By: Artilerysmith
Special thanks to: Artilerysmith’s father
Ballistic weaponry must be maintained to be of any use when the time comes for instant action. By reading this article you will find maintenance tips for most forms of ballistic weaponry from slingshots to canons. Using the CTRL+F function type in the kind of weapon you are looking for. EX: semi auto weapons. This will take you to the section of the page relevant to your purposes. The post goes from simple weapons to complex weapons.
Disclamer: I assume that the reader is able to fieldstrip and put together his/her weapon without injury to themselves or others. I take no responsibility for the accidental discharge of a weapon or damage done to a weapon in cleaning according to the understated directions. Always unload a weapon before cleaning.
Sling shot:
A sling shot is generally a weapon body in the shape of a Y with an elastic band between the tow top portions of the Y. The most common maintenance problem with slingshots is that the elastic band will either rot from misuse or break from wear and tear. To counter the breaking from misuse only strech the elastic band as far as specified by the instructions shipped with the weapon if it is store bought or run tests on several elastic bands similar to the band already in use to find the nominal draw for a homemade weapon.
Black powder weapons:
These are weapons that fire projectiles out of heavy barrels that use an explosive mixture called black powder to propel projectiles. Size of weapons range from single hand held to cason mounted cannon. Maintenance of this weapon is similar for all lock designs but because of the prolific sale of cap lock rifles/pistols it will be assumed that the reader is cleaning a cap lock weapon. The barrel must be cleaned out with a mixture of warm soapy water, preferably between each shot to extinguish any burning embers left in the barrel that may ignite the powder charge for the next shot. After running a wet patch down the barrel run a dry patch down to soak up the moisture left over from the wet patch. The moisture will, in some cases, prevent the weapon from firing. For long term storage fill the barrel with a substance similar to pig lard known as bore butter.
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Revolving magazine weapons:*
These weapons are generally single hand held weapons that fire a pistol round. Generally a revolver will have 6 to 8 chambers that will accept a certain size of ammunition. Tie a piece of cloth around the handle side of the cylinder opening. This will protect your revolvers internal components while cleaning the barrel. Using a bore brush and cleaning solvent brush out the barrel of your weapon. After cleaning the barrel with solvent switch from brush to a patch rod. Run a single solvent soaked patch through the barrel, followed by two dry patches to absorb the remaining solvent. Untie the rag from your weapon and using a tooth brush gently clean the rear of the cylinder opening. Repeating all the actions taken to clean the barrel of your weapon clean each individual chamber in the magazine of the revolver.
Semi auto weapons:*
There are two forms of semi auto weapons. There is the gas blowback system and the recoil operated system. Both are highly reliable and so will be considered.
Gas blow back:*
Gas blow back weapons are generally rifles due to the fact that the entire process of ejecting and reloading the next round is carried out by excess gas bleed off from the explosion of gun powder inside the expended round. Remove the slide/bolt from the weapon and if possible disassemble the firing mechanism. If it is not possible to disassemble the firing mechanism look for a hole in the side of the mechanism with an arrow pointing toward it saying “oil here” generally several liberal drops will suffice. Clean each moving part and it’s housing with gun solvent and then wipe clean each part and it’s housing. After cleaning each part examine every piece for minute scratches or deformations of any kind as this could lead to a malfunction of the weapon. After doing this clean the barrel of the weapon with a barrel brush dipped in gun solvent. Run the barrel brush down and up the barrel several times allowing it to turn with the lands and grooves in the barrel. Then clean the solvent out of the barrel with dry patches.
Recoil operated:*
Recoil operated weapons are generally hand guns or rifles that fire hand gun ammunition. They are driven by a powerful spring that both ejects the spent cartridges and loads the next round. Cleaning is basically the same for a gas blow back weapon with one variation. The spring must be replaced every 10,000 rounds to reduce the chances of a malfunction of your weapon.
*For revolver and semi auto weapons long term storage should be inside a air tight container completely submerged in either a preservation wax (circa WWII) or in diesel fuel. All organic components (furniture) should be removed and stored separately in a dry cool container. Synthetic components (furniture) can be stored in an air tight container under almost any condition, dry of wet.
