Know-How: Fix It In the Field

by
posted on September 27, 2017
fix_it_in_field.jpg

The last thing most hunters want to do is carry more stuff. But much like a first-aid kit can save the day, a collection of basic gun maintenance and repair items comes in handy if your firearm goes down in the middle of a hunt—especially if you’re miles (or days) away from your shop. Here are some essentials, which, except for the cleaning rod, all fit inside a 5x5x2-inch Compact Gear Pouch from TacShield and together weigh about 27 ounces.

Hoppe’s Gun Medic Quick Fix is a cleaner and lubricant that comes in a 4-ounce aerosol can for blasting away grime and fouling.

The cleaner evaporates in 60 seconds to leave behind a thin coating of lube. Combine it with Mil-Comm TW25B Synthetic Gun Grease, part of the NRA Gun Care System, for lubricating those areas that receive heavy wear. A Silicone Gun Cloth from Tipton and a couple packs of Ballistol Multi-Purpose Wipes are convenient for removing moisture and dust, plus they provide a clean surface on which to place small parts should disassembly be necessary.

Caliber- or gauge-specific cleaning patches, along with a multi-section cleaning rod fitted with the appropriate jag, are good to carry if there’s a chance your gun’s bore will get wet. A rod is also the best tool for clearing a bore obstruction (think mud or snow) or a case stuck in a chamber. Depending on your gun’s barrel length, you may need to carry only two or three sections of rod. A more compact option is a flexible pull-through bore cleaner, like the Otis Ripcord (otistec.com). Pipe cleaners remove dirt from tight spots such as beneath an extractor or inside a breech plug.

If you’re hunting with a shotgun, carry a choke-tube wrench so you can change chokes to suit the conditions or ensure the tube you’ve chosen remains tight. A small screwdriver with interchangeable bits that fit the specific screwheads on your firearm and optic mount is invaluable should a trigger-guard or scope-ring screw become loose. It’s more precise and weighs less than most multi-tools.

Don’t neglect your optics in the field. A small spray bottle of lens cleaner and a microfiber cloth, along with a LensPen, clean scopes and binos much better than a shirt sleeve. Use the soft bristles of the LensPen to brush away dust and dirt before spraying on the lens cleaner to prevent scratching the glass.

Paracord can repair a sling or attach one to a gun if a swivel or buckle breaks. It will even serve as a makeshift replacement for the entire sling. Finally, pack a bright keychain light like the Titan from Surefire so you can see the problem to fix it.

Latest

Lead Core Vs Monometal Hunting Bullets Lead
Lead Core Vs Monometal Hunting Bullets Lead

Lead Core vs. Monometal Hunting Bullets

There’s no doubt that copper monometal bullets are here to stay. But are they so good that they warrant abandoning lead core ammo altogether? We take a look at the pros and cons of each style.

Mossy Oak Releases 2024 Wild Turkey Conservation Stamp

Mossy Oak has released its third annual wild turkey conservation stamp—a collectible stamp in which all proceeds go directly to wild turkey conservation projects around the country.

Recipe: Instant Pot Moose Chana Masala

This fusion dish brings together Indian chana with Canadian moose, for a delightful culinary experience.

Review: Winchester 400 Legend

Winchester’s new 400 Legend is a streamlined, mid-sized straight-wall cartridge intended to fill the gap between its wildly popular 350 Legend and the notorious 450 Bushmaster. It is—in our opinion—a masterstroke of genius.

#SundayGunday: Howa M1500 Super Lite

Get a closer look at the Howa M1500 Super Lite, the latest addition to our #SundayGunday series.

First Look: Savage TIMBER Series Rimfire Rifles

Savage Arms introduces the TIMBER Series—a new line of precision-engineered rimfire rifles.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.