How to Clean Army Surplus Rifles

There are a lot of affordable military surplus firearms available today.  Some of these weapons were actually used in battle, which means that they also have a historic legacy. If you own one of them you will need to make sure to clean off the cosmoline and packing grease.

Things That You Will Need 

• Various sizes of flat head screwdrivers


• The bore and barrel brushes from a weapons cleaning kit


• The barrel rod from a weapons cleaning kit


• Some large cotton rags


• An old, used toothbrush


• Some brake cleaner


• Mineral spirits


• A green pot scrubber pad

1. Take your weapon apart.  Make sure to remove the receiver, trigger group and barrel.


2. Spray all of the weapon’s metal parts with brake cleaner.


3. Use a large cotton rag to apply mineral spirits to the weapon’s wooden stock.


4. Allow the weapon to sit as the mineral spirits work.


5. Use a green pot scrubber pad to clean the brake cleaner and old cosmoline off of the weapon’s exterior.


6. Use an old toothbrush to clean the interior regions of the weapon. 


7. Attach a copper-bristled barrel brush to the end of your weapon-cleaning rod.


8. Spray the copper-bristled barrel brush with brake cleaner.


9. Drive the copper-bristled barrel brush down the barrel at least 10 times.


10. Replace the barrel brush with a patch holder. 


11. Spray brake cleaner onto the patch.


12. Run the patch through the barrel several times.


13. Run a clean, dry patch through the barrel once.


14. Set the cleaned action of the rifle aside so that it can dry completely.


15. Use a clean cotton cloth to wipe all excess mineral spirits and cosmoline packing grease off of the stock of the weapon.


16. Use your toothbrush to remove the excess mineral spirits and cosmoline from the stock.


17. Reassemble the weapon.


18. Oil all metal and moving parts of the weapon.