by Kacy Lewis

Created on: November 02, 2008

How to Clean a Ruger 10/22 Semi Automatic Rifle

As my step-dad Joe Stacy, a rugged talkative man over six feet tall with a deep southern drawl, walked into the dining room he told me that "the first thing to do when cleaning a gun is make sure it isn't loaded."

Obviously, I thought. Cleaning a gun that is loaded could end up being the last thing a person does in their life.

Joe sat down next to me with the necessary tools at hand: a small flat head screwdriver, a bottle of Break-Free CLP, paper towels, and a spit cup.

Owing a gun is a privilege that most people take advantage of in southeastern Oklahoma, and cleaning your gun is a pastime. I am the proud owner of a gun and have been for a few years now, but I have never cleaned it. I took this opportunity to get my hands dirty and pick up some useful information.

After double checking the gun one last time to make sure it was indeed unloaded, I locked the bolt back as Joe instructed by pulling the bolt handle all the way back and then depressed a small switch located right in front of the trigger guard.

Joe then pointed out the takedown screw, which holds the action/receiver (part of the gun that contains all the moving parts) and barrel to the wooden stock. This screw is located just a few inches in front of the trigger guard.

"Use that screwdriver and take out that out, Kacy Bob," Joe said.

After taking out the screw I had to position the safety button between on and off so it could clear the hole in the stock and the receiver and barrel assembly could be taken off.

With the receiver free of the stock we could see how dirty and neglected my gun truly was. A build-up of greasy gray gunk covered most of the silver metal surface of the trigger group. "This may take a little while," I said looking to Joe to see him nod in agreement.

Next I took out two small black pins that hold the trigger group to the action using a small screwdriver. "The complete takedown the trigger group isn't necessary, so just set it aside for now," Joe said as he spit into his cup.

"Alright," I said while obediently setting the contraption on the far side on the dining room table. The next thing to be taken off the receiver was the bolt.

"So to get this off you'll want to pull the bolt handle all the way back with one hand and use your other to carefully lift the bolt out." Joe took another pause to spit Skoal into his blue plastic Daisy cup. "Now just take the bolt handle, guide rod, and recoil spring assembly out," he explained.

I was

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