Browning BPS shotgun initial cleaning recommendations and walnut care advice.

[John Galt]

I just took ownership of a new Browning BPS 12 gauge. Walnut stock. The gun shop gave me a new gun still in the box covered with whatever goop Browning covers the metal parts with. Some of the goop (cosmolene?) is on the walnut stock.

The Browning manual that was included only offers this advice:

INITIAL CLEANING
Various exposed metal parts of your new firearm have been coated at the factory with a rust preventative compound. Before assembling your shotgun, clean the anti-rust compound from the inside of the barrel, receiver and the action/chamber areas. A high-quality lightweight gun oil is ideal for removing this compound, and for giving your new firearm its first lubrication.

I like the natural non oiled look of the walnut stock and I’m afraid using a gun oil to remove the “rust preventative compound” from the walnut will leave it shiny and soak into the wood. I need advice from those experienced in gun care. This is my first gun with a walnut stock. What is an example of a high quality lightweight gun oil.

 

[nwjones18]

I'd think a quick spray of the whole gun including stock and wiping it off with remoil would be just fine. I have many old wood blue guns that have been treated that way for a LONG time and no problems with metal or wood.

Classy shotgun by the way! I've always wanted a BPS. LIke the bottom eject.

 

[billt460]

Some light oil will take any rust preventative off the Walnut without hurting it. Even something like Lemon Oil Pledge works fine on a clean microfiber cloth. Just don't use any penetrating type oil.

It wouldn't hurt to clean out the inside of the magazine tube as well. Rust preventative in there can attract dirt, and cause shells to stick.

 

[John Galt]

Thanks for the replies. What I have on hand is an unused Hoppe's 223/5.56 rifle cleaning kit. It has a bottle of Hoppe's No.9 gun bore cleaner and an orange bottle of Hoppe’s No.9 lubricating gun oil. Is the Hoppe‘s lubricating oil suitable? I was afraid it would soak into the wood and leave me with an oiled stock which I don’t want.

is this the recommended Remoil?

 

[SShooterZ]

Don't overthink it with the oil. Lots of options out there, all work just fine, keeping it clean will serve you the best. Also, since it's a pump, you could probably bury it in mud for 2 years and it would still operate just fine. Run a brush down the bore, clean out all the cosmoline in there, remove the chokes, clean out the threads, and when you insert chokes, use some never seize or grease on the threads as you don't want to stick a choke. Great guns. Good luck with it. This stuff is great for stocks too.

 

[ripcord]

The Hoppe's lubricating oil is functionally equivalent to RemOil.

 

[BHopkins]

The Rem oil will work fine. To avoid the oily stock that you don't want, just wipe all the excess oil off of the stock after cleaning the preservative off.

 

[totegoat]

I just use a dry rag on an oily stock to start. Nice shotgun, congrats.

 

[nwjones18]

Like @billt460 mentioned some pledge will work fine on the wood as well. I like the spray remoil myself.

 

[John Galt]

All so helpful!

I ordered the Birchwood Casey Stock sheen product and the spray RemOil from Amazon, expected tomorrow. Such a shame to use Amazon, my town had, within walking distance of my home, an old fashioned sporting goods + gun shop where I would have bought this. Wood floors, glass gun cabinets and two older owners smoking cigars and drinking coffee. The firearms regulations in my state drove the small town guy out of business. His storefront is an artsy-fartsy art gallery now. Sickening. I won’t patronize D’ks. sporting goods, 10 miles away, and next nearest real gun store is 30 miles away.

Since this is BITOG I went and took a deeper search in my pistol cleaning cabinet and I have a 4oz spray can and a squirt bottle (from NAPA I think) of AMSOIL 100% synthetic Firearm Lubricant and Protectant. Not sure if that has any value in my issue.

 

[gman2304]

I use lemon oil on wood stocks, never had one to darken.

 

[Dgzrt]

Check out Project Farm best CLP on the YouTube channel. It has good information!

 

[Cropduster172]

Balistol. It will clean the cosmolene and wood likes it.

 

[Thomas Campbell]

+1 on Ballistol.

 

[John Galt]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I probably overreacted to seeing that gunk on my brand new shotgun. As I said. my first walnut stock firearm, all new care requirements to me. I appreciate all the advice from those in the know. Ballistol is on order. I already had some lemon oil on had from caring for my acoustic guitars and my violin fingerboard.

I used that same treatment to wipe down a Henry H001TLB I bought one the same day. They both came out great. Did some range test firing with both, boy I really love shooting the Henry! The 12 ga is going to require a bit more time to get comfortable with and maybe a shoulder pad. Going to do some clays with the shotgun when the weather is good and my son can join me. Some gun porn: