THE COMPLETE GUN-ROOM 45 
Rangoon oil is the best, though some sportsmen prefer turpen- 
tine in the first instance. I do not advise the use of the brass 
‘*jag”’ sold by all gun-makers with cleaning rods, and round 
which the tow is to be wrapped. This nasty little attachment 
is quite unnecessary, and is sure to scratch the barrels sooner 
or later. A much better plan is to make a ball of tow of the 
required size—fitting the tubes tightly, but not so tightly as to 
possibly injure the choke when being forced through it—and 
after dipping it in oil, to push it through with the rod. When 
the barrels appear perfectly clean, wipe away the oil with clean 
tow pushed through in the same way, and then finally oil them 
again with Rangoon, but this time with a perfectly clean mop 
which has never been allowed to come in contact with any 
fouling. 
Leading may be removed by soaking well with turpentine, 
and then using the bristle bush. I do not think that the wire 
brush is necessary, except in very bad cases indeed. 
The joint of the breech-action, and also the bed and face, 
ought to be slightly oiled before putting away the gun. A 
little pad of wash-leather soaked in Rangoon is useful, but an 
oily rag will do, though it should not be of any material that 
has fine hairs or fluff upon the surface. 
In addition to the Rangoon and the various cleaning cloths 
(which should always be kept shut up in a box away from dust 
and dirt) a few knitting-needles are handy upon the cleaning 
table. These are far better for putting on any lubricant than 
any other method, especially to reach parts of the mechanism 
not reached by the rag. The use of feathers is a mistake. 
The stocks of guns should no more be neglected than any 
other parts. Nothing looks worse than to see a fine piece of 
wood all dull and dirty, with none of its natural markings 
revealed. 
All other oils, save Linseed, should scrupulously be kept 
away from the stock and fore-end, and this should be applied 
