NRA NRA Cleaning & Maintenance 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What type of solvent is most effective for removing carbon fouling from a firearm bore?
- Water-based solvent
- Copper solvent
- Carbon/powder solvent such as Hoppe's No. 9 (Correct answer)
- Penetrating oil like WD-40
Correct answer: Carbon/powder solvent such as Hoppe's No. 9
Carbon/powder solvents such as Hoppe's No. 9 are specifically formulated to dissolve carbon deposits and powder fouling from the bore and action.
Question 2: What is the correct direction to run a cleaning patch through a rifle barrel?
- From breech to muzzle, to avoid forcing debris into the action (Correct answer)
- From muzzle to breech, following the direction of the bullet
- Direction does not matter
- Alternating directions for best results
Correct answer: From breech to muzzle, to avoid forcing debris into the action
Patches should always be pushed from breech to muzzle to prevent debris from being pushed back into the action and to exit the muzzle cleanly.
Question 3: What is the primary risk of over-lubricating a firearm?
- Increased wear on metal surfaces
- Attracting dirt and debris, causing malfunctions and potential action sluggishness (Correct answer)
- Accelerated corrosion of the bore
- Swelling of polymer frame components
Correct answer: Attracting dirt and debris, causing malfunctions and potential action sluggishness
Excess lubricant attracts and holds dirt, grit, and carbon fouling, which can cause malfunctions, and in cold weather, thick oil can slow the action.
Question 4: What is bore erosion and what causes it?
- Rust from moisture; prevented by keeping the bore dry
- Mechanical wear and heat erosion caused by the passage of hot, high-pressure gases and bullets (Correct answer)
- Pitting caused by improper cleaning solvents
- Lead buildup from cast bullets
Correct answer: Mechanical wear and heat erosion caused by the passage of hot, high-pressure gases and bullets
Bore erosion is the gradual wear of the rifling lands and grooves caused by the abrasive and heat effects of high-pressure propellant gases and bullet passage.
Question 5: What tool is used to clean the forcing cone area of a revolver barrel?
- A bore snake
- A brass brush sized for the caliber, run from the cylinder gap side (Correct answer)
- A cotton swab with solvent
- A lead-lapping tool
Correct answer: A brass brush sized for the caliber, run from the cylinder gap side
A brass brush sized to the caliber can be inserted from the cylinder gap side to scrub carbon buildup from the forcing cone and barrel throat.
Question 6: How often should a firearm's recoil spring be inspected and potentially replaced?
- After every shooting session
- According to the manufacturer's recommended round count or if signs of fatigue are present (Correct answer)
- Only when the firearm malfunctions
- Every 10 years regardless of use
Correct answer: According to the manufacturer's recommended round count or if signs of fatigue are present
Recoil springs should be inspected at manufacturer-recommended intervals or round counts, and replaced if coils show fatigue, compression set, or if failures to return to battery occur.
NRA NRA Cleaning & Maintenance 1
What type of solvent is most effective for removing carbon fouling from a firearm bore?