Double rifle use and care?

08 June 2003, 03:22

Guys,

I'm travelling. The 470 NE Searcy is waiting for me when I get home tomorrow. Powder, cases, bullets and so on are also waiting. I hope the snap caps have made it. Will still be looking for a transport case.

Dawned on me that there may or may not be a manual with it ... and I've shot one, but never owned one before.

Any suggestions on the use and care of a double rifle that I should be aware of?

As always ... thanks!

08 June 2003, 07:36

Atkinson

Pretty simple in concept...I don't clean mine a lot, as they tend to quit shooting to POI for awhile when you clean them...I keep the action very lightly oiled and I mean very lightly...wipe them down on the outside and stand them up muzzle down in the gun case..

The only oil I will on the action is transmission oil. Transmission oil is the purest oil in the world today, or so I have been advised by some very knowledgable folks in the lubricant and gunsmithing field. Much more so than Rangoon or Whale oil BTW.

08 June 2003, 07:40

<Axel>

Ray, what kind of transmission oil? Could you be a little more specific, please.

Axel

08 June 2003, 17:58

JBoutfishn

Ray, we talking ATF?

09 June 2003, 04:17

500grains

quote:
Originally posted by Axel:
Ray, what kind of transmission oil? Could you be a little more specific, please.

Axel

I think Ray is talking about the pink stuff that drips into your eye when you change the automatic transmission filter, because 90W or 85W140 would be called 'gear oil'.

09 June 2003, 06:02

MacD37

First off, if the rifle is new, it should be cleaned before fireing it! Most doubles come from the makers, with a lot of oil in the works.

After you remove all the factory oil, then fire one ,or two rounds through each barrel to foul it. Put a thin coat of plain Vasaline on the hook, and sides of the lumps, with a q-tip, then do your shooting!

For over night, in camp, simply run a dry patch, one time, through each barrel, wipe the outside of the rifle down with a very lightly oiled rag,wipe all finger prints off the steel, and put away till morning, where dew can not settle on the rifle. This is all that is needed while on a hunting trip. Check the bore, to see if they are clear, before loading the next day. There is a wasp in some areas of Africa, much like a Texas "DIRT DOBBER", that works at night, and will build a mud nest in any hole they find. That could be a little unsetteling when a round is fired through a barrel with a wad of dried mud in it.

For storage over a longer period, the bores should be "CLEAN", and lightly oiled, along with all steel parts, taken down, and stored in the luggage case if you have one of the Oak&leather ones, or in the safe or gun cabinet muzzle down, if you don't have a maker's case!

I have a folding cleaning rod,Vasaline container, and Rem-oil in my kit for the daily care, while on safari. I have this stuff in a fanny pack, that goes along in the bakki.

I haven't tried the Auto-trans oil, but I'm told it is great. However I follow the regemine used by the old makers. It is my belief that more doubles come off face from poor care, that from heavy loads! The hook, and henge pin, and sides of the lumps should be cleaned, and re-vasalined daily when on safari, and bores left fouled, with only the dry patch run through.

09 June 2003, 11:19

<JOHAN>

MacD37

A silly question, What is the vaseline good for? could it be used on other guns like shotguns etc? [Roll Eyes]

What kind ot transmision oil are you gentlemen refering to? Someone siaf that some oil for lathes and other machines should be good? Suggestions please. I will go to the machine shop by the end of this week [Roll Eyes]

/ JOHAN

09 June 2003, 13:57

Atkinson

Transmission oil, the pink stuff that you put in your cars transmission...thats all I use on a double, it will not cake, it is immune to heat, cold and doesn't seem to collect dirt like so many oils do...

One thing I have done over the years is to send my gun to Lee LaBass or David Yale, to check the firing pins, hinges, guts in general...I do this depending on use, if I'm using it heavy and have extended stays in Africa then I did it every year, today I do it about every 500 rounds but 300 would be better I suspect, depending on how much you shoot.....

Macs advise makes a lot of since....I think a bore snake is the best option for wiping the bore each night...

09 June 2003, 16:47

MacD37

quote:
Originally posted by JOHAN:
MacD37

A silly question, What is the vaseline good for? could it be used on other guns like shotguns etc?

JOHAN

Johan, the only place I use the vasaline is as stated, on the hook, and sides of the lumps where they contact the Henge pin, and the action bar, of a double rifle. The Vasaline is used spareingly
and applied with a Q-tip. This is cleaned off, and re-applied daily. I have never used it on any other type of firearm other than double rifles, and shotguns. Ray has me thinking, however, with the Automatic transmission oil! [Cool]

09 June 2003, 18:23

N E 450 No2

I shoot my Doubles a lot. I use a good quality gun grease. After several hundred rounds each, they are all still tight. When hunting in dusty conditions just wipe it all off and replace it with new grease when necessary.
I have hunted in rain many times, I dry the bbls every night, wipe the rifle down real good and re-grease if necessary.