How To Clean 308 Savage Bolt Action Rifle
Keep your Savage bolt action in prime condition with regular cleaning and maintenance. Keeping your rifle clean, oiled and well-lubricated will help to avoid corrosion, rust, jamming and other operational problems. This article details how to clean a 308 Savage bolt action rifle.
Regular cleaning is pretty easy once you know the steps, but it can seem like a chore. However, keeping your gun clean ensures it will last longer, shoot more accurately and have fewer operational problems. It’s important for any firearm owner to understand how to keep their gun in prime condition.
How To Clean 308 Savage Bolt Action Rifle
Step 1: Disassemble The Rifle
Before you begin cleaning any firearm, the first step is to safely unload and disassemble the gun. The first step for cleaning a 308 Savage bolt action rifle is to unload and disassemble the gun. If you have not done this before, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions. Also, make sure to follow any local regulations as to when a gun must be unloaded. Next, clean the barrel and action of any sand, dirt or debris. Be careful not to touch the inside of the barrel as your oils will leave a residue that could affect accuracy and lead to rust.
Step 2: Clean The Barrel
The best way to clean the barrel of a 308 Savage bolt action rifle is to use an old toothbrush or a bore brush. Get the bristles of these cleaning tools as far down into the barrel as possible. If you can get the brush all the way down to the end of the barrel, even better. A cleaning kit with a bore cleaning rod is also helpful for this process. Once you have cleaned the barrel, spray it with a solvent such as Hoppe’s No. 9 to remove any remaining debris. The solvent will break down any rust or dirt particles. Be careful not to use too much solvent or it will travel into the action of the rifle and become trapped. This can cause rust. Wipe the barrel dry with a clean cloth or paper towel.
Step 3: Clean The Action
After cleaning the barrel and ensuring that the barrel is completely dry, you can move on to cleaning the action of the rifle. Once again, you can use a cleaning rod to get the best results. You can also use a small toothbrush or cleaning brush for the action. Wipe out the action with a solvent and dry again with a paper towel. Cleaning the action will also help to remove any dirt and grime from the magazine and trigger area.
Step 4: Lubricate Moving Parts
The bolt, trigger and magazine are the primary moving parts on a 308 Savage bolt action rifle. A drop of lubrication is necessary for each of these areas. You can use a light oil or even graphite is an option. The bolt and trigger rails could get a little carbon build up due to the firing process, so be sure to wipe that out with a solvent. Be careful when handling the trigger of a 308 Savage bolt action rifle to avoid any accidental firing.
Conclusion
Cleaning a 308 Savage bolt action rifle is best done when the rifle is not in use. However, if you are in a situation where you need to clean your gun while in the field, it can be done. Be careful not to damage the rifle as you might if you were cleaning it at home. If you have a place to clean your rifle, take the time to do so regularly and your firearm will last longer.
