Gun Cleaning and Maintenance

After a fun day at the gun range or hunting with your friends, the last thing on your mind is cleaning your guns.  The truth is that cleaning your weapons is one of the most important parts of being a gun owner.  If you want your guns to function properly the next time you shoot them, they must be cleaned after every use.  I'm not talking about totally stripping the gun and cleaning and polishing every single part, but just a simple field-strip and a light cleaning and oiling. 

Here is a list of items you should consider purchasing before you try to clean your firearm.  Note: you can purchase a cleaning kit at most outdoor stores that will include many of these items.

• Gun Cleaning Solvent - Hops #9 is the my preferred cleaner
• Gun Oil - Rem oil made by Remington is a popular choice
• Cleaning Rod - Make sure you have the right sized rod for the caliber you are cleaning
• Cleaning Brushes - Usually made of brass, you will need several if you have several different calibers
• Patches - These are cut sections of cloth used to clean inside bores as well as the outer parts of your firearm
• Bore Snake - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - These are a huge timesaver when cleaning firearms.  Instead of using a cleaning rod, brush, and patch to clean your firearms, a Bore Snake will achieve the same results with only a few passes.  I rarely use a cleaning rod and brush since I have started using these.

I have listed a basic cleaning process below that should help first time gun owners with cleaning their new purchase.  Also, consult your manual for a detailed breakdown of your firearm if you choose to do a full cleaning.

1. Make sure the gun is unloaded, even if you are sure you removed the bullets before coming home.  Firearms can be dangerous, so use caution even when cleaning them.
2. On semi-automatic rifles and pistols, lock open the bolt or slide so you have access to the barrel.  On bolt action rifles or revolvers, remove the bolt or cylinder so you have access to the barrel.
3. Find a patch that will fit snuggly into your barrel and wet it down with solvent.
4. Using the cleaning rod, push the patch through the barrel and remove.
5. Now attach the cleaning brush to your cleaning rod and pass it through the barrel several times to remove buildup.
6. Run a patch through the barrel soaked in cleaning solution.
7. Repeat steps 4 to 6 until patches come out clean.
8. Run a patch soaked in gun oil through the barrel
9. Reassemble the weapon, making sure that it is unloaded.

A more in-depth cleaning should be done about once a year even if you have not used your firearm.  This helps keep all the parts in working order for when you do decide to take it out hunting or target shooting.  For information about stripping down your firearm, your owners manual is a great resource.  If you can not find the information you are looking for in the manual, try searching online for websites related to your firearm.  Chances are, someone else couldn't find the information they needed, so they decided to create a website to help others.  Always remember, a clean gun is a happy gun.