How to Clean and Maintain Your Rifle: An Expert Guide to Firearm Care

Posted by Edgar Brothers on 13th Nov 2025

The purpose of this guide is to outline the best practices for caring for and cleaning your rifle, ensuring it remains accurate, reliable, and safe for years to come. While we will use Bergara rifles as our focal point which are renowned for their sound, accurate, and consistent performance; the principles discussed here apply to most modern bolt-action platforms and other brands supported by Edgar Brothers.

There is considerable debate regarding the "perfect" way to clean a rifle. While there are certainly incorrect methods that can damage your firearm, there are many common-sense, logical approaches. The correct rifle cleaning programme is ultimately one that you can perform confidently and consistently.

Important Safety Notice: Always confirm that your firearm is clear and unloaded before commencing any maintenance. Ensure there is no live ammunition in your workspace and that the bolt is removed before cleaning or inspecting the action.

Essential Preparation and Setup for Rifle Cleaning

Before applying any solvents, preparation is key to a thorough and safe cleaning session.

Prepare Your Workspace: Set up all required tools and materials on a stable, secure, and flat platform in a well-ventilated room.
Secure the Firearm: Confirm the rifle is clear and unloaded. Set it down securely, supporting the buttstock and forend using a rear bag and bipod, or secure it within a dedicated rifle vice or cleaning harness.
Remove Accessories: We highly recommend removing optics, sound moderators, and other accessories. This prevents accidental exposure to harsh cleaning chemicals and allows unrestricted access to the rifle’s action without the risk of knocking your zeroed optic.

How Often Should You Clean Your Rifle?

To be perfectly clear: there is no single definitive answer to this question. It is largely open to personal interpretation and based on qualitative experience.

Many marksmen routinely clean their rifle after every outing to the range or field, guaranteeing they start and finish with a pristine bore. Others prefer to clean only after a dedicated number of rounds, while some rimfire competitors (.22LR) rarely clean their bores due to the nature of lubricated ammunition. The frequency will depend on your specific rifle, the cartridge, the projectile, and the propellant used.

For those newer to the sport, we recommend thoroughly cleaning your rifle if you observe any of the following:

Accuracy noticeably fades.
The mechanical function of the rifle becomes impaired or sluggish.
You can visually identify debris, soot, or fouling in the action or on the bolt.
Your rifle has been exposed to wet or muddy field conditions.
You intend to store the rifle in a safe for a significant period.

Recommended Rifle Cleaning Supplies and Tools

Using high-quality materials will protect your rifle's finish and internal dimensions. Below are excellent options from Edgar Brothers' portfolio.

Material	Application	Product Link
Bergara Cleaning Kit	Premium solvents, oils, and tools for comprehensive care.	View Product
Hoppe’s Gun Vice	Secure, stable platform for maintenance.	View Product
Hoppe’s Boresnake Den	Rapid, efficient bore cleaning tool.	View Product

Step-by-Step Guide to Cleaning Your Rifle

1. The Barrel and Chamber

Apply Solvent: Spray Bergara Bore Pro (or a similar high-quality solvent) into the bore from the chamber end (breech to muzzle). Leave the solvent to work for approximately 15 minutes to dissolve grease, soot, and copper/carbon fouling.
Patch Out: Using an appropriately sized dry cloth patch on a quality push-through rod or pull-through device, pass the patch down the bore and out of the muzzle.
Inspect and Repeat: Take note of the quantity and colour of the removed material. Repeat the process with fresh patches until they emerge clean.
Note: Avoid overly aggressive or highly abrasive cleaning methods, as these risk damaging the barrel’s internal structures and critical crown dimensions.

2. The Action

Degrease: Apply a small amount of Bergara Gun Degreaser to a suitable cloth patch or a soft nylon brush.
Wipe Clean: Gently brush and wipe the liquid around the internal action and exposed metallic parts. Repeat until there is no foreign material left and the action is smooth and clean.

3. The Magazine and Accessories

Disassemble: Remove the magazine, muzzle brake, and thread protectors.
Clean Components: Apply gun degreaser to a cloth or nylon brush and clean these accessories, paying special attention to threads and the feed lips of the magazine. Ensure all carbon build-up is removed.

4. The Bolt

Surface Clean: Apply degreaser to a patch or brush and wipe down the bolt body, bolt face, and locking lugs. Visually inspect for hard fouling or brass shavings.
Note: If disassembly of the bolt is required for a deeper clean (such as cleaning the firing pin assembly), please consult your specific firearm manufacturer’s user manual for correct guidance.

Applying Lubricants and Rust Protection

Once you are satisfied that your rifle is clean and degreased, you must apply a protective layer to prevent corrosion and ensure smooth mechanical operation.

Internal Lubrication: Apply a sparing amount of Bergara Gun Coating (or equivalent lubricant) to the internal structures of the firearm and the bolt locking lugs. Do not over-lubricate; a very fine, thin layer is all that is required.
Exterior Protection: Lightly coat a clean cloth with lubricant and wipe down the exterior blued or cerakoted metallic surfaces of the rifle. This provides a crucial barrier against atmospheric moisture and finger oils.

Expert Tips for Rifle Storage and Long-Term Maintenance

Remove Sound Moderators: Never store your rifle with a sound moderator attached. Moderators trap corrosive gases and moisture, which will aggressively rust the crown and rifling at the muzzle, devastating your accuracy.
Pre-Range Prep: Before taking your rifle to the range, run a dry patch through the bore to remove excess oil. Excess moisture or oil in the chamber/barrel can lead to adverse, dangerous pressure spikes when firing.
De-cock the Action: If storing the rifle for a prolonged period, "let the action down" (de-cock it) so the firing pin spring inside the bolt is not kept under constant tension.
Control Humidity: Place dehumidifier bags or silica gel moisture collectors inside your gun safe to combat ambient moisture and prevent rust.

Further Reading and Video Resources

For visual demonstrations and brand-specific advice, please refer to the following resources:

Bergara’s Rifle Maintenance Guide (Article): Read Here
Bergara Simple & Effective Rifle Maintenance (Video): Watch on YouTube
Hoppe’s Boresnake in Action with Jerry Miculek (Video): Watch on YouTube

What Ammunition & Projectiles Does Hornady Offer?

The two main bullets on offer in Hornady’s factory-loaded ammunition and as standalone projectiles for hunting big game are the Extreme Copper Alloy Expanding or ECX™ and Copper Alloy Expanding or CX®. These projectiles are the most ‘standard’ from a traditional rifle projectile aspect and will be compatible with the respective firearm in the given cartridge and calibre.

The lead-based equivalent of these projectiles would be the InterLock® and Extremely Low Drag-Expanding (ELD-X®) respectively.

The CX® projectile is an aerodynamically efficient monolithic copper alloy projectile that boasts a high ballistic coefficient allowing for superior and more predictable flight characteristics across longer distances and in inclement weather; effectively increasing one’s effective range for taking game.

The CX® projectile is available in a range of calibres and grain weights for reloading and is predominantly available in assorted cartridges in Hornady’s Outfitter® line of ammunition.

Some Points to Consider With a Non-Lead Projectile

Projectile Length: Assuming the same weight, geometry and calibre, a copper alloy, monolithic projectile will be longer than a lead-based counterpart. Consequently, you may require a faster twist rate barrel in order to achieve full stabilisation of the projectile. This requirement will be exacerbated if the projectile features aggressive geometry and increased weight and length designed to enhance ballistic coefficient and flight characteristics.

Projectile Terminal Performance: A common trait of monolithic projectiles like the Hornady CX® and other like products is the capacity for significant weight retention of the projectile as it deploys and expands passing through the target. Hornady (2026) points out that the CX® projectile won’t deconstruct and retains 95% of its weight whilst passing through the target; resulting in deep penetration and impressive terminal performance on quarry.

Such impressive performance metrics are to be applauded and on paper make the projectile seem like an excellent option for ethically taking deer. However, there are a couple of aspects of a monolithic projectile like the CX® that it pays to be mindful of especially when planning to use such bullets in the field.

As the projectile retains near to all of its original weight whilst deploying and passing through the target, the amount of penetration should be considerably more than an equivalent lead-based projectile; likely leading to a pass through and the projectile coming to a rest in the safe backstop behind the quarry. One could argue that this means that there is energy wasted as the projectile has left the quarry, however, if the projectile has done the required damage to humanely dispatch the quarry then I personally don’t see this being a point of concern. The presence of an entrance and exit wound allows for greater capacity for haemorrhaging and following the subsequent blood trail if required.

View Lead To Lead-Free Conversion Chart

Lead-Free Facts

Although it may seem like these new non-lead big game-focused hunting projectiles boast impressive performance, there is reticence to using such projectiles as lead-based projectiles have worked for many years.

However, given the legal requirement, we must embrace this change. This presents an opportunity to push the boundaries of hunting projectiles and confidently use non-lead options in the field.

Conclusion

Start your lead-free journey today and explore modern ammunition innovations designed for performance and sustainability.

When will the lead ban come into force?

If there are no changes, the ban will come into force in 2029, following legislation in 2026 and a three-year transition period.

Can I stock up and use later?

No, the planned ban covers both sale and use of lead ammunition.

Does this affect clay shooting?

Yes, lead ammunition will be banned across clay shooting environments, with limited exemptions under discussion.

Does this affect air guns?

No, airguns are currently not included in the restriction based on initial government statements.

Is the whole UK affected?

Details are still evolving, but the legislation is expected to apply broadly across the UK.