Small Arms Firing Manual
1913
Corrected to August 31, 1918
134. Cleaning the Rifle a. The proper care of the
bore requires conscientious, careful work, but it pays will in the attainment of reduced labor of
cleaning, prolonged accuracy life of the barrel, and better results in target practice. Briefly
stated, the care of the bore consists in removing the fouling resulting from firing, to obtain a
chemically clean surface with a film of oil to prevent rusting. The fouling which results from
firing is of two kinds–one, the products of combustion of the powder; the other cupro-nickel
scraped off (under the abrading action of irregularities or grit in the bore). Powder fouling
because of its acid reaction, is highly corrosive; that is, it will induce rust and must be removed.
Metal fouling of itself is inactive, but may cover powder fouling and prevent the action of cleaning
agents until removed, and when accumulated in noticeable quantities it reduces the accuracy of the
rifle.
b. Powder fouling may be readily removed by scrubbing with hot soda solution,
but this solution has no effect on the metal fouling of cupro-nickel. It is necessary, therefore to
remove all metal fouling before assurance can be had that all powder fouling has been removed and
that the bore may be safely oiled. Normally, after firing a barrel in good condition the metal
fouling is so slight as to be hardly perceptible. It is merely a smear if infintestimal thickness,
easily removed by solvent of cupro-nickel. However, due to pitting, the presence of dust, other
abrasives, or to accumulation, metal fouling may occur in clearly visible flakes or patches of much
greater thickness much more difficult to remove.
c. In cleaning the bore after firing
it is will to proceed as follows: Swab out the bore with soda solution (subparagraph j) to remove
powder fouling. A convenient method is to insert the muzzle of the rifle into the can containing the
soda solution and with the cleaning rod inserted from the breech, pump the barrel full a few times.
Remove and dry with a couple of patches. Examine the bore to see that there are in evidence no
patches of metal fouling which, if present, can be readily detected by the naked eye, then swab out
with the swabbing solution- a dilute metal fouling solution (subparagraph j). The amount of swabbing
required with the swabbing solution can be determined only by experience assisted by the color of
the patches. Swabbing should be continued, however, as long as the wiping patch is discolored by a
bluish-green stain. Normally a couple of minutes work is sufficient. Dry thoroughly and oil.
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d. The proper method of oiling a
barrel is as follows: Wipe the cleaning rod dry; select a clean patch and thoroughly saturate it
with sperm oil or warmed cosmic, being sure that the cosmic has penetrated the patch; scrub the bore
with the patch, finally drawing the patch smoothly from the muzzle to the breech, allowing the
cleaning rod to turn with the rifling. The bore will be found now to be smooth and bright so that
any subsequent rust and sweating can be easily detected by inspection.
e. If
patches of metal fouling are seen upon visual inspection of the bore the standard metal fouling
solution prepared as hereinafter prescribed must be used. After scrubbing out with the soda
solution, plug the bore from the breech with a cork at the front of the chamber or where the rifling
begins. Slip a 2-inch section of rubber hose over the muzzle down to the sight and fill with the
standard solution to at least one half inch above the muzzle of the barrel. Let it stand for 30
minutes, pour out the standard solution, remove hose and breech plug, and swab out thoroughly with
soda solution to neutralize and remove all trace of ammonia and powder fouling. Wipe the barrel
clean, dry, and oil. With few exceptions, one application is sufficient, but if all fouling is not
removed, as determined by careful visual inspection of the bore and of the wiping patches, repeat as
described above.
f. After properly cleaning with either the swabbing solution, or the
standard solution, as has just been described, the bore should be clean and safe to oil and put
away, but as a measure of safety a patch should always be run through the bore on the next day and
the bore and wiping patch examined to insure that cleaning has been properly accomplished. The bore
should then be oiled, as described above.
g. If the swabbing solution or the standard
metal fouling solution is not available, the barrel should be scrubbed, as already described, with
the soda solution, dried and oiled with a light oil. At the end of 24 hours it should again be
cleaned, when it will usually be found to have "sweated"; that is, rust having formed
under the smear of metal fouling where the powder fouling was present, the surface is puffed up.
Usually a second cleaning is sufficient, but to insure safety it should be again examined at the end
of a few days, before final oiling. The swabbing solution should always be used, if available for it
must be remembered that each puff when the bore "sweats" is an incipient rust pit.
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h. A clean
dry surface having been obtained, to prevent rust, it is necessary to coat every portion of this
surface with a film of neutral oil. If the protection required is but temporary and the arm is to be
cleaned or fired in a few days, sperm oil may be used. This is easily applied and easily removed,
but has not sufficient body to hold its surface for more than a few days. If rifles are to be
prepared for storage or shipment, a heavier oil, such as cosmic, must be used.
i. In
preparing arms for storage or shipment they should be cleaned with particular care, using the metal
fouling solution as described above. Care should be taken, insured by careful inspection on
succeeding day or days that the cleaning is properly done and all traces of annonia solution
removed. The bore is then ready to be coated with cosmic. At ordinary temperatures cosmic is not
fluid. In order therefore, to insure that every part of the surface is coated with film of oil the
cosmic should be warmed. Apply the cosmic first with a brush; then with the breech plugged, fill the
barrel to the muzzle, pour out the surplus, remove the breech-block, and allow to drain. It is
believed that more rifles are ruined by improper preperation for storage than any other cause. If
the bore is not clean when oiled–that is powder fouling is present or rust has started–a half inch
of cosmic on the outside will not stop its action, and the barrel will be ruined. Remember that the
surface must be cleaned before the heavy oil is applied. If the instructions as given above are
carefully followed arms may be stored for years without harm.
j. Preperation of
solutions:
SODA SOLUTION.–This should be a saturated solution of sal soda (bicarbonate of
soda). A strength of at least 20 per cent is necessary. The spoon referred to in the following
directions is the model 1910 spoon issued in the mess outfit.
Sal soda, one fourth pound, or
four (4) heaping spoonfuls. Water, 1 pint of cup model of 1910, to upper rivets. The sal soda will
dissolve more readily in hot water.
SWABBING SOLUTION.–Ammonium persulphate, 60 grains, one
half spoonful smoothed off. Ammonia, 28 percent, 6 ounces, or three eights of a pint, or 12
spoonfuls. Water, 4 ounces, or one fourth pint, or 8 spoonfuls.
Dissolve the ammonium
persulphate in the water and add the ammonia. Keep in tightly corked bottle; pour out only what is
necessary at the time, and keep the bottle corked.
STANDARD METAL FOULING SOLUTION.–Ammonium
carbonate, 200 grains, or 1 heaping spoonful. Ammonia, 28 per cent, 6 ounces, or three eights pint,
or 12 spoonfuls. Water, 4 ounces, or one fourth pint, or 8 spoonfuls.
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Powder the persulphate and carbonate together, dissolve in
the water and add the ammonia; mix thoroughly and allow to stand for one hour before using. It
should be kept in a strong bottle, tightly corked. The solution should not be mixed with unused
solution, but should be bottled separately. The solution, when mixed should be used within 30 days.
Care should be exercised in mixing and using this solution to prevent injury to the rifle. An
experienced noncommissioned officer should mix the solution and superintend its use.
Neither
of these ammonia solutions have any appreciable action on steel when not exposed to the air, but if
allowed to evaporate on steel they attack if rapidly. Care should, therefore, be taken that none
spills on the mechanism and that the barrel is washed out promptly with soda solution. The first
application of soda solution removes the greater portion of powder fouling and permits a more
effective and economical use of ammonia solution. These ammonia solutions are expensive and should
be used economically.
k. It is a fact recognized by all that a highly polished steel
surface rusts much less easily than one which is roughened; also, that a barrel which is pitted
fouls much more rapidly than one which is smooth. Every effort, therefor, should be made to prevent
the formation of pits, which are merely enlarged rust spots, and which not only affect the accuracy
of the arm but increase the labor of cleaning.
l. The chambers of rifles are frequently
neglected because they are not readily inspected. Care should be taken to see that they are cleaned
as thoroughly as the bore. A roughened chamber delays greatly the rapidity of fire, and not
infrequently causes shells to stick.
m. A cleaning rack should be provided for every
barrack. Rifles should always be cleaned from the breech, thus avoiding possible injury to the
rifling at the muzzle, which would affect the shooting adversely. If the bore for a length of 6
inches at the muzzle is perfect, a minor injury near the chamber will have little effect on the
accuracy of the rifle. The rifle should be cleaned as soon as the firing for the day is completed.
The rifle should be cleaned as soon as the firing for the day is completed. The fouling is easier to
remove then, and if left longer it will corrode the barrel.
n. The principles as
outlined above apply equally will for the care of the barrel of the automatic pistol. Special
attention should be paid to cleaning the chamber of the pistol, using the soda solution. It has been
found that the chamber pits readily if it is not carefully cleaned, with the result that the
operation of the pistol is made much less certain.
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