Dreaming of your next successful hunt? Be sure your “Hunting Things to Do” list includes gun care. Plan for a happy and safe hunt by making sure your guns are as ready as you are. Here are a couple of tasks to focus on now from International Hunter Education Association and Texas Park & Wildlife Department.

The basic materials you need to clean a firearm are:
Cleaning patches
Powder solvent
Gun oil
Soft cloth
Cleaning rod and attachments, i.e. bore brush, plastic tips

Most hunters and shooters buy cleaning kits for their firearms that contain these items. When purchasing a cleaning kit it is important to select the correct gauge or caliber for the firearm(s) you own. A portable kit is also a good idea for cleaning your firearm in the field should you accidentally plug its barrel with snow, mud or other material.

Procedure for Cleaning Firearms:
1. Make sure the firearm is unloaded!
2. Attach a bore brush to the cleaning rod, lightly apply bore solvent, and run the brush through the bore several times to clean out powder residue.
3. Replace the bore brush with a patch that is also coated in solvent and run it through the barrel several times.
4. Repeat with additional patches until they come out clean.
5. Run a lightly oiled patch through the bore. Use only a small amount of oil.
6. Wipe the outside of the firearm with a clean cloth and apply a light coat of gun oil to the metal surfaces. The firearm is now ready for storage.

Clean from the breech toward the muzzle if possible.
Minimize the amount of contact between the cleaning rod and the barrel.
Avoid skin contact with any metal parts of the firearm. Perspiration causes rust.

If you discover a problem with your firearm while cleaning it, take it to a qualified gunsmith. Don't attempt to repair a firearm yourself even if you think the problem is a minor one!