How often should you clean your gun? That’s perhaps the question on the mind of most new shooters. Any responsible and experienced gun owner knows that practicing proper firearm hygiene is critical to ensuring safe and effective firearm operation.
Just like you wouldn’t neglect your personal hygiene, you should never neglect your firearms, as this can lead to a multitude of problems. A clean firearm functions more reliably and accurately, as well as allows you to enjoy an extended weapon lifespan. Firearm maintenance also reduces the risk of malfunction or accidents.
In this comprehensive guide, we explore the unequivocal importance of firearm hygiene while also addressing the crucial question: how often should you clean your gun?
The Importance of Firearm Hygiene
Below are some of the many reasons you should prioritize firearm hygiene:
Enhanced Reliability
A dirty firearm is prone to experiencing malfunctions due to fouling buildup in the barrel and action. Regular cleaning helps to remove debris and ensure the smooth operation of the firearm. This allows your firearm to function as intended when you need it most.
Improved Accuracy
Fouling buildup in the barrel can negatively impact the trajectory of your gun’s bullet, which will lead to reduced accuracy. By maintaining a clean barrel, your gun experiences more predictable and consistent shot placement.
Corrosion Prevention
Moisture and unburnt powder residue are the primary culprits in the causation of corrosion on metal components. Regularly cleaning your gun removes these corrosive elements, therefore protecting your firearm from rust and other forms of deterioration.
Safety
Neglected firearms are one of the major causes of safety hazards ion the firing range, as debris buildup can hinder the proper functioning of the inbuilt safety mechanisms. This can potentially lead to accidental discharges.
Preserved Value
On the second-hand market, a well-maintained firearm tends to retain its value better than a neglected one. Of course, the model and type of gun matter, but regular cleaning helps to demonstrate responsible ownership while keeping your firearm in an operable condition.
How Often Should You Clean Your Gun? – Hint: There’s No One-Size-Fits-All Answer
Unfortunately, it is impossible to provide a single, universally accepted answer to the question of “How often should you clean your gun?” This is because the frequency of cleaning depends on several factors that influence the level of wear and tear your firearm experiences.
Below are some key factors to consider when choosing a cleaning schedule for your firearm:
Frequency of Use
If you are the type of shooter who operates your firearm quite frequently, then you can expect it to need cleaning more frequently as well. Ideal, you should clean your gun after each shooting session, especially if you plan on storing it for an extended period.
Ammunition Type
Certain ammunition types, especially those with dirtier burning powders, tend to leave behind more fouling in the barrel compared to cleaner burning ammunition. Using dirtier ammunition requires more frequent cleaning of your gun. An example of dirty ammunition is a cheaply made .22LR.
Shooting Environment
Do you typically shoot in dusty, dirty, or humid environments that expose your firearm to more contaminants than can accelerate the fouling process? Then, you need to clean your firearm more frequently in these conditions. A typical rule of thumb is to clean the gun after every use.
Storage Conditions
While storing your firearm in a clean, dry environment minimizes its exposure to moisture and other contaminants that contribute to corrosion, a properly stored firearm still requires occasional cleaning (say once a month) to remove any dust or residue.
A General Cleaning Schedule
While the specific cleaning frequency for your firearm will vary, here is a general cleaning schedule you can consider adopting depending on your firearm usage and cleaning needs:
- After Every Shooting Session: This is the ideal scenario for cleaning your firearm, especially if you plan on storing it for an extended period.
- At Least Every Few Months: We recommend that you clean your firearm once every few months, even if you have not fired it recently. A light cleaning every few months is recommended to prevent rust and ensure that it remains operational.
- Before Important Events: This one is a no-brainer. If you plan to use your firearm for competition, self-defense, or hunting, a thorough cleaning beforehand is crucial to ensure that you get optimal performance and reliability out of your gun.
Factors That Influence the Cleaning Frequency for Your Gun
Now that you have an idea of how often you should clean your gun, here are some additional factors that may influence your gun cleaning schedule:
- Firearm Type: Regardless of the frequency of usage, certain firearm types, such as semi-automatic pistols, tend to foul more readily than, say, guns like revolvers. If you possess a semi-automatic pistol, then you may be required to clean your firearm more frequently.
- Caliber: Larger calibers typically generate more fouling than smaller calibers. If you primarily use large calibers, then you must be prepared to clean your firearm more frequently.
- Personal Preference: Lastly, we have personal preference. Some gun owners simply prefer to clean their firearms more often than typically necessary just for their peace of mind and to maintain a high level of performance at all times.
Note: It is always better to err on the side of caution by cleaning your firearm as frequently as possible than less frequently than is required. A clean gun is a happy and safe gun!
The Cleaning Process: A Breakdown
Once you have determined your cleaning schedule, the next step is understanding the proper cleaning process for your firearm.
Here is a breakdown of a typical firearm cleaning process:
Get Your Cleaning Supplies
There is no cleaning process without cleaning supplies. Your cleaning supplies should include a cleaning rod, bore brushes, cleaning patches, jags, cleaning solvent, gun oil, and a cleaning mat. Ensure that you consult your owner’s manual to seek specific recommendations on the cleaning supplies for your firearm model.
Safety Is Paramount
Even when cleaning, you must treat every firearm like it’s loaded and follow every gun safety rule in your area. Make sure to double-check that the chamber and magazine are empty before you begin any cleaning tasks.
Disassemble Your Firearm (Consult Manual)
The disassembly of every firearm is specific to them, and as such, you should always follow the instructions in your owner’s manual when disassembling your firearm. For most guns, it typically involves removing the magazine, slide (pistols), barrel (some rifles), and other components.
Clean the Barrel
The barrel is the heart of your firearm, and as such, you must take the time to use a cleaning rod with a jag and a cleaning patch dampened with solvent to scrub the barrel thoroughly. Make sure you repeat this process using fresh patches until they emerge clean. Bore brush can be used for stubborn fouling in your firearm’s barrel.
Cleaning the Action and Other Components
Use cleaning patches saturated with solvent to wipe down the slide rails of your pistols, bolt carrier of your rifles, frame, and other exposed components to remove debris and fouling from them.
Apply Lubrication
Lubrication is a necessary part of the cleaning process as it facilitates the smooth operation of your firearm. To lubricate your firearm after cleaning, apply a thin coat of gun oil to specific points as designated in your owner’s manual. Avoid over-lubrication, as this can attract dirt and debris while also causing more fouling in your firearm.
Reassemble the Firearm
Most firearms can be reassembled by following the reverse order of disassembly. The reassembly process is delicate and important, so you must proceed with caution to ensure accurate reassembly. Consult your firearm’s owner’s manual for a detailed guide on reassembly.
Additional Cleaning Tips
Here are additional cleaning tips that you should consider:
- Consult Your Owner’s Manual: You must understand that the owner’s manual is the most important resource for any specific cleaning instructions for your particular firearm make and model.
- Maintain Your Cleaning Supplies Properly: Just as you must maintain your gun by cleaning it on a regular basis, your cleaning supplies also need a similar amount of love. Ensure that you clean and dry your cleaning rod and brushes after each use. Also, dispose of used cleaning solvents responsibly according to local regulations.
- Use Advanced Cleaning Technique (Experienced Shooters): As an experienced user, you are more equipped to deal with cases where the firearm has heavily fouled barrels. You should consider using a bronze bore brush with solvent.
For copper fouling, use a specialized copper solvent. In some cases, ultrasonic cleaners can be used for a deeper clean. However, you must have the proper knowledge and specific cleaning solutions as required.
Conclusion
Prioritizing your firearm hygiene through regular cleaning, pristine storage conditions, and periodic inspections ensures that your firearm functions reliably while maintaining its accuracy and longevity.
Just like it is necessary to consistently maintain your firearm to keep it sharp, it is just as necessary to maintain your shooting skills as well. This is where dry-fire training systems come in.
Dry-fire training systems like the ones made by Strikeman are a class of advanced dry-fire laser firearms training systems designed to simulate real-life training and shooting scenarios using laser cartridges and an accompanying real-time shot-tracking app.
Contact us today to learn more about our dry-fire training systems and consequently improve your marksmanship without the need for live ammunition or a shooting range.