A day at the range is an exciting time for any shooter. Whether it is purpose driven, like preparing for an upcoming hunting season, doing load development, taking part in a shooting competition, or simply going out to do some plinking with family and friends to get some extra trigger time. A trip to the local range could require an extensive time investment and a shooter may need to focus on multiple firearms to ensure they utilize their time as efficiently as possible. Once a shooter is done at the range there are some things to consider before putting all their gear back prior to their next range outing or hunting trip. This article will provide some housekeeping points on what to do with your firearm and gear once you return from the range.

Firearm

Regardless of where you are with your firearm, safety should be the number one thing to consider prior to working on it, so ensure that it is unloaded, the ammunition is separated from the firearm, and the chamber is clear by both visually and physically inspecting it.

Inspection of the barrel

If you have access to a bore scope it never hurts to do a quick inspection of the barrel, the throat, and the condition of the rifling to see what you are initially working with. Unfortunately, this can give birth to nightmares as sometimes you don’t want to see how bad the barrel condition is but it is important to know if there are any potential problems so they can be addressed. This can include excessive fowling, carbon rings, fire cracking, etc.

Clean your barrel

Depending on the amount of ammunition you sent down the barrel at the range, cleaning it may be something to consider. This can be as simple as running a bore rope, like a Clenzoil Cobra, down the barrel with some CLP on it to condition the barrel and remove any loose debris or moisture, or it can be as in depth as a thorough cleaning with brushes, patches, and cleaning solvents. Taking care of your barrel is key to accuracy and maintaining your barrel to get the most life out of it.

Check the action screws

Each rifle has its recommended torque specs on the action screws as outlined by the manufacturer. Many shooters play with these torque values as certain combinations can achieve tighter shot groups. It depends on what the gun likes. Once you know what these torque specs are it never hurts to ensure they are checked after a day of shooting. Over time these screws can work themselves loose resulting in a point of impact shifts or larger group sizes. 

Clean your action chamber

Depending on your shooting conditions, dust, powder fowling, carbon buildup, moisture, etc. can get inside the action. It is important to clean this out with brushes, picks, or in some cases oil or solvents to ensure proper functionality of the action, bolt, and trigger assembly to avoid jamming or improper feeding of a cartridge.

Check your scope mounts

Like your action screws the anchor points on your scope rings and bases can work themselves loose after multiple shots, especially with high recoil calibers. It is important to go through your rings and bases and ensure they are all tightened to the manufacturer’s specifications. For example, Leupold suggests that their ring top and base screws are tightened to 23 – 28-inch pounds and their keeper bolts on their cross slot rings are tightened to 45 inch pounds, depending on the model of rings. Each manufacturer has different torque thresholds, so it is important to refer to the manual or consult their technical support team to gather this correct information. Over tightening ring top screws can pose the risk of crushing the aluminum main tube and damaging the internal system.

Apply oil to the exterior of the firearm

Depending on where you live geographically and the climate that area presents, rust can be a huge concern. A light coating of oil like a CLP on the exterior of the action and barrel will help prevent rust from forming. If you’re running a wood stock on your rig it never hurts to wipe it down with the same oil to preserve the wood and can keep it looking pristine.

Clean your magazines

This tends to get overlooked but a magazine that is filled with dust and other debris can hang up rounds when chambering. It never hurts to give your magazines a bit of love by using brushes, picks, and oil to clean them out and ensure proper function for future use.

Ammunition

It is not uncommon to return from the range and have all your ammunition in a disorganized state. Make sure that all your ammunition is matched up and stored in their correct boxes with the headstamps corresponding. This is especially important if you were shooting multiple guns at the range that are different calibers. Once the ammunition is properly sorted and organized, it should be stored in a lock up separate from your firearms.

Range Bag

Although not as important as your firearms and ammunition, the contents of your range bag should be examined, cleaned, and organized accordingly. Make sure your hearing protection and safety glasses are clean and ready for your next outing. If you went through any consumables, like Lead Off wipes, make sure they are replenished so that you have stock for the next time you hit the range. And lastly, make sure any of your firearm documents, if restricted firearms are involved, are organized so they are not misplaced for future use.

In closing, I am sure you can go more in depth with this routine after a day at the range or even again prior to heading out, but this will provide a basic check list to ensure your firearms and gear are maintained properly and performing safely. This will provide peace of mind while your equipment is being stored but also when you are returning to the range or the hunting field as it is all part of being a responsible firearm owner.

This information has been brought to you in thanks from Korth Group Ltd. – Outdoor Education.

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