A 12 Bore Double barrel shot gun is a versatile handgun. Various companbies all over the world manufacture shotguns and it is also manufactured in India by the Indian Ordinance Companies. The gun is also manufactured in India by licensed gun manufacturers in Jammu and Bihar. The shot gun needs proper care and the procedures outlined are not confined to the IOF gun, but have universal applicability for all 12 Bore shot guns.
The shot gun is the most common gun available and uses cartridges with pellets in place of bullets. Thus when fired the pellets spread out and hit a target in a small circle. The cartridges are numbered and the numbers denote the size of the pellets in the cartridge, which are made of lead. The gun is good for bird and duck shooting as well as sports.
Generally the 12 bore shot guns will have a single or double barrel. In addition the barrels may be side by side or one on top of the other. However the side by side barrel shot guns are more popular.
Safety of the Gun
The gun owner would like the weapon to give him service for at least a couple of decades. Hence its care and upkeep is important. The weapon must be periodically cleaned, oiled and stored in a dry place with a proper protective cover.
Shot guns are not good weapons for troops and their use is basically for hunting and sporting events, like skeet shooting. However as a gun owner your responsibility is to insure that the gun does not fall into the hands of children. There have been cases when this has happened and children have pressed the trigger with terrible results.
Cleaning the Gun
Regular cleaning of the gun is a mandatory requirement. Remember a gun is like a girlfriend and needs to be looked after. The first step in the cleaning process is to dismantle the gun. Before you do that, open the gun and have a look to see that the chamber has no cartridge.
The subsequent steps are really simple, but you will need some spare time to clean the gun and oil it before storage.
Dismantling
Dismantling a 12 bore is really very simple. But, before you do that it is best sit in an airy room with a table. Assemble all the ingredients that you will need to clean the weapon on the table. You will need some gun oil, patch, emery paper, cleaning wire brush with rods, a solvent and some soft cloth.
The gun can be dismantled in three simple steps. First pull the wedge that holds the barrel and the trigger mechanism. Once the wedge comes apart the barrel and the trigger mechanism will separate. Secondly assemble the pieces on and inspect them.
Screw the wire bush so that its length matches the length of the barrel. Dip the brush in gun oil and vigorously pull it through the barrels. The movement should be swift and quick. A few vigorous pulls and the barrel will shine against the reflected light of the sun.
In case there are some reddish spots that may show the onset of rust, rub them with the emery paper and then apply the gun oil.
Lastly oil the ejector, trigger mechanism and the other movable parts. Press the ejecter and the trigger to test it. Once you are satisfied re-assemble the gun and place it in a cover for storage.
References
The shotgun book Jack O’Conner Alfred A Knopf, New York