Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy have partnered up with Otis Technology to go over how to properly clean your bolt action rifle. In the accompanying video, Nikki will be demonstrating the cleaning process on a Winchester Model 70 bolt action rifle in .270 Winchester. This process will essentially be the same across the board with some small differences depending on your specific rifle. Some models may feature different mechanisms for removing the bolt or feature things like detachable magazines. Without further ado, let’s get into it.
Safety First
Before getting into the cleaning process, we must ensure that the rifle is empty and safe. This can be accomplished by lifting the bolt handle and retracting the bolt to the rear. This will reveal the chamber of the firearm and allow you to ensure it is empty. This will also extract the round from the chamber if one was present. From this point, if your bolt action rifle has a detachable magazine, you can simply remove it here. If your bolt action rifle has an internal magazine, you can remove the floorplate of the magazine and remove ammunition this way. When in doubt, refer to the owner’s manual of your firearm. Essentially, we want to ensure that the cleaning area is absolutely free of ammunition.
Why Clean a Bolt Action Rifle?
A bolt action rifle will benefit from being cleaned for a number of reasons. By cleaning a bolt action rifle, you will be protecting it from rust and corrosion. A clean firearm will also be smoother and work better than a dirty one.
Breech to Muzzle Cleaning
Like Nikki says in the video, it is important to clean from the breech to the muzzle. This process follows the path that a bullet would and efficiently cleans the bore.
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Three Different Cleaning Methods
Ripcord – An expedient bore cleaning implement which allows for quick cleaning in the field. These are particularly useful when the barrel is still hot.
Solid Rod – A traditional option which is often used at home on a workbench or in the field. While not as expedient as a ripcord, the versatility of the interchangeable tips makes these invaluable tools.
Cable System – At home in either the field or the range. Comes in a compact kit with all of the odds and ends needed for efficient cleaning. The small package that the kit goes in can be easily stowed in a range bag. These essentially combine the versatility of cleaning rods with the convenience and portability of a ripcord type implement.
Otis Technology’s Three-Step Cleaning Process
As shown in the accompanying video, Otis Technology recommends a three-step cleaning process for the bore. Before beginning, one must ensure that they utilize a slotted tip which is the appropriate size for the bore of their rifle.
Wet Patch – A patch should be threaded into the slotted tip and then treated with a CLP or solvent type solution. Once the patch is treated, the end of the cable system without the patch should be fed through the breech of the firearm until it reaches the end of the muzzle. From here, one should pull the cable system from breach to muzzle, allowing the treated patch to clean the bore as it travels. This process will aid in cleaning fouling and carbon in the bore. The CLP or solvent on the patch will prep the bore for the patch that will follow.
Bronze Brush – After the wet patch and cable system have cleared the muzzle, the slotted tip can be replaced with a bronze brush. In the video, Nikki says to make sure that the brush is sized appropriately for the bore of your particular firearm. Once the brush is affixed, the cable system should be pulled from breech to muzzle allowing the brush to travel through the bore. This brush will remove fouling and debris which was loosened up by the wet patch earlier.
Dry Patch – After the bronze brush and cable system have cleared the bore, the slotted tip can be reattached. Once the slotted tip is affixed, a patch can be threaded in just like before. This time however, the patch will stay dry and not be treated with CLP or solvent. Once again, the cable system is pulled from breech to muzzle, pulling the dry patch through the bore. When the dry patch clears the muzzle, one will be able to examine it and determine if more cleaning is needed.
This process can be repeated as needed when cleaning a bolt action rifle. If the dry patch comes out of the muzzle dirty and fouled, more cleaning is needed. If the dry patch comes out clean, you are done.
Cleaning: Action, Receiver, and Exterior
When it comes to cleaning the action and exterior of the rifle, CLP should be utilized to help loosen debris and fouling. Once CLP is applied, Nikki uses a nylon brush to scrub the areas in need of cleaning. Alternating between the larger and smaller sides of the AP brush to ensure that nooks and crannies of all sizes are scrubbed.
As far as the bolt goes, an application of CLP followed by scrubbing with a nylon brush will allow for efficient cleaning. Areas to focus on here are moving parts and crevices on the bolt. One should be sure to address the bolt face and extractor as these areas are particularly susceptible to fouling and carbon buildup. After scrubbing with a brush, wiping the bolt down with a rag or microfiber cloth will remove excess CLP and fouling. This microfiber cloth will be used in wiping down the receiver and action of the firearm.
Finally, wiping down the exterior components with CLP and a microfiber cloth will aid in protecting the rifle against the elements. Areas to hit are the barrel and receiver as well as the stock.
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Final Preventative Pass
As demonstrated in the video, Nikki does one last pass through the bore with a treated CLP patch. This final pass will treat the bore with a protective solution which will prevent rust and corrosion.
Reassembly
Once the cleaning process has been completed, the rifle can be reassembled. This is accomplished by reinserting the bolt into the receiver. Again, specificities in bolt action rifles on the market may make the reassembly process different than what is shown in the video. As always, one can consult their owner’s manual if they have any questions regarding reassembly.
Conclusion
And there we have it; we have now successfully cleaned a bolt action rifle. We would once again like to thank Otis Technology and Nikki for working with us on this project. In addition to the wide variety of ammunition we stock, we also offer cleaning kits from Otis Technology at True Shot. Whether you’re in the market for ammunition or an Otis Technologycleaning kit, we have you covered. As always, happy shooting.
Need bulk ammo? At True Shot Ammo, we have a wide variety of handgun ammo and rifle ammo available to purchase. Please visit our website trueshotammo.com, call us at (888) 736-6587, or you can email us at sales@trueshotammo.com for more ammo options.View more posts with Otis Technology:
Tyler Elsberry is an author for True Shot Ammo, boasting over a decade of experience in the firearms industry. His extensive knowledge and hands-on expertise make him a valuable asset to the True Shot team. Tyler's deep understanding of firearms, coupled with his passion for the ammunition industry, allows him to provide insightful and practical guidance to enthusiasts and professionals alike. His writings often reflect his commitment to delivering accurate, up-to-date information on the latest trends, products, and advancements in the field. Tyler's ability to convey complex technical details in an accessible manner has earned him a loyal following among readers seeking reliable advice and information in the world of firearms and ammunition.
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