Care of Older 303 Rifles

[Mark.A]

Howdy All,

I've got my hands on some old 303 Rifles, namly the following

Mk4No1* 1950 Longbranch 303 - My most favorite rifle!
Mk1No3 1945 BSA 303 - Still a nice rifle
Mk1No3 1916 BSA 303-25 - Just for Fun

Now they are in all good condition, I was just curious, they dont seem to be sealed in the same way that modern rifles are, they seem more 'natural'.

I keep them in socks, in my safe, with dehumidifer bars to keep the humidity low (that and some silver dessicant tins), which is all good.

Do you need to treat the wood every so often? I would hate the stock to split or get damaged just because they are sitting there.

Any thoughts?

Thanks Guys
Mark

[Gregg]

Yep, there are many differences in wooden stocks.

Different timber treatments, different finishes, different types of timber. What you have could have been cleaned and protected with any of a handful of different oils or waxes as well.

Regardless of what they are specifically, all timber should be treated to preserve its condition.

Do you have anything you're using on existing timber stocked rifles? If you have any...

[Mark.A]

Nothing that I have really looked into.

Essentially all I have been doing for the past year (only but a newbie guys) is just taking a oil damp rag after I have finished cleaning (making sure its clean itself) and giving it all a coat before going back in the sock, that goes for all my rifles except for the synthetic 22H and 300WinMag, they just get a wipe with a dry cloth and put away. The metal just gets a coat of Rem Oil, and if I am storing for any period of time I pull a bore snake through with some gun oil, that is about it.

NB. I will have to start with the rods one day, but I find 2-3 boresnakes and its back to its nice clean self again, and I don't run the risk of throat damage and me doing silly things.

[RDobber]

NB. I will have to start with the rods one day, but I find 2-3 boresnakes and its back to its nice clean self again, and I don't run the risk of throat damage and me doing silly things.

Rods are softer than your rifle barrel, just a little care is all it takes. Don't go ramming the thing down and bending, cramming it against the throat because you're impatient.

Cutting patches too big and using a loop sometimes gets people jammed, if you used a jag tip instead though you just about can't get stuck.

Pushing the patch through requires little effort and there isn't really anything to get wrong.

[Mark.A]

Are there any products or thoughts on how to keep the stocks happy? Any reading?

[Redwood]

Extensive reading not required mate.

A clean and light oil is all you need to do to keep the timber maintained. Rem oil is fine for this.

If you want to look at another product for comparison or to try something new, Bore-Tech make excellent cleaning and protection products. Many here will agree I'm sure.

You said they're all in good condition. If that's the case then cleaning them and giving them a light oil before storage is fine. Doesn't need to be dripping, a lightly oiled patch of cloth will be enough to do the entire stock.

If in time you decide you want to really make it shine you could strip it back and use a refinishing oil like Birchwood Casey True Oil to bring it back to new, but that's a different job.

[Mark.A]

Thats all I do now, just rem oil on a rag, and wipe them all down.. No worries, just wanted to ask thanks!

[headspace]

For both the timber and metal get yourself some Rennaisance Wax. Check it out on line, it's used by the British museum.
JD

[Redwood]

Thats all I do now, just rem oil on a rag, and wipe them all down.. No worries, just wanted to ask thanks!

Never hurts to do so

[Mark.A]

I does... there are many times that I have asked, and it has hurt...

[Redwood]

I'll rephrase.

Never hurts to ask... Unless you're asking the wife.

Then keep your mouth shut.

[Mark.A]

No Need to ask your wife , hence I am now single... its a cyclic argument..

Basic

10 echo ' You Are Wrong'
20 goto 10

eol

[Triang]

Some primary school computing there just to mix the forum up

[gillian]

Traditionally the SMLE furniture was oiled with Raw Linseed Oil mixed 50-50 with turps
once a day for a week
once a week for a month
once a month for a year
once a year for eternity

[Joom]

That intense treatment to start must have been for the getting the untreated wood up to standard though right?

Long since done for all now.

Just do the regular clean and yearly top up?

[anthillinside]

Yearly top up, correct use as little linseed oil as possible.

I started life in the furniture trade, top of the line finish was linseed oil hand rubbed.

But started at once a week intervals for as long as it took.

Never soak wood with anything it swells the fibres.

This guy's spot on - GUNSTOCK FINISHING - Why Boiled Linseed Oil is BEST

[Joom]

Cool, thanks for the video mate.

[Gregg]

Agree, linseed oil is a good option.