unless they are beyond filthy.

Joe

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

I clean my '73, '92, and Henry from the muzzle with a bore protector. You can't clean any Winchester design from the breech with a straight rod, the bolt and hammer are in the way, unless you take them down. My Marlins I pop out the bolt and clean them from the chamber.

The Henry and '73 only get shot with Black Powder in cowboy shooting. I clean the bore and all the accessible areas after the match with Murphy's Mix. I take them down completely once a year for a complete cleaning inside and out.

[otteray]

I try to avoid cleaning from the muzzle or using a rod.
Guess it's a personal choice. Both ways work good, or can both ways can screw up the steel, if done willy-nilly.
I pretty much only stick a rod in my bore to remove an obstruction or else if I have to use JB Compound in a crusty neglected bore.
After going to the range, if needed, I use a Boresnake and Homemade Ed's Red; or else hot soapy water (followed by lubricant, when the firearm has been dried with clean patches.)
Once or twice a year, or if used frequently, I use the Otis System (with Ed's Red) for all my lever, auto and bolt long guns.
http://www.otisgun.com/cgistore/store.c ... 1&cart_id=

[Chuck 100 yd]

I clean all leverguns from the muzzle with a stainless rod with a bore guide. If you clean from the breech a bore guide is needed also or you will do just as much damage as cleaning from the muzzle without a guide.
All my bolt action rifles have their own dedicated bore guides and rods.
Have fun!!

[Bigahh]

I clean from the muzzle using a guide, but turn the gun upside down so as not to get crud from going in the chamber area.

[C. Cash]

Shoot a Winchester 94, so from the muzzle, using rod with nylon guide. In my youth I took my 94 apart...not so now. All I do is take out one screw and remove the buttstock to prevent any solvent/oil drippage into the wood. I do the bore with solvent, oil bore, q-tip the action with solvent, and then spray Rem-Oil into the action to penetrate all the nooks and crannies. Let it drip 1-2 days, tang down, into a rag, wipe down, put butt back on, and done. Sometimes a little Hoppes Oil on the major friction points just to feel good.

[Griff]

Both on occasion, but normally from the bore with a bushing. If shooting BP, I generally take it down and clean the innards also.

[Bullard4075]

At the car wash.

But I do vacuum it out first.

[otteray]

At the car wash.

But I do vacuum it out first.

Of course, you get the spray wax job, too, right?
Only two 50 cent tokens more for 5 seconds of wax!

[C. Cash]

At the car wash.

But I do vacuum it out first.

I hope you at least use some pimp oil on the action rails, fo shizzle!

[gundownunder]

I go from the muzzle with a guide when I can be bothered cleaning them, usually about twice a year for the .22 and every 100 or so rounds for the .357. The only gun I'm fanatical about is my single six and thats only because it gets leaded up badly if I dont.

[JReed]

After using the Otis kits on my issue weapons I really took a shine to them now I use them on all of my own guns. They do a good job plus I can wear the pouch on my belt when I am out in the brush.

[Ysabel Kid]

After using the Otis kits on my issue weapons I really took a shine to them now I use them on all of my own guns. They do a good job plus I can wear the pouch on my belt when I am out in the brush.

Sounds like a strong recommendation to me!

My pappy always told me, "a clean gun is a happy gun!".

[Arminius]

Elmer Keith:

"the sun never sets on a dirty gun".

IIRC

The Otis system is fine for field, shotgun and Rimfire guns. Works for everything else, but for a handgun or rifle cleaning at home at the bench I prefer solid ( BRASS! ) rods, muzzle guards ( if necessary ), BRASS jags and COTTON patches.

After long trying, Hoppe´s # 9 ( or better : Butch´s Bore shine ) and Break Free CLP will do nearly all! Just takes time, but protects bore from harsh and quick solutions!

Hermann