By Billy Willis
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]o make sure a firearm is performing to its specifications, the owner must make sure the gun is clean. Most problems that you might encounter with pistols, shotguns, and rifles are due to dirty bores and actions. Gun powder is fairly corrosive, and can cause damage to your firearm if not taken care of regularly. Below you’ll find some good tips on cleaning your gun safely to help insure a properly working firearm.
Safety First: Make sure you are about to clean an empty pistol or rifle! Remove magazine clips and any ammunition in the chamber. Be absolutely sure the weapon is unloaded! It never hurts to check more than once.
Don’t Disassemble Too Far: Read the owner’s manual for your gun and go only as far as they recommend. If you don’t have an owner’s manual, you most likely can download one from the manufacturer’s web site, usually at no cost. As a rule, you should only need to disassemble the major components that need cleaning from powder and residue build up due to normal use; these typically include the bore, chamber and bolt or action.
Examine The Firearm As You Break It Down: It’s a good idea to inspect all the parts in the firearm when it’s broken down for worn components due to normal wear and tear of the gun. You should also check for hair-line cracks, rust and signs of too much wear. If you find anything like this, you should take the firearm to a professional gunsmith for repairs.
Instructions For Cleaning Your Gun
Remember: Check The Chamber For Rounds Before You Start!
1. Clean your gun from the breach end if at all possible. If you can’t clean from this end, be sure you don’t “push” any debris down into the action of the gun. Be sure to use a muzzle guard to protect the muzzle “tip” from scratches or nicks, because if you damage this part of the gun you will lose a lot of accuracy in your shooting.
2. Be sure to use the proper patch holder for the caliber of your weapon; soak the patch with a factory approved solvent or copper cutter.
3. Run the patch down the barrel to saturate the bore. Remove the dirty patch at the other end of the barrel. If you pull the patch back through the barrel it can foul the barrel with debris you just pushed out. Let the solvent “stew” a couple of minutes to break up any stubborn lead or carbon that may have built up.
4. Pull the “empty” rod back out of the barrel, and attach the proper brush to the rod. Soak the brush with solvent, and run it up and down the barrel 4 or 5 times to scrub the bore. Replace a patch on the rod that’s been soaked in solvent and run it down the barrel with a new patch each time until the patch goes through free of any discoloration. Run a “dry” patch through to remove any remaining solvent. Check the bore for any debris, and if necessary, clean again.
5. Apply a few drops of quality gun oil to a new patch and run it through the barrel to leave a light film of oil inside the barrel. This will go a long way to prevent rust during storage.
6. Using a nylon gun brush saturated in solvent, brush away any powder (that has not been burnt), or debris, away from the action. After the action is clean, use a gun oil to lightly coat all surfaces and moving parts. Do not use too much lubricant, because the action may become sticky and hinder the weapon from operating properly. A light coat is all that is needed to prevent rust, and it will help increase the life of the weapon.
7. Reassemble the gun, making sure you wipe any areas you have touched with your hands with a lightly oiled cloth, or a silicone fabric. The acid and salts on your hands from sweat can do a lot of damage to the steel, and the cloth will remove any marks you have left while handling. Your gun will have a “new” look to it when you are finished.
Remember To Check The Bore For Any Obstructions Before You Fire The Gun!