My First Rifle!!
- Thread starter tjmiles
- Start date
I handled two X-Bolts at my local gun shop the other day and I was impressed. I really like the BLR, but was never a fan of Browning bolt actions...until now! I am contemplating a new rifle purchase this year, and the X-Bolt is certainly on the short list.
Congratulations on your first rifle. It looks like a keeper!
Congratulations on your first rifle. It looks like a keeper!
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
With respect to cleaning: get a good quality one piece cleaning rod and a jag of the appropriate caliber. If you use a bore brush, use it sparingly . . . my barrels haven't seen a bore brush in years, and never use a stainless brush; just the best quality bronze brush you can find. Always use a bore guide. Use 100% cotton patches of the correct size, and use a good grade of gun oil, particularly if you use a strong copper cutting agent like Sweets to get rid of jacket fouling. Give WipeOut foaming bore cleaner a try. I found the results with WipeOut were best when the barrel was left overnight and patched out in the morning.
When the rifle is exposed to rain, very wet fog, gets dunked in a creek, or comes indoors after being out in the cold and it begins to sweat, strip the rifle, spray all the metal parts with a product that displaces water, then wipe dry after it has returned to ambient indoor temperature and reassemble. Anytime you remove the action from the stock, do your best to return to the same torque on the action screws when you reassemble.
Get a decent set of gunsmith screw drivers with proper hollow ground blades if your rifle is equipped with regular screws. Do not use screw drivers with tapered blades.
If you intend to shoot a great deal, get into hand loading if you are not already.
When the rifle is exposed to rain, very wet fog, gets dunked in a creek, or comes indoors after being out in the cold and it begins to sweat, strip the rifle, spray all the metal parts with a product that displaces water, then wipe dry after it has returned to ambient indoor temperature and reassemble. Anytime you remove the action from the stock, do your best to return to the same torque on the action screws when you reassemble.
Get a decent set of gunsmith screw drivers with proper hollow ground blades if your rifle is equipped with regular screws. Do not use screw drivers with tapered blades.
If you intend to shoot a great deal, get into hand loading if you are not already.
