One of our friends from home came by for a visit last week and while he was here, we talked about things like turkey season and starting our deer scouting. When the subject of the new Mossberg 935 automatic shotgun came up and was passed his way for inspection he commented that we should definitely dismantle and clean the working parts before using it again. Stacy and I had just spent the afternoon firing rounds of number 6 field load shells and light load clays until it had a good layer of soot and brass, coating its working parts. Since the early part of the week, we put about ninety rounds to the test of this gun and I began to ponder his suggestion of the need to clean the gun. I know that after each outing at the target range or hunting with a gun it needs to be cleaned but neither of us had done so. Now with the target practice behind us and confidence in the pattern for turkey season we had to do some serious spring cleaning to protect and restore the moving parts to their original condition.

I can oil and brush a shotgun barrel until it is free from grime and then smooth a fine cloth along the inside bore restoring oil to every part. I learned that easily after watching the process. I also know that it must not be neglected in order to maintain the gun properly and ensure its safe operation. I do not however know how to take apart the mechanics of an automatic shotgun and oil, clean, polish, and confidently use the gun again after I reassemble it. It’s okay. You can laugh. So I waited for my husband to show me and watched every detail so that I can take it apart clean and lube it and then reassemble it correctly in the near future (hopefully after turkey season). Okay now I’m laughing.

Spring-cleaning 101 started with the gun parts sprawled out before me and in an instant I began snapping photos and familiarizing myself with each piece as I referred to the diagrams of the gas system and action parts and assembly in my owner’s manual. While I watched, Stacy applied Remington Rem Oil to the receiver and carefully wiped it with a clean cloth as I expected. Next the action was cleaned and properly seated back into the receiver. Then he used a can of air to dry any excess oil and proceeded with the trigger assembly to give it the same treatment. When he was finished with that he did the same to the trigger housing assembly pins then he showed me how to reassemble those parts.

First the trigger assembly pins are inserted into the trigger piece and that just slides into the receiver. Next the sleeve pins are tapped flush into the correct holes when the parts are aligned properly and they will hold everything in place. Every gun is different in the mechanics of how it is put together, some have one sleeve pin like my Remington 20 gauge pump so follow your manufacturers directions when disassembling and cleaning your firearms.

The barrel and moving parts of the gas operating system were cleaned and polished in the same way and careful attention was given to the particles and large amount of grit in the bolt riser and the rail, which can scratch the surface and if left uncleaned interfere with the automatic function of the gun. After each piece is carefully cleaned and dried they are then reinstalled onto the magazine tube according to the re-assembly diagrams in the gun manual ending with the magazine cap tightened in place. Finally, each piece is given a light spray of Rem Oil to lubricate the moving parts.

After a spring-cleaning, the gun is ready for use in the turkey woods. With a little luck and patience in this seasons hunt it could be that it will need to be cleaned again soon and now for the first time I find myself looking forward to more spring cleaning instead of dreading it.