My First Rifle!!

tjmiles

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Well I just got my PAL last fall, just in time for deer season, and have now....finally....brought home my first(definitely not the last) rifle. Bringing it home was like Christmas...I just can't wait to get out and fire the thing!

Any ideas/suggestions on the best storage/care/cleaning methods for a rifle like this? It will definitely see a lot of use and I want to make sure it lasts and stays as beautiful as it is now.

Browning X-Bolt in 300 WSM, Leupold VXII 3x9x40.

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Congrats on your new rifle.
Any ideas/suggestions on the best storage/care/cleaning methods for a rifle like this? It will definitely see a lot of use and I want to make sure it lasts and stays as beautiful as it is now.
Invest in a good cleaning rod and bore guide, and always clean from the action.
 
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Keep it clean and well oiled when not in use; then just pull it through with some dry patches and wipe it off with a clean, non-linty cloth before use. Get some butler creek scope covers for that nice glass too!
 
Don't store it in that case you brought it home in. Get a gun safe. If there is any moisture in the plastic case you will be sad when you open it up after a month or two.

I do have a safe, but thought it would be tough to get a picture of it in there.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.
 
Invest in a good cleaning rod and bore guide, and always clean from the action.

Do not use those multi piece aluminum rods,or stainless steel brushes.Dewey makes a great cleaning rod,and proper jags.A properly sized bore guide is a must.Use only nylon or all bronze brushes.Buy a good copper solvent and powder solvent,and use them as per the manufacturers instructions.Always dry swab the barrel to remove storage oil before firing the gun.
 
300wsm, even I don't have a 300wsm & it's your FIRST rifle!!! Good choice, lucky bugger!

Enjoy!!!

Cheers
Jay
 
do you have to clean the barrel after every shot for the first box or two to break in the barrel and make it more acuurate?
 
do you have to clean the barrel after every shot for the first box or two to break in the barrel and make it more acuurate?

Never heard of doing that before. I bought the rifle from my father in law. He had fired enough rounds to sight it in with factory loads, and about another dozen to find the right hand load for the rifle. He's got 1" groupings at 100 yds out of it already with less than a full box of rounds fired. I'd say it's broken in already. someone tell me if I'm wrong though.
 
Congrats! 300 WSM as a first calibre no less, people looked at me and thought I was crazy when I bought my first rifle in .308 win. I guess you are mentally prepared for the recoil then. The guy was talking about this controversial way of breaking in your rifle. Some people say it's unnecessary other swears by it.

Basically if there's any rough/sharp edges in your chamber or rifling, there's gonna be some metal shavings left behind as you chamber a round and as the bullet moves through the barrel. Since the temperature of the gas behind the bullet is extremely high, the metal shaving turns into plasma, and when it cools, sticks to the metal of your barrel, which may or may not effect the accuracy of the gun.

The shoot twice and clean once method is an attempt to remove the residual metal from your barrel.

I did that, when I had my first rifle in 308 was a Ruger MKII target gray with tapered heavy barrel. But then I found out that my Ruger shot better with an uncleaned barrel. So I never did that again.

Just my 2 cents.


Never heard of doing that before. I bought the rifle from my father in law. He had fired enough rounds to sight it in with factory loads, and about another dozen to find the right hand load for the rifle. He's got 1" groupings at 100 yds out of it already with less than a full box of rounds fired. I'd say it's broken in already. someone tell me if I'm wrong though.
 
Thanks.

As for the recoil, I'm really not too concerned about it. Though it is the first rifle I've owned, I have shot the following: .243, .25 WSSM, .270, .308, .30-06, 12g(3.5"), and of course .22s and such. I realize the 300 will be more than all of those but I figure, if I can fire 100 rounds in an afternoon with a .30-06 at the range, without the slightest problem, one round fird at a deer/moose/elk/bear should be no problem.
 
The round you fire when Hunting is irrelevant recoil wise, unless you need a quick follow up shot. The adrenaline alone is more than enough to make it painless, ditto for your ears (no plugs when hunting). Just be careful not to develop a flinch, when practising at the range.

Nice rifle and scope you bought there btw. :)
 
Well finally got it sighted in......god damn this gun is fun to shoot. I've had a smile on my face for days now!!!
 
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