(Newswire.net — September 3, 2020) — Cleaning your firearms isn’t the most exciting of tasks, but it’s necessary to keep your gun performing at its best. To keep a gun properly maintained you need a good grasp on its assembly and which parts to clean.
Many gun owners tend to neglect this part of gun ownership to disastrous results. After all, a well-maintained gun is less likely to fail and it’ll last longer. If you’re just starting out, learning gun maintenance can be a hassle.
Luckily, we’ve come up with a few tips to help you learn more about firearm maintenance. Read on and make sure your firearm is at its best.
Know When to Clean
There are a lot of varying opinions on when it’s time to clean your gun. Most of it comes down to your personal preferences and how clean you want it to be. Before you start, take into consideration why people clean guns in the first place.
You want to prevent your guns from degrading and building up any rust and residue. It’s also good to remember that cleaning any oiling in your gun helps it perform better. So even if you have a high-quality gun with high-quality bullets, you still want to clean it regularly.
The general rule of thumb is to clean based on the amount of ammunition you use. Whenever you use corrosive bullets, you’ll want to clean leftover chemicals up right after. This goes the same way for cheap ammo, which can leave residue in your barrel when you fire them.
If you do have the best quality ammunition, then it’s a good idea to clean it at least once or twice a month to prevent any build-up.
Find an Appropriate Cleaning Area
When you’re cleaning your gun, you’re working with different compounds and chemicals. These may be toxic, so you’ll want to work in a well-ventilated space so you don’t breathe in the chemicals.
Look for a place like a garage or a room with lots of windows and a big open space. Cleaning your gun will take more than 5 minutes to do. If you’re spending that much time with chemicals, you’ll want the air around you to be clean.
Make sure that you also secure and cover your workspace with absorbent materials. Plastic sheeting, newspaper, and some paper towels are all good candidates. This prevents damaging or staining your workbench and makes clean up easier.
Check the Manual
Before you start disassembling and cleaning your gun, make sure to check the manual. If you don’t have a hard copy on you, you could always check the manufacturer’s website. Different types of guns all have a different process.
Check the manual to see if you need to disassemble your gun before cleaning. Don’t forget to remember where every part of the gun fits. Knowing this prevents you from misplacing parts during reassembly.
The manual also serves as a guide for which parts of your gun need lubricating.
Use the Right Cleaners
When it comes to the cleaners you’re using, aim for the higher-performing ones. The cleaning process can take a lot longer if you’re using less-effective products. A good way to avoid doing a lot of work when scrubbing down debris in firearms is to get quality cleaners.
High-quality cleaners can effectively and efficiently break down the residue. This makes it easier to wipe or scrub off residue compared to cheaper cleaners. Good cleaners also mean fewer repetitions which save you even more time.
Check the reviews for the best cleaners and don’t be afraid to spend a few extra dollars.
Have a Proper Cleaning Kit
The key to effective firearm cleaning is having the right gun cleaning kit. You might end up struggling to clean certain areas in hard to reach crevices and spots. Make sure you have the right brush, swab, or rod for the job.
If you only own one firearm, you can usually find a small kit that fits the specific needs of your gun. Look for brushes with the right size and rods that are long enough for the barrel. Depending on the gun caliber, check for swabs with the right material and shape.
If you have a collection of different kinds of firearms, you don’t need to buy a kit for each one of them. There are plenty of universal cleaning kits available with a variety of tools. If you have a gun that needs specific tools, then you can get it an individual kit.
Inspect for Any Damage
Now that you’ve done all the preparations and have all the necessary tools, it’s time to start cleaning. The first thing you want to do is inspect the surface for any external damages or signs of wear. If you see any scratches or wearing on the finish, you might want to touch it up with a bluing or blacking paste kit.
The next thing you want to do is inspect the firearm for any dents. Do a thorough search down the muzzle and breech end. Look for any possible dents, even small ones which could cause major problems that next time you fire.
If you do find a dent, then you’ll want to get it checked out and fixed by a professional. Unfortunately, it’s not a job an amateur can do so be sure to take it to a gunsmith.
Removing Residue and Rust
The most crucial part of gun maintenance comes down to the cleaning of the different parts. When you fire your gun, it leaves all kinds of black residue and other kinds of debris. To keep your gun at its peak performance, you’ll want to clean these out regularly.
Once you’ve disassembled your gun, you’ll be able to see right away the build-up of a dark residue. Go ahead and wipe it away with a cloth and some cleaning solvent. Go over the easily accessible parts of the gun first, following with a Q-tip in harder to reach areas.
If your firearm starts to build-up rust, don’t panic. You can easily take care of this with a cloth and some oil to help remove it. If the rust doesn’t come out easily, you can use 4 ought steel wool with some oil to help buff it out.
Prioritize the Barrel
The barrel is where most of the residue from firing will end up. It’s also one of the harder parts to clean so make sure that you do it thoroughly. Make sure that the bore brush you’re using is the exact size for your caliber.
If it’s too big, it won’t fit through, and if it’s too small, it won’t scratch the surface enough to clean it. Run down the barrel a few times to collect any debris. Inspect the barrel from the loading chamber to see if you can still see left out residue.
Once the inside of the barrel is smooth, go through the barrel one last time with a clean brush to buff away any rust build-up on the inside. If you’re looking for firearm parts to replace in your gun, find great ones at Ballistic Advantage.
Apply Lubricating Oil
After you’ve cleaned up the different parts of your gun nicely, the next step is to apply oil. Oil is what keeps your gun performing smoothly and keeps all the moving parts moving without resistance. It also provides a nice coating around the firearm to keep it safe from any moisture in the air which can cause rust.
You want to apply oil throughout the entire gun without dousing it in oil. You want to put enough on to leave a shine but not have it too thick.
Just like with the cleaners, you’ll want to get an oil that’s high quality so that it doesn’t break down over time. You can apply the oil using a wipe and manually applying oil or by using wipes with built-in lubricant.
Store Your Firearm the Right Way
The last thing that you want to keep in mind with firearm maintenance is its storage. The most important thing is to keep your firearms safe, secure, and dry. As a gun owner, make sure that your gun doesn’t become a threat to anyone else you’re living with.
If you have children, teach them to stay away from your gun storage and install a gun safe or lock. You’ll also want your firearms to be in a safe place when an intruder breaks in. Keep it accessible in times of emergencies and you’ll do fine.
Lastly, moisture is one of the biggest causes of problems for your gun. You’ll want to keep your firearm in a dry location without too much humidity.
Conduct Successful Firearm Maintenance With These Tips!
Owning a firearm is a huge responsibility. It doesn’t only call for proper maintenance, but for proper gun safety as well. You must be properly informed on both matters.
We hope that after reading this article, you have a better understanding of firearm maintenance. Of course, handling your guns doesn’t end here! Don’t hesitate to check out the rest of our content for more firearm guides!