cleaning

[56 kodiak shooter]

during war time, what did they used to clean their rifles & how often did they cleaned it

[gopedxr7]

its a good question, i am curious as well.

i read somewhere they lubed them with used motor oil, sounds odd to me

[Bugelson]

Who do you mean?

One thing is common for all. They cleaned often even when not fired and always in the first possible occasion after firing it. The weapon is soldiers tool and life. Rifle first, equipment second, man last. That was and is the rule of thumb.

Soviets used lye-water solution for cleaning and oil/grease for rust preventing.

Finnish army used bore cleaning solvent (water based) and oil.

Americans used water based GI Bore Cleaner and oil.

[SA1911a1]

For patches they uses the strings that the ammo is wrapped in.

[Bugelson]

For patches they uses the strings that the ammo is wrapped in.

Are we talking about the Soviets? Well, if there was a terribly lack of tow they might have used the strings if the string was made out of hemp. Paper string was useless for cleaning. Anyways tow was plenty and available so I should imagine string was not used that often.

[walnut red]

its a good question, i am curious as well.

i read somewhere they lubed them with used motor oil, sounds odd to me

I'd be surprised if there was much used motor oil available. However I've seen new motor oil used to keep a M2 Browning running and I've used ATF on a M60 so I don't see why used oil would not due for a bolt action in a pinch.

[zeebill]

I have heard and read so many different stories about what was used that I pale to get into the products. I would say that a blanket statement would be they used what they had and had to use it because it was all that was available. Even looking at us today think about all the varied ways we take care of our rifles and they all seem to work. I am sure if you realize that keeping that rifle clean was keeping you alive you can be very inventive with that type of motivation. Bill