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Cleaning Equipment

Gun Cleaning Equipment and Lubricants in South Africa

Cleaning is the maintenance that keeps a barrel accurate and stops rust taking hold, and it needs the right products rather than whatever is under the sink. This collection covers bore cleaning, lubrication, rust removal and refinishing for firearms and airguns. NeonSales stocks 84 products here, from R20 for cleaning patches up to R559 for a gun blue kit.

What this collection covers

  • Bore cleaning: Patchworm kits in .177, .22 and .223, steel ram rods with brushes, cleaning patches
  • General lubricants: Ballistol Universal Oil in liquid and aerosol, Q-Gun lubricant and derust spray
  • Barrel cleansers: Ballistol Robla Solo Mil for powder and copper fouling
  • Airgun specific: Huma silicone grease, silicone O-ring oil in droppers, Nuprol silicone aerosol, ASG Ultrair CO2 lubrication capsules
  • Rust: Evapo-Rust pH neutral remover, rust protect sprays
  • Refinishing: Birchwood Casey Perma Blue liquid and paste, Aluminium Black

Silicone or petroleum, and why it matters

Lubricant Use on Never use on
Silicone grease and oil Airgun seals, O-rings, pressure system threads Nothing, though it is not a bore cleaner
Petroleum based oil Steel actions, barrels, external surfaces Airgun O-rings and seals, which it degrades
Ballistol Steel, wood, leather and polymer, general use Nothing, and it neutralises corrosive residue

The airgun distinction is the one that catches people out. A PCP or CO2 system runs on seals, and ordinary gun oil attacks them. Silicone grease and O-ring oil exist specifically for that, and using the wrong product turns a working rifle into a leaking one.

Cleaning versus lubricating versus protecting

Three different jobs, and one product rarely does all three well. A solvent such as Robla Solo Mil dissolves powder and copper fouling from a barrel. A lubricant reduces friction on moving parts. A protectant leaves a film that keeps moisture off steel in storage. Ballistol Universal Oil is unusual in doing all three adequately, which is why it is the sensible single purchase for general maintenance. Buy the dedicated bore cleaner separately when you actually need it.

Pull-through or rod?

Patchworm kits are pull-through systems, where a weighted cord draws a patch down the bore from breech to muzzle. That is the safer option, since it avoids pushing a rod through the crown, which is the part of a barrel that most affects accuracy and the easiest to damage. Steel rods are quicker and fine with a bore guide and care.

Common questions

How often should I clean? After every session for anything exposed to moisture. Barrel cleaning is less frequent, and over-cleaning a bore does more harm than leaving light fouling.

What do CO2 lubrication capsules do? Fired through a CO2 pistol, they carry lubricant to the seals. Dried seals are the most common failure in CO2 airguns, so this is preventative maintenance.

Will Evapo-Rust damage bluing? It is pH neutral and designed to remove rust rather than attack finish, though test on an inconspicuous area first on anything you care about.

Can I use Ballistol on a wooden stock? Yes, and that is one of its distinguishing features. It will not lift or damage oil-finished wood the way harsher solvents can.

Related: Ballistol · Birchwood Casey · Huma-Air · Air Rifles · Airgun Spares · Accessories