Any tips on keeping that over under clean during waterfowl hunts?

rocklobster

rocklobster

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I just got a new to me Citori and am loving taking it out in the field. It is a pleasure to use waterfowling but as any duck hunter knows this environment is particularly hard on a shotgun. I have been using a benelli nova up until now and have enjoyed it's pretty easy maintenance so far. Now I am moving into a more beautiful gun but still a gun that needs to go afield and be used.

What are any tips you can pass on in keeping a nice gun in good condition and function while waterfowling?

So far in keeping it running smooth I have been lightly spraying the action after hunting using an aerosol hoppe's lube wiping clean and using some lithium grease on the wear points, cleaning the barrels as usual, and making sure to flush the ejectors with the aerosol hoppe's. I also wipe down the exterior with oil and I have applied a coat of wax every so often.

I then store the shotgun muzzle down in the cabinet to keep the oils from staining the stock.

Has anybody tried dry graphite lube on an over under before?
 
Get a good quality gun case. Padded and waterproof. Keep the gun in it until you are set up in your blind. I've found that guns only really get dirty or damaged when they aren't in your hands. I can show you several of my guns which have hunted waterfowl in the marshes for decades and are hardly worse for wear.
 
I'd try some Birchwood Casey gun wax.
At least out in the field to keep the water from sticking to it.
I've just bought a shaker of Fluid Film and need to run this out
in the bush to see how well it keeps a film on.
Dang stuff has a bit of an odor to it.
I've gone over a couple/few new to me older gals with it and it
seems to leave an oily shine to the surfaces.
Might prove worthy as well?
 
I use Johnson's paste wax on my guns, metal and wood.
Some guys used the Harold's feed'n'wax as well.
I have some of that and it puts a tremendous sheen o the wood, i think it's a mix of Carnuba and beeswax.
I keep my guns in a sleeve and the underside of the barrels are taped in case they come in contact with metallic parts of the layout blinds.

Cat
 
Meguier's Gold Wax, on sale at Crappy Tire right now for $14.99 instead of $20. Do the whole gun, barrels, receiver and stock.
 
Don't drop it in the mud... case it before the decoy weights start flying... stay left of your buddy and his auto-loader... don't shoot birds on a trajectory that will knock your head off when shot... pad the rim of your blind, don't leave your wet gun in the case back at camp... etc... etc...
 
x2 on wax on the barrels, particularly under the forend. I used my Citori for years as a waterfowl gun, and thought it has marks on the stock, there is no rust or pits.
Citori stock finish is particularly resistant, but the checkering needs a little oil to repel water.
 
I occasionally take my o/u duck hunting. But only when it's not raining or muddy!

For what it's worth my wooden stocked auto has taken a beating in the duck blind and is still in great condition. It is however a varnish finish rather than oil. Always give it a good clean as soon as I get home and never ever let it stay damp for anything longer than the drive home.
 
You dont want it wrecked, then dont bring it out........ dont bang it off things etc. Other then that, just give it a through cleaning with g96 before and directly after. Other then that find a new gun to use, I bought a $3000o/u and i bring it out. I wont buy a gun that i will not bring out hunting unless it is restricted. All my hunting guns are in good shape unless put away wet....
 
I'm careful to disassemble doublebarrels if they've been out in the rain, and to leave them out to dry. I might even put the metal parts on a hot air register. Not strictly legal storage maybe but I maintain that the disassembled nature of the drying makes it so, all you have to do is hide the fore end and the gun can't be cocked. Had one gun where a tiny screw in the fore end would start to rust after a wet day, so I kept it coated with grease after carefully removing all oxidation and no more problem. Not so easy to do if the rusting part is deeper in the gun, but I never found that to happen. I wouldn't expose a DBBL to a really bad day anymore though, because now that I'm retired I can pick my days better than when working. I might take my 870 marine magnum model out on such a day, just have to plug the magazine to make it legal and hope for close in shots only requiring open cylinder choking. Only done it twice in 5 years though, both times when I was still working. There is a lot to be said for walking around in the rainy woods because most animals have learned that Man doesn't like to get wet. Most of my upclose observations of Ontario's coy-wolf population has been on those days.
 
Well I have never waxed a gun before and I haven't got a speck of rust on any of them and I've been in the rain many times. I make sure they are well lubed prior to putting away and prior to taking out. Birchwood Casey Barricade is my choice.
 
When I used to duck hunt with my side-by-side, I used to make sure it all metal was thoroughly lubed with what ever gun oil i had handy. In all the years I used the gun, never once did I have a problem with rust. But I believe the key is to ensure the gun is thoroughly cleaned first and oiled once cleaned. As Hoyt mentioned, never leave a wet gun in a wet case as that will ensure you will have issues with rust. The wood stocks is another story. Over time you will get the odd ding, dent or scratch when duck hunting. Leave your gun properly encased when getting everything set up and that will help keeping the wood safe from the tortures of a duck hunt
 
Thanks for the tips guys. Kamlooky; in reading your comments a second and third time, lets just say I went ahead and read your disclaimer signature again...

Big Bad, I would not worry about breaking your gun down to dry in your home, you would not be storing it but rather maintaining/cleaning it at that point.

For the guys that use there O/U in the field, how often do you remove the stock to clean the action? Obviously you would if you submerged it...

Also the spring loaded ejector parts in the forearm, is there any special maintenance for those things?
 
hoytcanon said:
I don't duck hunt unless it is raining and muddy...
Click to expand...

You forgot Windy too... No not the stunned klunt Wendy either.
If the wind ain't blowing the field ain't muddy enough and the rain not blowing sideways it really isn't Duck hunting weather.
Haven't seen many O/U in the salt marsh, but they do appear and appear in good to fair condition.Meaning they get a good scrubbing when they return home.
Buy an 870 Wingmaster and it will serve you well for years to come.
Rob
 
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