Air Guns maintenance
Regular maintenance of the air rifle influences its proper functioning and ensures long, trouble-free operation. It also protects it from corrosion, wear and tear or problems with the trigger mechanism and other components of the design.
In this guide, you will learn how to clean your windcheater both during daily use and periodically. You will also find information on what to lubricate your airgun with and how to clean the barrel properly.
How do you clean your windcheater on a daily basis?
Not everyone knows that a windsock should be cleaned after every shooting, so as to prevent damage from the accumulation of various contaminants. You should start the process of cleaning and maintaining your windsock as soon as possible after you have finished shooting. Thoroughly check all metal parts and clean them from the outside. Pay particular attention to elements such as:
- barrel,
- compression chamber,
- tension lever (on fixed barrel windcheaters),
- in the case of PCP airguns, a compressed air tank.
Use special gun maintenance oil to clean your air rifle after shooting. These agents are often used for firearms, but they also do a great job for windcheaters. For example, we recommend Brunox or Ballistol, which are very popular choices. All you need to do is soak a cloth in such an oil and wipe down all the previously mentioned parts. By cleaning, you will remove fingerprints from metal surfaces, which can cause fading and abrasion of the oxide on the weapon.
Attention! When it comes to maintenance of a CO2 windcheater, you must remember to grease the CO2 cartridge at the point where it is pierced by the valve needle. You can use silicone grease for this purpose.
How do I maintain my windcheater periodically?
From time to time, it is necessary to pay a little more attention to the maintenance of the windcheater. First of all, it is important to clean the barrel tube if it is already very dirty. You will notice this by the fact that the airgun stops shooting as it should, despite the same conditions as always. Cleaning the barrel of a windcheater is not a difficult task, but the following points in particular must be kept in mind:
- For cleaning the barrel of a windcheater, choose for example notch soft plastic-coated or felt shot. Such a shot is lightly soaked in oil and then loaded into the barrel. Behind it, it is necessary to place a flat lead shot to provide adequate resistance to the spring. Never shoot felt shot alone, as this may damage the windcheater.
- Never use a metal cutter to clean the barrel, as this can damage the barrel tube. It is made of fine steel and it is not difficult to damage the threads.
- Instead of using a cleaning rod, you can insert a loop of thick fishing line into the barrel from the muzzle side (e.g. fishing), then put a piece of oil-soaked material into it from the chamber side and pull it through several times.
If you want to grease the inside of the air gun, then you have to disassemble it, remove the piston, wipe it dry and lubricate it with a special grease for air gun pistons. From time to time, but no more than once a year, you can lubricate the mainspring using spring grease. Always remember that the less grease you apply, the better, otherwise you may simply clog your windbreaker.
Below is a video showing the process of cleaning an air gun!
Cleaning your air gun – this is worth remembering
Remember to always be careful when cleaning your air gun. Make sure the gun is unloaded - no pellets, CO2 cartridge or spring under tension. When lubricating, do not overdo it! Excess grease may be harmful or negatively affect the operation of the air gun. After applying grease, always remove excess with a dry and clean cloth.
Also remember a few rules:
- each device is subject to natural wear, the shorter the period, the more intensive the use.
- care and care for equipment testify to the so-called shooting culture, and the maintenance and care of equipment should take as much time as shooting. Proper maintenance will ensure that your air gun will operate efficiently for many years.
- choose your weapon accessories carefully - if you are buying a PCP long air gun, you do not need a collimator sight, because when shooting at long distances you will need an optical sight. You won't need a flashlight for such a rifle, but get a bipod.
- do not change the structure of the air gun or subject it to significant modifications in order to change its performance - such modifications may damage the air gun or pose a health hazard. It may also happen that a converted air gun will have an energy above 17 J, which qualifies it for registration.
- remember the caliber of your air gun
- it is imperative that you never keep the CO2 cartridge plugged in for longer than 24 hours, as this may cause the seals to crack or tear.
- remember to store your air gun in a dry place, away from moisture, extreme temperatures and direct sunlight. It's best to invest in a sponge-lined cover to protect your windbreaker from dust and scratches.
