How to Clean an Over-Under Shotgun
Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy have partnered up with Otis Technology to go over how to properly clean your over-under shotgun. In the accompanying video, Amy provides a walkthrough of the cleaning and maintenance process.
Our goal here is to provide end users with both a video and written guide to help efficiently clean their favorite over-under shotgun. Without further ado, let's get into it.
Why Clean an Over-Under Shotgun?
While over-under shotguns may not be as complex or reliant on moving parts as some of the other designs on the market, they still benefit from cleaning and maintenance. By keeping an over-under shotgun clean, one will ensure proper and reliable function of the firearm. Simply put, guns will generally run better cleaner than dirtier.
Safety First
Before any cleaning can commence, it is important to ensure that the firearm is rendered safe and the cleaning area is free of ammunition. By ensuring that the workspace is free of ammunition, one can take easy precautions to avoid tragic mistakes.
Once the firearm is verified to be empty and there is no longer any ammunition present, cleaning can begin.
Disassembly: Removing the Barrels
One thing to keep in mind is that the disassembly process of your particular over-under shotgun may differ from the method shown by Amy in the video. This is mainly due to the wide variety of over-under shotguns which have been offered throughout the years. If need be, you can consult the manual for your specific shotgun for detailed information regarding the disassembly process.
Generically, one will have to remove the forend from the shotgun to allow for removal of the barrels from the receiver. This can be achieved by pulling down on a tab at the bottom of the forend and pulling it free of the firearm.
Next, the barrels can be removed by opening the action of the shotgun as one normally would and then pulling the barrels away from the receiver.
Cleaning: The Barrels
From here, the three-step cleaning process Otis Technology recommends can begin. This process consists of a wet patch followed by a bronze brush and finally a dry patch to finish the cycle.
This cleaning process can be accomplished with a variety of means ranging from pull through or traditional cleaning rod designs. In the accompanying video, Amy makes use of the pull through cable system from Otis Technology.
To start the process, the pull cable is fitted with a slotted tip to allow for the attachment of patches. Once a patch is affixed, a patch saver can be added to ensure that the patch stays in place during the cleaning process.
Next, a CLP solution or solvent should be applied to this patch, assisting in its ability to fight carbon and fouling. From this point the cable and patch should be pulled from through the breech to the muzzle.
After this wet patch has cleared the muzzle, the patch and slotted tip can be removed and replaced with a bronze brush for the next step. This bronze brush and cable should then be pulled through the breach and out the muzzle of each barrel.
Once the bronze brush has made its pass, the brush can be removed and replaced with the slotted tip again with a fresh patch. This patch will remain dry and be the third and final step of the cleaning process.
This dry patch should then be pulled from the breach to the muzzle and inspected for fouling once it has cleared. If this patch comes out dirty, more cleaning is necessary. The process can be repeated as many times as necessary.
Cleaning: The Receiver
As Amy demonstrates in the accompanying video, one can clean the receiver of an over-under shotgun with some brushes and cleaning solution. These brushes can take the form of toothbrushes and other small-sized brushes. The goal is to break down fouling and carbon deposits which will inhibit function.
The location of these deposits will differ from gun to gun depending on action style and other variables. Receivers should be cleaned in such a way that avoids damage to the parts and components of the firearm.
Cleaning: The Forend
Cleaning the forend of an over-under shotgun can be achieved by simply wiping it down with a cloth and cleaning solution. This removes any undue fingerprints and ensures that the forend is clean for the end user. This can also be true of any exposed wood on the shotgun such as shoulder stocks.
Reassembly
Once the cleaning process has been completed, the shotgun can be reassembled. This process can be achieved by simply reversing the disassembly steps.
Again, it should be known that there can be differences in the disassembly and reassembly process due to the wide variety of over-under shotguns on the market today. First, the barrels must be indexed into the receiver at the hinge points. Once this has been achieved, the action should then be closed and the forend reattached.
Wiping Down
Once reassembly has been completed, one can wipe down the exterior of the firearm with a rag or cloth that has been treated by a CLP type solution. This wiping will remove fingerprints from the external metal components and apply a protective solution which will resist rust and corrosion.
Conclusion
We here at True Shot would like to thank Otis Technology and Amy for this collaboration. Otis Technology is a great resource for information and cleaning products. We are happy to offer a number of their products here at True Shot.
It is our hope that his guide will prove helpful to those who are hoping to clean their over-under shotguns. Whether you're shooting an over-under shotgun or something else, we here at True Shot have you covered. As always, happy shooting.
