[section9]

I have plenty of bottled water and dried food.

I have a 30.06 shotgun that's in a box but has been kept in an air conditioned environment for several years. I would assume I should take it to a gunsmith for a standard cleaning and once-over?

BTW, what's a good, reliable brand of 30.06 shell? Any comments?

Any comments in this regard will be most helpful.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[ko_kyi]

The gun folks are gonna have a field day with your post

[judicial meanz]

Chris:

Your rifle ( 30.06 is a rifle calibre) needs Remington out of the box ammunition. Factory ammunition is best with a new weapon.

Dry fire it a couple of times to see if the action works well. If it makes a snapping sound, that means the firing pin is working and it works.

Cleaning it is a snap. Just oil the moving parts lightly, give it a light coat of oil, and you are good to go. No gunsmith needed.

[harpseal]

I would suggest you learn how to clean your gun yourself. There are many cleaning kits out there by manufacturers such as Outers Hoppes and Rig. They have step by step instructions and the instructions that come with your rifle will show you how to clean it.

Reliable rifle ammunition for this caliber is very available. It is one of the most common hunting calibers and you can pick some up at Wal-Mart or any good sporting goods store. Brands of ammunition such as Remington, Winchester, Hoenady, CCI, PMC, and Sellier and Beliot will all work reliably in a good .30-06. I would strongly recommend you practice with your rifle before you rely upon it.

[winodog]

I dont think you have a shotgun. If you do it will not shoot a 30.06 bullet.Buy a shotgun or rifle cleaning kit at china-mart and clean the durn thing. They cost about 12 bucks.A very few drops of 3 in one or gun oil in places where parts move and the gun or shoygun will be fine. Any brand name made in america should be fine as far as ammo.

[holdmuhbeer]

I would suggest at least learning the difference between a rifle and a shotgun. I have a 30-06 rifle and a 12 gauge shotgun. Rifles come in various calibers, 30-06,30-30,308, etc. Shotguns come in gauges--410,28,20,16,12,10. As far as cleaning, you can get a cleaning kit for your rifle at Wallyworld and do it yourself. You can get good ammunition from a variety of manufacturers, Federal, Remington,Winchester, etc. Good luck.

[Hemingway's Ghost]

Buy yourself some nice Remington shells and you can't go wrong.

[Gritty]

I have a 30.06 shotgun that's in a box but has been kept in an air conditioned environment for several years.

Unless you're referring to some sort of over/under rifle/shotgun combination, I assume this is a either a shotgun or a rifle. In either case, the treatment is pretty much the same.

I would assume I should take it to a gunsmith for a standard cleaning and once-over?

Unless there is some heavy rust or deep corrosion, there is no reason you can't do the job pretty simply yourself.

You can buy a inexpensive cleaning kit in any gun shop or Wal-Mart, as well as the gun cleaner and oil. Ask any salesman for help. There is probably no need to completely disassemble the weapon unless it is in very bad condition and you can probably tell that by looking at it, trying the action and checking the barrel. Carefully clean the barrel and action of dust (after making sure it is unloaded, of course) and lightly oiling the barrel and working parts should do the trick nicely. Make sure you remove all obstructions from the barrel. Dry firing without ammunition in the chamber a few times while cycling the action will pretty much tell you if it is ready to fire. However, it would certainly be best to test fire a few actual rounds and you can also then check the accuracy of the sights.

BTW, what's a good, reliable brand of 30.06 shell?

Any brand you buy in the store is fine.

If it is a shotgun, #4 shot is good all around for small animals, such as rabbits and large birds. It can also be used for close in home defense. However, any of the "buckshot" calibres are better for defense, such as #1 and #00, as they will give a longer lethal range if that is a consideration. They will also kill larger game if necessary.