Cleaning your firearms




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!




Tell us what you think!

Bent Tree Motel - Emory TX

Lake Fork Email Updates


 

Visit our Lake Fork Sponsors!

Lake Fork on Social Media

 
       

Lake Fork Current Weather Alerts

There are no active watches, warnings or advisories.

 

Lake Fork Weather Forecast

Thursday

Mostly Cloudy

Hi: 79

Thursday Night

Chance Thunderstorms

Lo: 70

Friday

Rain Showers

Hi: 78

Friday Night

Chance Thunderstorms

Lo: 69

Saturday

Chance Thunderstorms

Hi: 83

Saturday Night

Chance Thunderstorms

Lo: 71

Sunday

Rain Showers

Hi: 79

Sunday Night

Chance Thunderstorms

Lo: 65


Lake Fork Water Level (last 30 days)


Water Level on 4/25: 403.21 (+0.21)



Lake Fork

Fishing Report from TPWD (Apr. 24)

GOOD. Water Stained; 60 degrees; 0.20 feet above pool. Bass have slowed, but post spawners are setting up on points in 5-7 feet of water with Carolina rigged creature baits. Topwaters and frogs are good early morning around grass. Shaky heads are good around boat houses. Report by Marc Mitchell, Lake Fork Guide Service. Report by Guide Alex Guthrie, Fly Fish Fork Guide Service. Changing weather means changing bite. First phase spawners are now in a post spawn pattern and aggressive. Frog pattern top waters are excellent in the grass and brush. Casting into the pockets and letting the frog sit for a few seconds is a good idea. Crappies are shallow, catching them on edge of banks, small fish patterns like wooly buggers are a good bet. Bream are beginning to make themselves known in the shallows, wooly buggers and small poppers should bring a strike.Crappie are good in 2-13 feet on timber and around grass lines. Some fish are moving back out into the 12-18 feet areas and a little deeper. Black crappie are on a few bridges, but fish are not loaded up yet. Black crappie are also grouping under docks on sunny afternoons. Cast 1/16th ounce hand tied jigs continue to be good in white and gray, white and chartreuse and light blue and gray colors. Minnows will still work very well and especially on shallow fish around grass. Soft plastics will also work well as the fish have been very aggressive. We should see the aggressive bite until the warmer months get here and the fish get a little finicky. Catfishing continues to be good around timber where birds are roosting in 10-18 feet. Also getting reports of some shallow catfish around grass lines and sea walls. Those fish are most likely chasing shad spawns. Catfish are cruising around shallow wood in 6-12 feet, with lots of fry showing up. Use your favorite prepared catfish bait to load the boat once you locate the fish. Report by Jacky Wiggins, Jacky Wiggins Guide Service.

More Fishing Reports