Cleaning the barrel on a lever action rifle
- Thread starter dtucker
- Start date
I hate to say this but, it depends on the rifle. Some can be broken down into what I equate to upper and lower receivers. My Marlin has a large thumb screw that allows me to take the entire receiver section apart after locking down the ejector. Those you can clean from the chamber end. However, I find it easiest to clean from the barrel end because it is difficult to get patches centered on the jag.
Your best bet is to look up the online manual.
Your best bet is to look up the online manual.
Bottom Fodder
Silver $$ Contributor
Back 45 years ago in my Lever action hunting day we cleaned from muzzle
and because they were not even shot 50 times a year it was a mild cleaning. I have seen “ flexible metal cleaning rods ” pre bore snake that were made to use on Them. Today if I had one and needed to do a deep barrel clean I would probably clean from muzzle and use a bore guide
and because they were not even shot 50 times a year it was a mild cleaning. I have seen “ flexible metal cleaning rods ” pre bore snake that were made to use on Them. Today if I had one and needed to do a deep barrel clean I would probably clean from muzzle and use a bore guide
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Use either a bore snake, from the chamber end or from the muzzle use a rod. Use a muzzle guide or be cautions on rubbing or hitting the crown. Also, not a bad idea, to turn your rifle with the lever up, so any debris coming down into the chamber end fall to the table rather down into the trigger/lever area.
DHuffman
Silver $$ Contributor
This here
Dimner
I do believe in Captain Crunch.
On a winchester, I clean mine with a bore snake and hoppies #9 for most of the time right after using it. Before hunting season sight in, I clean it from the front with a bore guide.
Every few years, depending on use, I will disassemble the bolt and lever and give it a 'back down to the metal' cleaning from the rear of the rifle.
Keep in mind, bench rest methods or regularity of cleaning are not necessary at all for these rifles.
So If I were you with a new/used lever rifle. I would disassemble and clean all the parts on the lever, mainspring, bolt, barrel etc. Get it to a very clean baseline. Then just enjoy it and regularly clean with a bore snake and good solution. Or maybe a foaming bore cleaner first then the snake. If you find it fouls more than you like. Clean from the front with a guide
Every few years, depending on use, I will disassemble the bolt and lever and give it a 'back down to the metal' cleaning from the rear of the rifle.
Keep in mind, bench rest methods or regularity of cleaning are not necessary at all for these rifles.
So If I were you with a new/used lever rifle. I would disassemble and clean all the parts on the lever, mainspring, bolt, barrel etc. Get it to a very clean baseline. Then just enjoy it and regularly clean with a bore snake and good solution. Or maybe a foaming bore cleaner first then the snake. If you find it fouls more than you like. Clean from the front with a guide
Ranger Point Precision might have what your looking for.
Quick View
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Marlin & Henry Levergun Cleaning Bore Guides | 30-30 Wi…
$25.00
Preacher
Gold $$ Contributor
Really hard to clean a 99 Savage another other way than that...
Wouldn't surprise me any if thats what he has...
I really don't think there is any situation where an aluminum rod is the best answer, regardless of which end it's inserted. That said, most lever guns simply are not BR rifles and maintaining them, even in a less than perfect manor is likely way better than not at all. So, carefully use what you have and don't sweat it much. To do it right, the gun should come apart and clean from the chamber end but frankly, damaging the bore with cleaning is possible but it's just not really likely if done with some level of care at all. At the very least, the odds are that doing it wrong is significantly less likely to damage it vs not doing it at all. We worry about stuff on this site that the vast majority of gun owners have never even heard of, and many of them have guns that have been around for 100 years, cleaned the wrong way for the whole life of the gun. Never cleaning is 100% gonna do damage. It's just a matter of time. So what are you gonna do?
Bore snakes are not a bad option, especially if kept clean. No, they are not gonna be inserted into my br rifles but they have their place, IMHO. They are probably less likely to hurt the bbl than an aluminum or brass cleaning rod is.
Bore snakes are not a bad option, especially if kept clean. No, they are not gonna be inserted into my br rifles but they have their place, IMHO. They are probably less likely to hurt the bbl than an aluminum or brass cleaning rod is.
Dimner
I do believe in Captain Crunch.
I love my 99, it's a takedown. Easy as it gets to clean
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snert
Silver $$ Contributor
ironically, I just faced this situation...
M88 Winchester 308 that had not been shot a lot over its 63 year life. However it never had a real barrel cleaning and I switched over to Barnes bullets. It likely has 150 or less rounds thru it in all these years. In fact, I sold it's twin a few years ago, and it had a documented 31 rounds fired...still had 9 Winchester Silvertips from original purchase in the late 50's (1st year production)
I used a brass muzzle guide for a M1A and a solid coated rod. I did not remove the action from the stock, but I did place the rifle upside down and I placed a light cotton rag in the action to get the dribbles. I used Butches first, then followed with alcohol and let it dry. Then I soaked it several times in foam bore cleaner to get the Barnes remains out. I hosed the action out with action scrubber, then acetone and then hit it with some Rem-oil because it penetrates. I used a bronze brush, and finished with patches on the barrel. it took several treatments and seemed to really clean it up. When I was done it grouped at just under an inch at 100, disproving all those rumors abouot 88's not shooting well.
During the previous years of it's life it saw the occasional aluminum road with Hoppes. The key for this good cleaning was choosing the right products for the barrel and using a guide on the muzzle. Someday I will get brave and take the gun all the way down and go at the action...but it is smooth as butter now and not gummy at all.
M88 Winchester 308 that had not been shot a lot over its 63 year life. However it never had a real barrel cleaning and I switched over to Barnes bullets. It likely has 150 or less rounds thru it in all these years. In fact, I sold it's twin a few years ago, and it had a documented 31 rounds fired...still had 9 Winchester Silvertips from original purchase in the late 50's (1st year production)
I used a brass muzzle guide for a M1A and a solid coated rod. I did not remove the action from the stock, but I did place the rifle upside down and I placed a light cotton rag in the action to get the dribbles. I used Butches first, then followed with alcohol and let it dry. Then I soaked it several times in foam bore cleaner to get the Barnes remains out. I hosed the action out with action scrubber, then acetone and then hit it with some Rem-oil because it penetrates. I used a bronze brush, and finished with patches on the barrel. it took several treatments and seemed to really clean it up. When I was done it grouped at just under an inch at 100, disproving all those rumors abouot 88's not shooting well.
During the previous years of it's life it saw the occasional aluminum road with Hoppes. The key for this good cleaning was choosing the right products for the barrel and using a guide on the muzzle. Someday I will get brave and take the gun all the way down and go at the action...but it is smooth as butter now and not gummy at all.
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