Air rifle barrels don't need cleaning as often as people think. Each pellet leaves a trace of lead and lubricant behind, and over a few thousand shots that can start to open up your groups. But plenty of barrels shoot best with a little lead in them, and one that's just been scrubbed can take a few shots to settle down.
The bigger risk is oil getting somewhere it shouldn't, so we'll start there.
Keep oil out of the action
On a springer or gas-ram, oil must never get into the compression chamber or transfer port. It ignites under compression, which is called dieseling. That can damage the seals, make your shots erratic and push the power up. On a rifle without a firearms certificate, it could take it over the 12 ft-lb UK legal limit.
On a PCP, never put oil into the air cylinder or the fill port. Oil and high-pressure air together are a fire risk. For the O-ring on the fill probe, use only the lubricant your rifle's maker recommends.
A barely damp felt pulled through the barrel and then dried out is fine. Spraying oil into the action isn't.
When to clean the barrel
Clean it when the groups open up and you can't find any other reason. Also when the rifle's new, as factory barrels often have swarf and preservative in them, or when you've changed pellets and the new ones won't group. If you'd rather have a routine, every few tins is about right.
The outside is a different matter. Wipe it over after every session and always after rain.
What you'll need
Cleaning felts or a pull-through such as Flexclean in your calibre, a little Ballistol Universal Oil and a soft cloth. If the scope needs doing too, Optics Cleaner.
Cleaning it
Check the rifle is uncocked and unloaded and take the magazine out. On a springer, never put anything down the barrel while it's cocked.
Work from breech to muzzle where you can. With a break-barrel that just means opening it and feeding the pull-through in at the breech. On underlevers, sidelevers and PCPs, go in through the loading port.
Put a drop or two of Ballistol on a felt or the pull-through so it's damp, not wet, and pull it through three to five times. The first few will come out grey. Then pull dry felts through until they come out clean, so there's no wet oil left in the bore.
Wipe the outside metal with a lightly oiled cloth to protect it from sweat and damp. Then shoot five to ten pellets before you check your zero, because the barrel needs a few shots to settle again.
A word on firing felts through the barrel. People do it with PCPs and it's low risk. Don't do it with a springer. The felt gives the piston almost no resistance, which is close to dry-firing it and can cause damage.
If the stock looks dry, see our guide to oiling a gun stock. And for the scope, blow the dust off before you wipe the lenses, so you're not dragging grit across the glass.
Questions people ask
Can I use Ballistol on an air rifle? Yes, on the barrel (a damp felt, then dry it out) and on the outside metal and the stock. Not in the compression chamber or air cylinder.
Is it any different for .177 and .22? No. Just use felts or a pull-through in the right calibre.
Can I clean the barrel too often? You can. It won't damage anything, but the rifle may wander for the first few shots after each clean. There's no need to do it every session.
Ballistol Universal Oil and cleaning felts go out within one working day. If you're not sure what fits your rifle, call +44 (0) 7817 267314 or email sales@ballistol.co.uk.
More guides: How to Oil a Gun Stock · How to Clean a Shotgun · How to Stop Rust on Metal
