Always keep your gun pointed in a safe direction. Know where your muzzle is at all times.

Always keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.

Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use. "I didn't know it was loaded" is not an excuse for an accident. Always check the magazine and then the chamber for ammo before handing over a firearm or handling it yourself.

Be sure the gun is safe to operate. If you are in doubt, don't use and have older guns looked at by professionals.

Know how to use the gun safely. Take the time to understand how the safeties work and how to safely load and unload the firearm.

Use only the correct ammunition for your gun.

Know your target and what is beyond. Never shoot at a skylined animal or target. Never shoot over water or ice as bullets can ricochet.

Wear eye and ear protection as appropriate for the situation.

No drinking or use of drugs before or while shooting.

Store guns unloaded and not accessible to unauthorized persons; especially your children. Make sure your guns are locked, hidden or disabled when not in use.

The following is a list of some items you should have, either on your person or at least back at camp, aside from flexible cleaning rods, patches and electrical tape:
A multitool, like a Gerber or Leatherman
A scope cover
Prepackaged, premoistened lens cleaning tissues like Bausch and Lomb Sight Savers
A professional gunsmith's screwdriver kit, like the one from BSquare
A rigid cleaning rod
An aerosol guncleaning solvent like Birchwood Casey's Gun Scrubber and gun oil
Stainless steel wire
A presighted spare scope on quick release mounts, in case your first scope is too badly damaged to be readjusted
A spare rifle if all else fails you will have a spare gun with you

Take a bronze brush and saturate it with Nitro Solvent, work it back and forth in the bore from breech to muzzle if possible. Repeat this process at least 10 times

Remove brush and attach a jag or slotted tip with a patch for the caliber you are cleaning. Soak the patch with Nitro Solvent and work it back and forth 10 times or more. If the gun hasn't been cleaned for a while, let the Nitro Solvent sit for a few minutes to work in and break up the residue

Repeat the above step with clean patches until patch is free of residue

Lightly oil a patch or mop and run it down the bore, making sure to work in the oil along the entire barrel

Clean the action of the gun thoroughly with Nitro Solvent and wipe dry. Remove the bolt on a bolt action and wipe it down. One lever, slide or semiautos, you may want to use aerosol Outers TriLube to get all the working parts.

Give your gun a final rubdown with a silicone cloth for shortterm storage or a spraydown with Metal Seal for storage over two months

NOTE Before shooting, run a clean patch through the bore to remove any remaining oil

Published in 7th Annual Edition Hunter's Handbook
A Comprehensive "How To" Guide for Today's Hunter

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