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I just purchased my first rifle in a long time. When we used to clean our guns a long time ago we would use a coat hanger and old tee shirts and some oil, 3-in-1 oil probably. In my package I got a thing I think everyone calls a jag??? What is it for and how do you use it. Is there a certain way you should break in a new rifle today.

Hello Deercat-

Best thing to do if you don't have one is to get a one-piece cleaning rod like a Dewey or Tipton for the caliber and length of barrel you have. Go to the gunshop/sporting goods dept of your choice and get some Hoppe's Elite for gun solvent, and any of the true "gun oil" products, DON'T use WD-40 to lube your gun. Get an assortment of patches, brass brush or two for your caliber, and patch jag, but I guess you have one.

You didn't say if your new rifle is bolt action or what, if you can remove the bolt or open the action from the breech end then that's the way to clean the bore, after first making sure it's unloaded of course.

If you have a real keeper for a rifle that should drive tacks, there is a recommended break-in for the barrel, usually you fire a shot, push a patch with solvent through the bore, followed by a dry patch or two, fire another shot, clean, repeat until you have fired and cleaned 5 times. Then shoot five, clean, five more etc until you have fired and cleaned after 50 rounds. After this, clean as normal. Or so I've heard.

For end of season storage I usually soak a bore brush with Hoppes and push through breech to muzzle 10 times then push through dry patch. Repeat brush & patch, then solvent soaked patch and dry patches until pretty clean patches come out. After this Ilightly oil a patch and push it throught the bore once., bore is done.

If you start to get really heavy copper fouling that takes some serious copper remover, others may list their favorites and procedures, they all seem to work but require lots of time and elbow grease. Congrats on the new rifle and let us know how it shoots!