Gun Cleaning Kits

Above, Winchester rifle and shotgun cleaning kits. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I have about five Hoppe's gun cleaning kits that I have bought over the years. Some are for pistols, rifles and shotguns.  

I've noticed that the newer kits I have purchased have more cheaply made rod end accessories. They have broken while inside gun barrels. Usually, I can get them out of the barrels with a wire clothes hangar (apologies to Joan Crawford). I had one break inside a Winchester Model 62A .22 rifle the other day. I couldn't get it out with a hangar. So, reluctantly, I shot it out. Luckily, the rod end accessory wasn't wedged in. 

I have some Winchester cleaning kits and those are far better made. I bought them in Lake Havasu a couple of years ago as they were on sale. I finished the cleaning job with the Winchester rifle cleaning kit.

In the future, I'll stick with the Winchester kits and just use the Hoppe's gun oil and cleaning solvent. 

Gun Cleaning

Above, Hoppe's No. 9 gun oil and gun solvent. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After a shoot, some people may think that cleaning their firearms is tedious and/or boring. I am not one of them. 

I like the smell of Hoppe's No. 9 gun solvent, I don't mind doing the necessary gun cleaning. I have about five Hoppe's gun cleaning kits that I have accumulated over 40 years. I also have two Winchester gun cleaning kits as well that I picked up a year ago in Lake Havasu City. They were on sale. 

I use the cleaning task to inventory the supplies, especially patches. Right now, I have plenty of patches of differing sizes. 

Before locking the guns away after cleaning, I give each a good oiling to prevent rust. Guns that I bought 40 years ago have no signs of any rust as I have always oiled them. Living in a semi-arid environment also helps. 

Winchester Model 12 Shotgun Worked Great

Above, cleaning the Winchester Model 12 shotgun. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yesterday, I was able to fire several shot shells through the Winchester Model 12 shotgun I bought earlier this year.

The shotgun is a take-down model made in 1919, making it over 105 years old. Since it is a take-down, it has to be put together and have its components in the correct configurations.

I couldn't fire it the last time I tried (back in April), so I took it to Loeffler's Guns, Etc. in Grants to see what was causing it. They showed me how to put it together and configure it. I videoed their instructions for future reference (glad I thought of doing so).

It operated just fine. I actually enjoyed shooting it along with the other shotgun I brought along yesterday, the Remington 870 Express. 

It is probably more appropriate for trap shooting than the Remington. I will give it a try the next time I go to Lake Havasu. 

I was very pleased at its performance. No wonder it is a popular shotgun.

Love The Smell of Hoppe's In The Morning...

Above, cleaning the Remington 870 Express shotgun. 

As usual, following target shooting, the time comes for cleaning and oiling the guns to keep them in good working order. It's a task I don't mind doing since I like the smell of Hoppe's No. 9 solvent.

Above, about to clean the Winchester 94. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I took care of that this morning after I took a quick jaunt to Gallup for some grocery shopping.

So now, the guns are ready for the next session of shooting.

At The Gunsmith's

Above, the Winchester Model 12 shotgun. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yesterday had me making a trek over to the gunsmith to see what's causing the shotgun shells from feeding into firing position with my Winchester Model 1912 shotgun. 

Right away, during an initial cursory look, they noticed an issue with the shell carrier. So it appears that I made the right decision to bring it in.

While there, I picked up a new Hoppe's gun cleaning kit. The ones I have date back to the 1980s and while I was cleaning my Winchester 94, a rod end broke off inside the barrel. I had to push it out from the other end. 

Things do get old, for sure.