Everything You Need to Know to Keep Your Firearm Shining (and Firing) Flawlessly
Cleaning your firearm is a crucial part of routine maintenance and essential for keeping your gun fully operational.
The concept of “firearm cleaning” may sound complex, but in reality, all you need are a few simple tools, materials, basic guidelines, and patience.
As you might appreciate, firearms are intricate machines composed of numerous moving parts. Firing the gun inevitably causes contamination.
When you discharge a firearm, burning propellant generates rapidly expanding, high-pressure gases that propel the bullet forward. Concurrently, combustion produces residues such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, and sulfur dioxide. These contaminants accumulate, adhering to metal surfaces in the form of propellant residue and lead particles originating from ammunition components.
While some firearms can reliably function without frequent cleaning, others absolutely require regular maintenance to ensure consistent performance. The best practice is to strike a balanced approach to cleaning and maintenance. Neglecting this process may result in firearm malfunctions or failures, potentially leaving you with a non-functional weapon precisely when you need it most.
Cleaning Your Firearm
Unless you're using black powder, you probably don’t need to clean your firearms after every shooting session.
Black powder is hygroscopic, meaning it attracts moisture from the air, which can lead to rust formation.
Moreover, the corrosive components from primers tend to deposit immediately after firing onto the barrel and surrounding areas, which might necessitate prompt cleaning. Primers contain compounds such as lead styphnate, antimony sulfide, barium nitrate, and other chemicals. When combined with moisture, these components can form corrosive salts that turn acidic.
However, most modern ammunition utilizes smokeless powder, and the majority of current primer compounds are non-corrosive.
It is known that military ammunition from the old Soviet era often contained corrosive primer compounds. This is generally not the case with NATO-standard ammunition.
Why Clean Your Firearm?
Cleaning serves multiple purposes for a conscientious firearm owner. The primary purpose is functionality. Accumulated propellant residue, lead fouling, and gun oil within the firearm’s action can obstruct cycling or the free movement of components, causing sluggish operation, short-cycling, or malfunctions.
Another reason is appearance. Some people prefer a firearm that visibly reflects usage, while others prefer their guns to remain immaculate at all times. Unless you are a collector who wishes to preserve firearms as showcase pieces, it's not necessary to aim for either extreme.
If you own firearms for sport or self-defense, it's crucial to focus on periodic maintenance to ensure reliable performance.
Your regular maintenance routine should include cleaning the barrel and mechanism, as well as applying proper lubrication.
Safety First!
Before disassembling your firearm for routine maintenance, always point the muzzle in a safe direction. Remove the magazine (for a semi-automatic pistol), then pull back the slide to inspect the chamber. Ensure the firearm is completely unloaded. Never reverse these steps!
If you're uncertain, engage the slide lock and hold it open with one hand. Use your little finger to physically verify that the chamber is empty. The same principle applies to semi-automatic rifles such as the AR-15, but replace "slide" with "charging handle."
Always Remember Firearm Rule Number One:
"All firearms are always loaded. Even if they are not, always treat them as if they were." The fundamental principle here is never to assume a firearm is unloaded.
How to Properly Clean Your Firearm:
Before cleaning your firearm, set up a clean, clutter-free workspace. Ensure adequate lighting, and since you'll be working with cleaning chemicals, your area must be well-ventilated!
Because many firearm components, such as pins and springs, are under tension, always wear protective eyewear. These parts can unexpectedly spring loose during disassembly, potentially flying off and becoming lost due to their small size.
Always wear gloves resistant to industrial cleaning agents, which will also protect your skin from toxic lead residues and chemical cleaning products.ow to Properly Clean Your Firearm
Cleaning Tools and Materials
Whether you choose to assemble a cleaning kit from scratch or purchase a ready-made one, you will need specific tools and materials for thorough cleaning and lubrication.
These include:
Cleaning Rod
This allows you to clean the barrel using dry patches or patches soaked with solvent, as recommended for thorough barrel cleaning.
Bore Brush
Depending on your firearm's caliber, a bronze wire brush helps thoroughly clean lead and copper fouling and powder residues from the barrel's grooves.
Nylon Utility Brush
A nylon cleaning brush helps you clean or brush joint surfaces within the firearm's action, including the firing control group of a rifle or the trigger mechanism of a pistol. You can perform this brushing either dry or using an appropriate solvent.
Jags
This accessory attaches to your cleaning rod and is used to properly push patches through the barrel for effective cleaning.
Cleaning Patches
These are lint-free cotton or flannel fabric pieces, typically cut into squares or circles. They can be pre-made or self-cut and are intended for single-use cleaning. These patches effectively clean recessed areas within the barrel mechanism and other firearm surfaces.
Cleaning Solvents
These solvents have a dissolving effect when applied inside the barrel or firearm mechanism. They help loosen and remove carbon residues, allowing for easier cleaning and brushing.
Firearm Oils
Firearms, particularly pistols with closely fitted moving parts, require lubrication to ensure the reliable operation of their mechanisms. Proper firearm oils help reduce friction and wear, promoting smooth, efficient, and consistent functionality
Step-by-Step Firearm Cleaning
Barrel Cleaning
Begin by safely disassembling your firearm. Ensure it is unloaded and the magazine has been removed. A basic field strip may suffice, but if your firearm has fallen into mud, sand, or has not been cleaned for an extended period, a detailed disassembly may be necessary.
Refer to your firearm's owner's or maintenance manual during disassembly to avoid causing stubborn mechanism lockups or damage. If you don't have a manual, you can typically find a digital copy online or order a new one from the manufacturer.
Use a bore brush to clean the barrel from the chamber end toward the muzzle. This step removes stubborn carbon and metallic fouling.
Take a cleaning patch, soak it in solvent, and attach it to the cleaning rod. Push it through the barrel from chamber to muzzle. You may then brush the barrel again with the bore brush.
Follow this by pushing a dry, clean patch through the barrel. Repeat with additional patches as needed. If this is your first firearm cleaning, you may find it necessary to use several patches to remove all fouling, which is normal.
Cleaning the Firearm Mechanism
After cleaning the barrel, don't neglect the firearm's mechanism. Components such as the slide, bolt, and other essential moving parts require cleaning and lubrication. Your nylon utility brush and lint-free cleaning patches are especially helpful for this task.
After thoroughly cleaning the mechanism and internal frame areas, apply oil drops to various critical points using an applicator. Follow the manufacturer's guidelines, if available. Otherwise, ensure to lubricate all parts in direct contact, including the slide rails, frame, hammer, barrel exterior, and other interacting surfaces.
Magazines
If your firearm is semi-automatic, the magazine is essential for self-loading operation. Periodically disassemble and clean the magazine. Avoid using cleaning or lubrication products that could damage or deactivate cartridge primers.
Summary
“The best repair is preventive maintenance.” Regularly maintained firearms will retain their functionality, remain resistant to wear and corrosion, and maintain a pristine appearance.
Acquire basic tools and cleaning chemicals to keep your firearms clean. Always refer to your firearm’s user manual, if available, and adhere strictly to firearm safety rules.
After acquiring the necessary equipment and knowledge on how to clean your firearms, the frequency of cleaning is up to you. It is advisable to clean thoroughly after every use or, if you don't shoot frequently, twice a year or seek assistance from a professional gunsmith.
A clean firearm will reliably serve you under any conditions. Although daily cleaning isn't required, proper maintenance will undoubtedly be worth your time.
Interpretation and Adaptation:
Dr. Selçuk Aksak
Shooting Sports Instructor & Coach
IDPA Chief Safety Officer (CSO), Gunsmith
Burkut Academy
Original Source:Josh Montgomery, Minuteman Review (Jan 5, 2023)
Comments