How do you clean the bolt and firing pin on a Mauser bolt action 30-06?

Answer 1

Bolt disassembly Mauser is easy. Close the bolt on an empty chamber. Move the safety to the middle of the three positions and open and remove the bolt. Press the cocking piece locking button and unscrew the firing pin/cocking piece assembly. Scrub the firing pin assembly with the stiff brush and bore solvent. You need a basic nitro solvent, and not a copper-removing one. There will be no copper in your bolt, only grease, oil and powder residue. I find that a basic solvent--Birchwood Casey or Shooters Choice--works great. Save the copper cleaners for the bore. Scour the firing pin spring and firing pin, working the bore solvent into the gaps of the springs coils. Once you have thoroughly scrubbed it, spray it down with degreaser, apply the bore solvent and scrub again. Those who want the graduate exercise can detail strip the firing pin assembly and scrub the spring while it is relaxed. The reason for the degreaser is to avoid further disassembly, but I shouldn't discourage those who wish to be thorough. Degrease again, and spray or squirt your lubricant onto the spring and firing pin. I prefer synthetic lightweight lubricants for in-the-bolt application. I have had good luck with Break-Free and Shooters Choice FP-10. Both wick well onto the whole surface of the spring, and cling persistently until you use a degreaser to get them off at some future time.