Gun Related Hacks

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Does anyone have any good gun/gear-related hacks... creative ideas for cleaning, storing, saving money, reusing/recycling/repurposing items, etc? I’m sure there are some good ones out there!
 
If you don't have enough shelves in your safe for pistols, get shelves and mounting clips from the home store. Wrap the shelves in drawer liner and staple in place.

GI surplus dental tools are excellent for cleaning hard to reach areas in guns.

It's easy to make high visibility front sights using Testor's paint markers.
 
The drywall anchor snap cap trick is probably my favorite one I've learned.

This scope leveling method is a pretty good one too. I combine it with using a level on the scope turret, mount, and action to ensure it's as close as I can get to level. Reticles aren't necessarily precisely aligned with the turrets, I think I read a degree or two is within tolerances for most manufacturers. So, it's a good double check.

https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/02/16/easy-diy-method-for-leveling-a-scope-reticle/
 
My field kit includes a length of weed-whacker line. One end is melted to form a ball, the other end sharpened. Poke the sharp end through the center of a couple of patches, run them down to the ball end, and you have a field-expedient bore snake, great for clearing out the dirt and debris that got in there because you didn't use Kano383's electrical tape.
 
I use the dental picks for all sorts of stuff, pulling the AR BCG cotter pin, scraping carbon, etc. I blunted the extremely sharp point first.

I use Testors model paints for front sights as well: a dab of white as an undercoat to fluorescent orange really makes it pop when compared to putting straight fluorescent orange paint on a black sight.

I use retired cloth diapers as oil-rags to wipe off guns, tools, etc. I dribble gun oil on one side and mark that as the oily side, and the other is “dry” to wipe crud/water off before the item is wiped with the oily side and put away.

I also use an old tube sock on my hand, dribbled with some oil, to pick up and move guns in my safe if I have to dig one out of the back. Holding the steel with an oiled sock keeps rusty fingerprints at bay, and I don’t have to go through a whole wiping down routine every time I’m rooting around in there.

Stay safe!
 
Second for the snap caps.
I also used a colander in a bucket to separate tumbling media from cases, instead of the purpose-made tumbler deal.
So do I; Dollar store item and a round dishwasher powder bucket that it fits in nicely; stores nested and out of the way.
 
I use old socks to keep handguns in that don’t have a box. It keeps them from getting dinged up
I used to, but went and bought bulk packs of the silicone ones; less cotton to hold moisture that way.

Another hack for those who reload shotgun shells on MECs - place the machine inside a steam table tray and bolt to the bench. This will help WHEN (not if) you have a powder or shot spill.

I also do not keep my balance beam on the bench top - it sits on a shelf away from the vibration of the bench top at eye level when I am seated - keeps it free of unwanted adjustments and variations.
 
First one already posted about putting holes in the front edge of the bench for allen wrenches. The one on the left fits most dies I have and the ones on the right are for the press.

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Next a screwdriver next to my tumbler (to get the lid off)

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Ball on the end of the Co-Ax handle. Made with 1/2 inch stainless steel and a #5 pool ball. Metal is 4.5 inches.

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New side link for the Co-Ax so I can get my fingers in an out better. Made from hardened 1/4 inch steel. Press wears evenly with it.

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Drill used on trimmer to trim brass a bunch faster.

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I have a bunch more. Always tinkering to make things better. Top of the reloading bench is a 3/4 plywood cut in half long way over. 2x4 frame.
 
When I reloaded more, I would hook a little bungie from the powder dropper to the base of the press handle, or tie a hair tie (I've since donated it at belt-length, so no more of those) with a fishing weight on it.
The shaking it caused stopped the clogging and I no longer had to pick out so many low charges.
 
Bamboo skewers are great for many things, hard, can be sharpened to get into grooves but won't scratch things.

Also, been buying bamboo plate/pot racks on ebay for $5 or so, make great pistol racks as they sit just right between the posts. Plus, can be cut shorter if need to fit a use and much cheaper than "pistol racks".
 
Polymer 25mm shell surplus can with padding repurposed into an optics carrier.

Binoculars, spotting scope and tripod, range finder, tools in a snap pouch, Trijicon lens pen, lens wipes and batteries.

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There are hinged flap doors on either side. The whole thing is water tight and the seals are still good (rigorous and thoroughly scientific testing in a kiddy pool in our backyard this summer, not a drop of water made it inside).
 
Pictures, please!

Well, I hope you weren't picturing finely machined 'tool jewelry'---in fact, it was easier to make these new ones than dig out my cleaning kit (took 1-2 minutes on the grinder.)

They're essentially disposable, and vary a bit, but I typically do a flat scraper (the flat edged one is actually 'sharpened' on its front edge, though you can't see it), a rounded one for the bolt face and a pointy one for lots of places.
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Larry
 
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