It is impossible to call yourself a responsible gun owner without a clear understanding of the art of gun cleaning, as this is critical to the safe and effective operation of your firearm. A dirty or corrupted firearm poses a safety hazard to you and those around you. Plus, a clean firearm functions optimally, providing good accuracy and recoil control.
Like any precision tool, your firearm depends on proper cleaning to function reliably, maintain its accuracy, and provide you with an extended weapon lifespan. If your firearm is abandoned for a long time, even after being cleaned before storage, it can become unreliable, inaccurate, and even unsafe.
This comprehensive guide is an exposition on the art of gun cleaning, which provides you with the essential tips and best practices to ensure that your firearm stays in pristine condition at all times.
Safety Is Paramount: The Number #1 Rule of Gun Cleaning
Safety should be the first thing on your mind whenever you decide to clean your firearm, as this is a fundamental aspect of firearm ownership.
Below are safety tips to keep in mind when cleaning your gun:
- Always Treat the Firearm Like It's Loaded: Even when you are sure that your firearm is empty, you must always handle your firearm as if it is loaded. Before you begin cleaning, double-check the chamber and magazine to ensure they are unloaded.
- Clear Your Cleaning Area: Treat your cleaning area like holy ground whenever you clean your firearm. Ensure that you clear the area of ammunition, kids, or anyone inexperienced with firearms.
- Keep Ammunition Away From Your Cleaning Materials: You should never keep your firearms ammunition in the same area as your cleaning materials. Mixing one for the other can have dire consequences.
- Use Appropriate Cleaning Materials: Do not use harsh chemicals or improper lubricants to clean your firearms, as they can damage your firearm. Use approved cleaning solvents and materials for the cleaning process.
- Good Ventilation is Essential: Gun cleaning solvents usually emit strong fumes. Therefore, ensure that you clean your firearms in a well-ventilated area to allow proper airflow. In some cases, you should wear respiratory protection if you have medical respiratory problems.
- Use Eye Protection: Use eye protection like safety goggles to prevent tiny particles or splashes of cleaning solvent from irritating your eyes.
- Seek the Guidance if Unfamiliar with Firearms: If you are particularly unsure about your ability to safely and accurately disassemble and clean your firearm, you should consult the owner's manual for your gun or seek the guidance of a qualified gunsmith.
What Materials Do You Need to Clean Your Firearm?
You can't clean a gun without the appropriate tools. Here are the essential tools you must have handy for proper gun cleaning:
Cleaning Rod
Ensure that you choose a cleaning rod that is made from materials like brass or nylon-coated rods, as they are not likely to damage your firearm's barrel. The length of the rod needsIt is important for the length of the rod to be sufficient to pass through the entire barrel.
Bore Brushes
Bore brushes typically come in different sizes that match the caliber of the specific weapons they are designed to clean. Choose bronze or nylon-coated brushes designed for the caliber of your gun, as they are good for general cleaning purposes. Nylon brushes are great for the final cleaning as they are gentler on the gun.
Cleaning Patches
Use lint-free cotton or synthetic cleaning patches for applying solvents and removing debris from the barrel of your gun. This helps to prevent scratches that can affect the performance of your firearm.
Jags
Jags are essentially small attachments that fit on the cleaning rod and help to hold the cleaning patch in place while you run it through the barrel.
Cleaning Solvents
You need to choose a reputable gun cleaning solvent specifically designed for firearms. Ensure that you avoid harsh chemicals or household cleaners since they are likely to compromise the integrity of your firearm's internal components.
Gun Oil
The use of high-quality gun oil specially formulated for firearms is necessary to ensure the proper operation of your firearm after cleaning it. Avoid using excessive oil as it can attract dirt and debris.
Cleaning Mat
A cleaning mat is designed to protect your table or surface from solvents and oil. It also helps you to see all the pieces of your firearm on the cleaning table properly.
Other Optional Tools
Depending on the design and configuration of your firearm, you may require additional tools like screwdrivers, punches, and chamber flags for disassembly and cleaning specialized components.
Weapon Disassembly for Proper Cleaning
The first step in the firearm cleaning process is careful firearm disassembly. Using the owner's manual for your gun, follow the detailed instructions to disassemble your firearm.
Here is a general breakdown of the typical disassembly process for most firearms:
- Unload your firearm and remove the magazine
- Lock the open action of your firearm (if applicable)
- Remove the bolt or slide depending on your firearm type
- Perform a field strip on your firearm by removing the barrel, recoil spring, and other components. This is a good time to consult your manual for specific instructions
Cleaning the Barrel: The Heart of Gun Maintenance
The barrel is consequential to the accuracy of your firearm; it is important to clean this portion of your firearm properly.
Here is a general guideline for cleaning your gun's barrel:
- Attach the jag to your cleaning rod and use it to secure a cleaning patch.
- Saturate the patch with a cleaning solvent.
- Carefully insert the cleaning rod and patch from the chamber end and push it through the barrel to the end.
- Move the rod back and forth using smooth strokes. Ensure that the patch makes complete passes through the barrel for effective and extensive cleaning.
- Continue to repeat steps 2 – 4 with fresh patches until they emerge clean.
- After the wet patches start emerging clean, switch to dry patches to remove any remaining solvent residue.
- For stubborn copper fouling, use a bore brush with solvent to clean the barrel of your firearm. Follow a similar process to that of using patches, but use a bore brush with caution to make sure not to damage your barrel with excessive force.
Cleaning the Action and Other Components
While the barrel of your gun is the main focus during the cleaning process, it is important not to neglect the other components of your firearm.
These include:
- The Bolt or Slide: Use a cleaning patch dampened with solvent to wipe down the bolt or slide face, rails, and extractor. Make sure you remove any debris or fouling build-up to ensure the smooth operation of these components.
- The Frame: Wipe down the frame rails and other exposed surfaces using a damp cleaning patch to remove dirt and grime.
- The Magazine: If possible, disassemble the magazine of your gun and remove any dirt or debris from the spring and follower. Wipe down the body of the magazine with a damp cloth.
Note: Only disassemble your magazine if you are familiar with the disassembly process.
Firearm Lubrication for Smooth Operation
Now that your firearm is clean and dry, the next step is to lubricate it. Apply a thin coat of gun oil to specific points of your firearm components according to the manual.
Here are some common lubrication points used for most firearms:
- Slide Rails (Pistols): Apply a light coat of oil to the rails on both the frame and slide in the areas where they typically make contact during operation.
- Bolt Carrier Rails (Rifles): Lubricate the rails on the receiver where the bolt carries the slide.
- Friction Points: Apply a small amount of oil to any metal-to-metal contact points that typically experience friction during operation. An example is the hinge pin on a break-action shotgun.
Weapon Reassembly
Now that you have performed cleaning and lubrication, the next step is to carefully reassemble your firearm following the reverse order of disassembly as outlined in the owner's manual. Double-check that all the parts are properly seated and that the firearm functions smoothly before loading it with ammunition.
How Often Should You Clean Your Gun?
The frequency of cleaning your gun depends on a couple of factors, including:
- How Often You Use the Firearm: The more frequently you use your gun, the more regularly you have to clean it. Even if you use your live firearm with a laser cartridge and a dry-fire training system, you may still need to clean it as regularly as if you were using it with live ammunition (maybe slightly less so).
- The Type of Ammunition You Use: Certain ammunition types cause more residue to be left behind than others, therefore fouling the barrel of your gun more often.
- Your Typical Shooting Environment: If you typically shoot in a dusty or dirty environment like the desert or dry land, then you need to clean your firearm more frequently.
Typically, a good rule of thumb is to clean your firearm after each shooting session, especially if you plan to store it for an extended period. However, if you have not fired your gun recently, it is wise to give it a quick clean-up every few months to prevent dust and ensure operational integrity.
Now that you understand the fundamentals of cleaning your gun, you can use the methods and steps described above to clean your weapon and rest assured, you will have a firearm that you can rely on.
Enhancing Your Firearms Training With Dry-Fire Training Systems
If performing frequent trips to the firing range is not a feasible option for you, then a reliable dry-fire training system that simulates live-fire training scenarios as accurately as possible is what you need.
Strikeman dry-fire training systems are designed to provide accurate training simulation and feedback using a seamless laser cartridge and a proprietary real-time shot-tracking app.