Downtime with Your Airgun
This week has been extremely wet here in my area of the country. Winter storm warnings, rain, sleet, and some snow is forecast for tomorrow. It has been decidedly unfriendly for hunting or even plinking. So how should I put this "downtime" to good use?
Clean your guns! Routine and frequent maintenance is the key to having your beloved classic airgun or new acquisition weather the changing temperatures, humidity, and fingerprints you put on it the last time you picked it up. If you are on top of things, you cleaned your gun the last time you used it. But sometimes we are in a rush, and we lean it against the wall, or put it back in the gunrack or safe without taking time to protect it from rust and other detrimental environmental problems.
First off, when you are done using your airgun, you need to wipe down all the metal surfaces that you can reach.....the barrel, receiver, trigger and trigger guard, sights.....everything made of metal. Airgun Depot has a good selection of gun care accessories that can aid you in caring for your air gun. Choose one that fits your needs and carefully apply protection to the metal parts of your air gun. In addition to the readily accessible parts, don't forget to take your gun out of the stock from time to time in order to reach the rest of the air gun that is concealed by the stock. Moisture will seep into the tiniest places and rust will set in if you don't treat the whole gun.
If you've been shooting your air gun for some time, it may be in need of a barrel cleaning. If possible, clean the barrel from the breech end rather than the muzzle end. This will lessen any damage you do to the crown of the muzzle. And avoid firearm solvents.....there is no powder residue in your pellet gun, so use an approved airgun barrel cleaner. If you don't have any on hand, a good citrus-based cleaner will do in a pinch.
If you are using a springer, a touch of spring oil on the spring and other moving parts from time to time is good maintenance. Use it sparingly, and avoid getting any of the oil into the spring piston chamber. This is not where the oil is intended to be used, and you want to avoid any unwanted lubricants in this area.
If your gun is a CO2-powered setup, don't forget to place a drop of Crosman Pellgun Oil or other approved seal lubricant in the places designated by your owner's manual. And if you don't have a manual, you can almost certainly download or order one by phone from the manufacturer. The seals on CO2 air guns needs a drop of lubricant from time to time.....not every time, but often enough to protect the seals.
PCP airguns have seals as well, but in a well-maintained gun, they will last for quite awhile. The breathing air you use as a power source isn't as detrimental to seals as CO2 is.....there is less wear and tear on them. When you do apply lubricants, don't forget the o-ring on the bolt probe that pushes the pellet into the barrel. This is one of the most common places for a seal to get nicked and damaged due to drying out. It is also one of the most actively moving seals in the gun. Every time you load or open the chamber, it sees use and needs to have lubricant to lengthen its service period.
If you will take the time to care for your gun, it will give you a level of enjoyment that is equal to the care you provide it. It's a reciprocal arrangement, so give it some care, and it will return to you the satisfaction you demand from your airgun.
