Browning A-Bolt.

[Fred M]

Need some advise how to clean and take apart the bolt. Do I need some tools
to keep the spring compressed. I only want to make a minimal take down.
I have a schemtic and that bolts has more parts than a Swiss clock.

The inside of the bolt is badly gummed up, my friends gun failet to fire at -21C.

[kyelkhunter3006]

I've heard that the internals of the A-bolt are a pain in the rear to work on.  Have you tried just dousing the bolt with a pressurized solvent to clean it, or maybe soaking it in a solvent bath to see if it helps? 

[The Gamemaster]

How can I say this without sounding like my dad?

It didn't come from the factory - all gummed up.

There is a product called Wipe Out Foaming bore cleaner.
http://www.eabco.com/WipeOut.htm

Spray some of that into the working parts of the bolt and let it sit a while and it will scrub out the bolt parts faster than you can take it apart.

I don't know why people persist in oiling their bolts with regular gun oil.  There is no need to do that.

A simple bath in some kerosene one time and then a couple of drops per a year in the working parts of the bolt is all the more lubrication it will ever need.

There is no working parts inside a bolt that requires it to take a bath in gun oil.  About the only parts that could ever wear out is the spring and the firing pin.  Both of which is easily replaced at a good gun shop for less than $50.

You cannot keep the spring inside the bolt from wearing out.  About the only thing you can do is take the pressure off of it in the off season by dry firing and leaving it un cocked while in storage.

The firing pin might wear out after 20,000 rounds.  How many times per a year do you shoot it?  10 or 20?  That means that it might last for 200 or so years before it will need to be replaced!

[kyelkhunter3006]

Too many people think that a lot of lube helps out.  I've had several shooting buddies that hand me their newly cleaned gun, and then you shoot it, oil flies out the trigger, the bolt, etc.  One guy had a Marlin 39 that would literally throw oil on your shooting glasses when you worked the lever.  They are amazed when they see the minimal amounts of lube I use when I clean my guns.  Most of them don't even lube the right parts to begin with.  Out of all of my friends, I am the only one that will lube the cocking area of a bolt action with just a tiny smear of grease, and do the same to the back of the locking lugs.  "How come your gun is easier to work the bolt than mine?"  Then when we are out in the field, they wonder how come their gun is all mucked up with dust and dirt, and mine isn't.  I tell them, all of that crap you sprayed all over everything when you "cleaned" you rifle is why it's picking up dust and dirt, and getting grimy.  Then none of them will believe that lube will freeze when it gets really cold either.  I gave up on them a long time ago.

[The Gamemaster]

An even better product, that I didn't have a web site for is the Castrol - Professional Gunstripper which is connected to the Hoppe's #9 company.


But I don't think that they make it anymore.  Its a shame because it was awesome for cleaning out a dirty gun.

The other solution would be to use Brake Cleaner.  It will definitely jet out the bolt.

Carburetor cleaner will also work - which most brands are not much more than lacquer thinner and a propellant.