Huntsman/Sidekick clean-up....

[MI.sabot]

Well I finally got the range yesterday for my first ML experience armed with my new SS Sidekick, accessories and whatever knowlege I've picked up from you folks over the last 6 months.

Overall, I'd say it was a pleasurable, albeit cold experience (winter has finally arrived in Michigan).
The rangemaster just so happened to be a high school classmate who I hadn't seen in over 30 years.
It was great catching up on old times and he was very helpful in answering any questions/problems I had along the way.

I must say I was more than pleased with the accuracy and consistency of the Sidekick just using the supplied Williams Fire Sights.
1"-2" groups 3 shot groups at 50 yds. weren't uncommon just using 2-777 pellets and 250 gr Shockwaves for this inaugural trip.

Not having a scope, clean up was relatively easy.
But I felt compelled to remove the barrel to clean around the action and thoroughly get to the breach plug area and threads. 

Not really a big deal but the more I thought about if I had a scope, how would I go about cleaning it?
The scope would just seem to be in the way with the whole hot water cleaning routine, and
I don't think I'd want to remove the barrel for fear of possibly changing the POI.
 
So how do you guys that have scopes do it?
For that matter, do I even need to remove the barrel not having a scope?

[Keith Lewis]

I have quick disconnect scope mounts and they seem to return to zero without any problem. I also use Black Mag'3 which cleans up a lot easier than most of the other synthetics.

[MI.sabot]

Anyone else?

[McD]

I remove my barrel for cleaning and  I use quick release scope mounts also..returns to zero is great...

[jbtazgrabber]

you asked for it....my huntsman.wifes traditions.sons h&r.all 3 i canot get the brech plugs out...so i just put them in the bathtub with very hot water...but not enough water to touch the scopes.....i put in dish soap before i put in the guns that way i have no soap ring in the tub....cleanups not that bad......of corse the wife hunts also so i got it a little easyier than most about useing the bath tub......its the fastest way to clean a bunch all at one time......jb

[usherj]

I have the huntsman with a scope in QD rings on it. However, I leave the scope and barrel in place during cleaning. The old hot water technique was necessary with BP and non in-lines.  TS is very easy to clean. I do my cleaning before leaving the range, or at home after hunting. My process goes like this:

1. Remove breech plug. Regardless of the breech plug you use (stock or 25Acp), be sure to use antisieze compound or that purple gorilla grease TC makes on the threads before shooting. If you don't, you will have trouble removing the plug. The 25ACP plug is very easy to remove (7/16" 6-point socket head).

2. Wet patch with water and run back and forth through bore a couple times. Flip patch over and repeat.

3. Run brush through wet bore a number of times. This will deal with plastic from sabots.

4. Run dry patch through bore a few times.

5. Use larger nylon brush to clean bore threads and breech plug threads.

6. Repeat 2 and 4.

7. Clean inside and outside of breech plug with wet patch. Roll it up and stick inside holes, then turn it around to clean. Clean with dry patch.

8. Run oiled patch through dry bore, and wipe breech plug in and out for rust prevention. Keep plug in ziplock bag. Wipe down action and barrel exterior with oiled cloth.

9. Before shooting, clean bore and breech plug free of oil using patches wet with isopropyl alcohol and follow with dry patch or allow to air dry. Apply compound described in 1 to plug threads. With TS you don't need a fouling shot. All of my first shots have been inside the group when cleaned in this manner.

This will maintain your bore in perfect condition and preserve accuracy.  It seems like a lot of steps but only takes about 5-10 minutes. 

[MSP Ret]

The scope is attached to the barrel (they are in effect one solid unit) so no matter how many times you remove and replace the barrel on the action it has no effect on the alignment of the scope to the barrel and POI....<><....

[CDA]

My process is very close to usherj's and works good for me, as long as I clean it either the day of, or the day after shooting. Another tip I found is to use a straigtened paper clip to clean the breeck plug hole .

CDA

[usherj]

If you don't have to remove the barrel you are better off once you are sighted in. Some guns, depending on how the forearm is bedded, can have different POI/grouping with variations in forearm screw torque.

[quickdtoo]

Forend screw torque is easily repreatable with a good torque wrench or torque screwdriver, it takes away any variations to changes in humidity and weather related conditions that will affect accuracy. Using an index mark works ok, but isn't the best due to wood compression and climate changes. Of course there are those that can set it pretty well just by feel, too!!

Tim

[coop2564]

I dont take barrel loose.  I pull breech plug and soak it in hot water.  I then take contact cleaner and spray down barrel from breech plug end making sure it hits threads letting it run out barrel end, then clean barrel with patches as normal.  I then take Q tip with contact cleaner and wipe down receiver and barrel latch area well.  Its worked very well for me the last 3 yrs and I dont have to worry about point of impact change.

[MI.sabot]

Coop2564:

I just need clarification of a couple things.

Do you or don't you take the barrel off?

What do you mean by contact cleaner?

Thanks

[coop2564]

I do not take the barrel off.  I just break open gun, then remove breech plug and soak and clean it. And spray the contact cleaner down breech end with jet nozzle that comes with cleaner.  Contact cleaner evaporates almost instantantly and can be bought at wal mart or any hardware or automotive store.  It used mostly for cleaning electronics and electrical circuits.  It cuts grease and carbon buildups very well. Once I have sprayed the 1st time I use my breech thread brush and then spray again. Then I have some large q-tips wal mart also, and swab out around latch area and firing pin. And use the q-tips to lightly oil that area after the contact cleaner is used. I dont recommend oiling latch or barrel part of latch my gun gets a little squirrelly if I do that.  Then just clean barrel as normal, grease breech-plug and your good to go.  Just takes 5 mins or so once your use to doing it.  When I was taking barrel off, I would sometimes get a point of impact shift not much and not always but enough it always worried me.  Also a note that when you take your breech plug out of water you can spray it with the contact cleaner and it will instantly dry the water off of it. You can just use the cleaner to clean the plug but I just drop it water will I'm working on the barrel.