Care & Maintenance
Firearm Cleaning Tips: How to Clean Your Gun Safely and Effectively
Jul
With almost 20 million guns bought in 2021, you too might be part of the firearm family. Properly cleaning your firearm is crucial for maintaining its performance, reliability, and longevity. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced gun owner, mastering the art of firearm cleaning ensures safe operation and preserves the value of your investment.
In this guide, we will provide you with valuable tips from a professional on how to clean your firearm safely and effectively.
Safety First
Safety should always be your number one priority, and gun maintenance is no exception. Always visually inspect the firearm for live ammunition before you disassemble the gun. Ensuring all live ammunition is removed from the chamber is the initial step.
Appropriate eye and ear protection that can protect you from accidental discharge or harmful toxic residue from cleaning chemicals should be used. You need to know how to clean your gun to avoid unnecessary damage and malfunction when cleaning.
Assemble the Right Equipment
Assemble the right equipment, to ensure a safer and more successful job. Gather cleaning tools like protective rubber gloves, cleaning patches, a bore brush and bore cleaning solvent, telescoping rod, and an address book.
Using the appropriate equipment will help to prevent cross-contamination between different metals, prevents damaging of soft surfaces or from getting chemicals into working/internal spaces.
Breakdown Your Firearm
Breakdown your firearm properly. Cleaning firearms can be difficult, and it’s one of the biggest challenges for beginners, however, it’s imperative you learn to disassemble your firearm for cleaning and maintenance.
Break it down into constituent components and note every part and its location. Consult with your firearms user manual if you require help. In any case, don’t force anything, stop, research, or seek assistance from a professional before you continue.
Use the Right Cleaning Solvents and Lubricants
After breaking down, use the right cleaning solvents and lubricants. Look for materials proposed by the gun manufacturer or use a lifetime quality waterproof lubricant. High-quality gun cleaning oils manage to dissolve the tough carbon build-up, and when used in conjunction with the correct cleaning factor, they lessen the chance of rust.
Always make sure to refer to the instructions of a cleaning solvent before you begin cleaning.
Effective Bore and Action Cleaning
Cleaning the bore effectively can be a daunting task. This should be carried out systematically, using the proper size brush.
The cleaning solvent and the copper remover products break down the waxy/fatty carbon deposits that stick to your bore or rifle barrel. Cleaning solvent in the bore provides the necessary lubrication required to remove lead deposits that stick to the barrel.
Cleaning the action thoroughly is essential. Removing carbon build-up and debris ensures that your firearm’s action which includes safety, bolts, and other parts work efficiently. Like the bore, it’s best to start with solvent, then lubricant for easy removal of carbon deposits.
Reassemble and Test Your Firearm
Reassemble your firearm once you’ve completed cleaning successfully. This is where detailing your firearm progresses, after initial troubleshooting is completed. Consult your firearm’s user manual or other helpful guides if you’re unsure or get stuck in between.
Final inspection and testing involve re-examining the firearm components you’ve assembled after cleaning it. Make sure chamber and bore are clean, ensuring locking is secure, ensuring unloaded firearm, and that the barrel, bore, and parts quickly move smoothly with ease.
Finally, once everything is double-checked, proceed with testing your firearm. This entails building trust in the work you’ve accomplished during the whole cleaning process.
Safe Gun Cleaning Practices
Before cleaning your firearm, it is essential to first ensure that it is completely unloaded. A key safety rule required in gun ownership is to always verify the magazine has been ejected and there are no rounds remaining in the chamber and that it is safe to proceed with weapon handling.
It is important to remember that while cleaning your firearm, you’ll encounter hazards beyond loaded chambers and pellet spray settled inside and outside. Always utilize protective gloves and safety glasses while cleaning your firearm and make sure to have them adequately cleaned after usage.
Establish a work area in a well-aerated space to avoid inhaling cleaning chemicals that contain dangerous substances or if possible, evaporate, and prevent other hazards such as electromechanical events. Ensure there are no smoke flames near the work area, and don’t smoke while you’re cleaning.
To avoid cross-contamination between different metals, utilize separate cleaning rods and brushes for firearms made with distinct metals such as copper, bronze, and brass. Use lead-free bore cleaners to prolong the life of cleaning equipment, leading to smoother operation.
Ensure the bore is free from obstructions and foreign materials-mice, birds nests, insects, tar, and so on, to begin the cleaning process. Lastly, wearing ear protection is a good preventative measure as constant exposure to gunshot or firearm noise can damage hearing ability over time.
Best Ways to Clean a Firearm
Cleaning your firearm is not like cleaning a utensil; it takes precision, care, and proper procedure so your firearm doesn’t malfunction during use. Effective gun cleaning entails more than just scrubbing off carbon deposits. Here are 4 simple techniques on how to properly clean your firearm:
- Clean small parts separately
- Use brushes and cloths gently
- Use a bore snake to clean the barrel
- Use a proper gun cleaner and lubricant
Gun Cleaning Tips from a Pro
Hobbyists and gun enthusiasts talk about maintenance and repair methods with various firearms. Experts can provide helpful tips, suggestions, and techniques on how to clean & restore your firearm using the top brands in a healthier, less complicated manner.
They have the experience to offer personalized solutions depending on your firearm’s design, where to buy quality cleaning tools, and other tips. Here are 6 pointers that we gleaned from pros:
- Keep a cleaning log
- Don’t Force Anything
- Always learn from others
- Look for deep cleaning scopes
- Never mix gun cleaners and lubricants
- Ensure tumble drying comprises selective sorting
Firearm Cleaning Is a Must!
Your firearms need appropriate maintenance and cleaning to retain working performance, accuracy, and longevity. Keeping your firearm lead and free of ejection residue ensures longer life of your gun.
Thus, we have provided some firearm cleaning tips delivered by experts that can help you maintain, clean and ensure a healthy operational life. A well-cared for gun will save you costs of repair, will retain value, and function properly, offering you efficiency and optimum value.
Visit our store for the latest accessories and cleaning tools for your firearms.
