After each shooting the barrel of the rifle must be cleaned, it is also recommended to protect the metal parts against rust and the wooden parts against weathering.

Wood and metal parts should be wiped clean and dry after hunting use, as moisture attacks both wood and metal. Afterwards, it is recommended to apply a few drops of gun oil to a cloth and rub the gun with it. The most widely used gun oil in German-speaking countries comes from the company Ballistol. It can also be used to reliably remove flash rust, which can occur even after brief exposure to the elements.

Metal parts such as the barrel are usually burnished on the outside, i.e. they are treated with a type of rust, which prevents damage caused by corrosion. The bluing makes the corresponding parts appear black. When the bluing is no longer intact, the underlying metal shimmers through silver. Therefore, rapid burnishing is often included as a solution in gun care kits.

The barrel should be cleaned after each shooting, for which a barrel cleaning cord is recommended, to which a metal brush is attached at the end. The "string" is quite plump, compressible and, when not compressed, slightly thicker than the barrel through which it is to be pulled. When pulled through the barrel, it cleans it like a cleaning cloth. A drop of gun cleaning oil can also be used to remove residue from the primer charge and the projectile, but it is important that this is removed without leaving any residue before the next shot - otherwise there is a risk of an oil shot.

In the case of an oil shot, the projectile is deflected by a film of oil inside the barrel and the point of impact of the rifle is severely impaired.

Comprehensive cleaning sets are already available from about 30 euros and belonged to the basic equipment for every hunter.