What do you carry and why?

I generally don't clean my rifle when on safari. I check with my PH to know what he has in camp. If he's got nothing I take a take-down rod, jag, brush and patches, plus a very small vial of a general bore cleaner, just in case. If the PH has appropriate gear in camp I take nothing.

In a small plastic bag I bring a few patches, small vial of gun oil and jag and screwdriver handle with bits to fit scope rings, action screws, etc. And a take down cleaning rod. I have been caught in a downpour in the bush and it is nice to be able to thoroughly clean the action and not have to wait a week or two until you get home to find out if you have rust. The whole mess doesn't weigh more than a few ounces and takes very little room so I feel it is worth the effort.
Forgot to mention I also bring a separated case extractor.

What is the best oil?

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
What is the best oil?

Young's 303 ()

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
What is the best oil?

Any light low viscosity oil that provides rust protection and doesn't build up a film. My favorite is LPS 1 but I don't generally hunt in harsh environments for long periods of time. But if I was in a pinch you might catch me using a rag with a few drops off of the Landcruiser's dipstick.

I stick a full length rod in my hard rifle case (under the foam) and in a small plastic bag put patches, nylon bore brush(s), and a small bottle of BreakFree CLP which does it all. I also have a small Wheeler Engineering screwdriver set with all the bits needed for rifles and scopes. I often leave this stuff with the PH as they cannot find this stuff every day as we can. Not much weight. I also put a few targets under the foam in the case as well.

RCG

every season I bring to into the bush my gun cleaning kit, oil, targets, tools. by mid season I'm delighted when the client hunter leaves me his quality gun oil (not real easy to find in tanzania).
The small Remington brand sealed packets with gun oil wipe cloth are also great for clients to bring along.
Do not count on your ph to clean your guns. he may not have your calibre brush. bring a small kit with you.

I would never count on any cleaning supplies in camp, unless you bring your own. A take down rod beats a pull through for any kind of barrel obstruction or ruptured case. A few patches, some CLP and you should be fine. A multi-tool will be handy for many issues, including gun problems. The only time I've done any gun cleaning in Africa, other than an exterior wipe down in dusty conditions, is after I've been caught out in the rain. A piece of tape over the barrel end will prevent excessive dust and other objects from obstructing the bore.

My advice is also to bring the proper tools for tightening up screws and bits and pieces on your rifle and scope. Nothing worse that a stripped screw on a fine gun.

I always bring a cleaning kit on all my hunts including africa.I bring a one piece rod,patches,JB compound and a couple of brushes.The reason I bring the kit and clean my rifle is because I might use the rifle it on a 100yd + shot and want top accuracy.I find I get top accuracy when there are no more than 8 or so rds down the bore.As far as removing obtructions from the bore while in the field,the situation came up on my last safari.Blake,the camp manager and apprentice PH got a round stuck in the chamber and I got it out for him in no time.I had a tracker use his machete to cut me a branch or twig long and straight enough and then smoothen it up.I put it down the muzzle and pushed out the round.Blake thought that the CZ failed to extract it because it might not have been made to load with one in the chamber in addition to the rds in the magazine.I told him that I didn't think this was the issue and upon examining his rds I noticed that some primers were not seated deep enough and would not let the case head rest flat on the bolt face so the extractor can get the rim.

You have to clean them?

Bore snake is super light weight and only need some patches and a lubricant or fresh silicone rag.

Mike

I knew the PH had rods.
Brought my own brush, jags and patches...q-tips too! Put them in a choke tube box along w/sample gun lubes I picked up at someplace.
Brought the screwdriver bits too.

RCG,
Good ideas! I intend to use a few on my first African safari this summer. Thanks!
Brittman

quote:

Originally posted by Zephyr:
What do you carry and why?

A few caliber specific patches - made by VFG
A few normal patches
Cleaning rod
Small bottle of Hoppe's
Small bottle of good gun oil
Small tube of action/bolt grease.

All the above are normally in a ziplock bag in my gun case.

And unless my rifles get wet for some reason on the hunt, I never clean them at all.

They get a thorough cleaning after I get home.

I bought one of the small (4"x4"x2") Otis cleaning kits for my first safari and have carried it ever since. Fills all my needs in a small neat package. Not particularly cheap today though.

If anyone is looking for a good quality sectional cleaning rod, Parker Hale do some nice 3 piece brass ones for about $30 each..



They have roller ball bearing handles and come in two types...one for .22 to .280 calibres and other .30 cal plus...

They have the standard British threads, but you can buy small brass "thread converters" so they take American jags and brushes ect..

At home, I normally use one peice rods, but I like these sectional ones as they are easy to pack and less prone to damage in transit..Being brass they are also softer than the barrel steel.

Just keep them clean and don't let copper solvent sit on them for any length of time..

I always take a segmented cleaning rod, since one sometimes needs to poke things out of the bore.

Also some patches and a small cloth.

And small plastic bottles of bore solvent and oil.

All of this fits in a rather handy U.S. army M16 cleaning kit, along with a small interchangeable bit screwdriver, with the bits I need, and whatever hex wrenches I need.

I never use much oil on my rifles. Just a little bit.

That's because dust has been the main problem where I've hunted, and I've found that a thorough bore swipe or two and a general wipe down mid-way through a long safari is a good idea.

Another vote for Otis. Small and works good.

A bore snake keeps the bore spiffy. I also carry a segmented rod just-in-case of one of the oh shit bore stabbed into the dirt situations that sometimes happen(once in about 30 years of hunting for me.)In addition there is a small bottle of Break Free, a few patches, foam ear plugs, and a tooth brush.

Zephyr,

Lots of good suggestions here. All I would add is take a rigged rod whether breakdown or solid. A Bore Snake or similiar is not going to dislodge a creepy crawly or mud from you bore or Heaven forbid that a case that gets stuck in the chamber.

As others have said do not expect your PH to have cleaning supplies.

Mark

bore snake