End of Season Rifle Maintenance: Protect the Tools That Feed You

For most folks, hunting season has come to a close. Give or take a few weeks, many are starting to put their rifles away in some capacity. While a lot of people are now reaching for fishing rods, turkey guns, or dedicated pig rifles, the reality is that specific rifles are getting tucked away in the safe until next season.

And that’s where I come in—to push my cleaning and maintenance agenda once again.

For me, certain platforms are being put away while others are being brought out. Some rifles never go out of service. While I maintain my rifles on a pretty scheduled routine, I also have a once-a-year deep clean ritual for any that see regular use. This is what I call the break down, disassemble, and deep clean process.

Just like it sounds: break it down, clean thoroughly, reassemble, and put it away.

Any rifle you use a fair amount will accumulate grime, grit, and even leftover cleaning compounds over time. Full disassembly is the only way to ensure all of that buildup is completely removed.

While you’re doing this, it’s the perfect time to strip copper fouling from the barrel and run a few bore-lapping patches through it. For AR platforms, this is when you should perform your most thorough cleaning—disassembling everything to the extent of your ability.

Perhaps the most important part of this process is the opportunity to inspect all components: screws, mounts, small parts—everything. Look for signs of wear, rust, cracks, or broken parts. These rifles are tools, and like any tool, they experience wear and tear. Some parts are expendable. Now is the time to replace, repair, or order replacements so you’re not scrambling right before next season.

The idea is simple: give yourself plenty of time to work on your favorite deer or critter getter so it's ready to go long before the next season rolls around.

After the deep clean is complete:

• Run one last patch of light oil through the bore.

• Place a rubber cap over the muzzle.

• Cover your scope lenses.

• Heck, consider removing your scope and running the same optic on your summer training rifle.

(What’s that, you say? A summer training rifle? Don’t worry—we’ll cover that in another blog.)

Once everything is cleaned and reassembled, take the time to properly cover and protect key components. Clean rifles, sealed optics, and oiled bores all lead to a longer-lasting investment.

Why do we want to clean? It’s simple. Even though powders today aren’t as corrosive as they once were, they still are to some extent. Removing residue will ultimately protect your investment for the long haul.

So here’s the plan:

• Clean your platforms

• Replace broken or worn parts

• Seal, cap, and oil all necessary components before deep storage

These rifles aren’t just gear—they’re tools that can protect and feed you. Treat them like it.

Take care of your tools, and they’ll take care of you.