Author Topic: Wierd Critters found in gun bores...  (Read 3917 times)

Offline Roger Fisher

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Wierd Critters found in gun bores...
« on: August 10, 2012, 07:53:08 PM »
Been gradually checking gun bores that are in long term storage (Years)   Yesterday withdrew cleaning rod out of  a rifle bore and had a dead ant stuck on  the end of the patch.  Got caught in tanglefoot I guess.

A few weeks ago I found 2 or 3 small beetles squished on the end of the patched jag.  Hmmm

Several years ago I pulled 5 or a half dozen same kind of beetles same way... Wonder what the attraction was?  I may have had petro. jelly in those bores. not sure. 

These rifles are stored in dry conditions...but temp varies.

What say you ::)

Offline Acer Saccharum

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    • Thomas  A Curran
Re: Wierd Critters found in gun bores...
« Reply #1 on: August 10, 2012, 07:55:48 PM »
There was a lot of hysteria about Beatles back in the 1960's and 70's.
Tom Curran's web site : http://monstermachineshop.net
Ramrod scrapers are all sold out.

Offline Shreckmeister

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Re: Wierd Critters found in gun bores...
« Reply #2 on: August 10, 2012, 08:05:02 PM »
Mania even!
Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.

Offline Elnathan

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Re: Wierd Critters found in gun bores...
« Reply #3 on: August 10, 2012, 08:35:55 PM »
A gunsmith whose shop I visited kept ramrods in the bores to keep the mud-dabbers out.
A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition -  Rudyard Kipling

Offline Dr. Tim-Boone

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Re: Wierd Critters found in gun bores...
« Reply #4 on: August 10, 2012, 08:39:46 PM »
Have you considered a pest control firm??  How many guns do you have sitting around??
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Offline Acer Saccharum

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Re: Wierd Critters found in gun bores...
« Reply #5 on: August 10, 2012, 08:45:06 PM »
Be sure to tell the pest control firm you've got bore beetles.  :o
Tom Curran's web site : http://monstermachineshop.net
Ramrod scrapers are all sold out.

Offline Eric Smith

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Re: Wierd Critters found in gun bores...
« Reply #6 on: August 11, 2012, 02:12:57 AM »
A gunsmith whose shop I visited kept ramrods in the bores to keep the mud-dabbers out.
Might be something to think about!
Eric Smith

caliber45

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Re: Wierd Critters found in gun bores...
« Reply #7 on: August 11, 2012, 03:58:52 AM »
Roger -- WADR, think you might want to spend more time shooting/building . . . -- paulallen (Maybe too much spare time on your hands?)

Don Tripp

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Re: Wierd Critters found in gun bores...
« Reply #8 on: August 11, 2012, 07:16:56 PM »
Actually, now that you mention it. I have found quite a few spiders or evidence of spiders (the Yellow Sack Spider) in the bores of old guns that people have brought to me for cleaning over the years. I opened a 20 gauge single shot one time and peered down the bore with my light and saw an enormous wolf spider in there so I stepped out to the back porch and evicted him with a load of No. 8 shot (overkill, I know).

Offline Ben I. Voss

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Re: Wierd Critters found in gun bores...
« Reply #9 on: August 11, 2012, 08:47:22 PM »
I had a 42" 50 cal. Coleraine barrel standing in a corner waiting tlo be used-it's now a 41"barrel because it had a handful of Asian beetles rusting against the breech plug. Keep your muzzle down!