No one likes to clean but guns are the one thing that should not be neglected so we are sharing our 6 simple gun cleaning tips to make your next range visit more safe and enjoyable. The fun and safety aspects of firearm ownership start with a clean weapon. Either at the range or a life or death situation, the gun must go BANG when it is needed. One of the most common problems with gun malfunctions is due to lack of or improper cleaning and maintenance. By cleaning your weapon any potential problems can be spotted early on and before any unwanted malfunctions happen which usually come during the most inopportune times.
There are many nuances and specific methods that everyone prefers to use for cleaning their firearms. We believe a blend of gathered gun cleaning information will help in developing or adding to any cleaning routine. We refined the process to our 6 simple gun cleaning tips to make your firearm last a lifetime.
STEP 1
Choosing gun cleaning supplies can seem overwhelming at first. The top brands each have their merits and are favored differently by individuals but choosing Hoppes, Birchwood Casey, or Break Free products will help clean, lubricate, and preserve any firearm. Each brand offers cleaning kits and individual items like cleaner and gun barrel cleaning rods. A quality gun cleaning rod for a hand and long gun are a must. Tips that fit the barrel cleaning rod should include a tip that allows a small square cleaning cloth to pass through. And a second tip with a soft brass wire brush which will be is used sparingly. BoreSnakes are also very good for removing grime from barrels, especially pistols, but not as effective or less abrasive on the rifling as a cleaning rod with tips. Soft brass wire brush for dislodging stubborn carbon residue. The last elements are cloth cleaning rags, one large and many small rags that can be thrown away after each cleaning.
SAFETY FIRST
After your standard safety procedure to remove ammo, clear the chamber and confirm the barrel is empty the firearm can now be safely cleaned. Layout a cleaning mat onto a flat surface, like a workbench, to protect the gun and the surface from cleaner, powder residue, and oil.
STEP 2
Layout all your cleaning supplies onto a cleaning mat for easy access. Disassemble and prepare the firearm accordingly down to its main groups and ready for cleaning.
Disassembly drill down:
- Revolver: Open the cylinder.
- Semiauto Pistol: Remove the magazine (this should already be done during gun safety procedure), remove the slide, extract the guide rod/recoil spring group, and barrel.
- Bolt Action Rifle: Remove the magazine if applicable and extract the bolt.
- Semiauto AR Rifle: Remove the magazine, push out the rear pin and swing apart the lower and upper receivers (both pins can be removed to make the process less cumbersome), remove the charging handle, remove the bolt and carrier, then remove the buffer group.
- Semiauto AK Rifle: Remove the magazine, remove dust cover, remove recoil spring group, remove bolt and carrier group.
- Shotgun Pump & Semiauto: Open chamber.
STEP 3
Start by spraying the entire gun and parts with cleaner fluid to loosen debris and let it sit for about 10-15 minutes then wipe down entirely. Clean the chamber, trigger group of the weapon, and/or dust cover by using a cleaning rag. We recommend starting with the chamber and trigger group so that any debris that gets in the barrel during this process will be removed at a later stage in the cleaning. Soak half of a small rag in cleaner and rub every corner, spring, and surface until the rags appear clean. Plastic scraping tool (found in most gun cleaning kits), ear swabs, or thin bamboo skewers, several will be needed and are used to get to small tight spaces. Wipe down and set aside.
Revolvers require a little less cleaning due to their design. With the cylinder open, wipe down the guns internals that is easy to access until no more residue is visible on the rag. Use a plastic scraping tool or bamboo skewer to remove any gun powder residue from around the firing pin. The cylinders are cleaned using the barrel cleaning rod and the small cleaner soaked rags inserted in each chamber from the back and pushed out towards the front/forcing cone. Repeat until the rags come out clean. Wipe down and set aside.
Semiauto pistols have five main components; the frame, slide, barrel, recoil spring group, and magazine. Start with the slide and frame. The barrel and magazine will be handled at a later stage in the cleaning process. Rub every corner, surface, and spring until the rag does not show any powder residue. Use a plastic scraping tool or bamboo skewer to remove any gun powder residue from around the firing pin. Wipe down and set aside.
Bolt action rifles bolt are cleaned using a rag ensuring to rub every corner, spring, and surface until all the grime is removed. Use a plastic scraping tool or bamboo skewer to remove any gun powder residue from around the firing pin. Wipe down and set aside.
Semiauto AR and AK type rifles bolts and carriers are cleaned similar to a bolt action rifle bolt, simply use a rag rubbing every corner and surface until no more residue remains. Take a bamboo skewer or plastic scraping tool to remove any gun powder residue from around the firing pin. Wipe down and set aside. These types of bolts can be field stripped further down to their basic elements but this is not necessary after every time the gun is fired. We recommend stripping the semiauto bolt for thorough cleaning after every 5-10 range visits, dependent on how many rounds were fired. Usually, when the gun begins to function differently than normal, it may be time to disassemble the bolt for cleaning.
STEP 4
Now onto the barrel and most importantly, the crown (essentially the one small element of a firearm that makes a significant difference in how a gun performs in accuracy). If the crown is not to spec due to dirt or damage the gases will not exit properly ultimately causing inaccuracies with the point of impact. Make sure to protect the crown while cleaning to not bang other metal pieces against it or scratching it through improper cleaning techniques. When the gun is not in use it should be properly stored ensuring the crown is out of harms way and never damaged.
The bore of the barrel at this point should be thoroughly soaked by the initial spray down and ready for cleaning. Take a barrel cleaning rod and attach the brass tip that allows a small square rag to pass through. Add the rag to the tip and insert the cleaning rod tip, and rag starting from the chamber pushing slow and steady out to the crown/muzzle end. As soon as you see the rag begin to come out, stop, and remove/unscrew the tip with the dirty rag, now pull back and out the barrel cleaning rod. Repeat this process until the rags come out clean. There are times when a brass bore brush should be used to remove layered gun powder residue but sparingly to help preserve the weapon. In the case, a brass bore brush is used, it should only pass through the bore once or twice per cleaning to simply loosen the debris for removal with the previous process. Wipe down and set aside.
Clean the guide rod/mainspring assembly with a rag until no residue remains. Wipe down and set aside.
TIP: When a bullet is fired and sent through a barrel it goes in one direction from chamber to muzzle. Therefore, it is critical to never remove a dirty rag backward in a bore while cleaning because it can damage the rifling and crown.
STEP 5
The magazine and outside of the firearm are now up for cleaning. Most modern polymer magazines are fairly easy to clean by simply spraying a small amount of cleaner on a cleaning rag, rubbing and working every corner and surface until no dirty residue remains. Clean the feeding lips and push the rag down on the follower to go as deep as possible inside the magazine. When no dirt is showing on the rag it is clean. Wipe down and set aside.
STEP 6
There are certain pieces that receive more metal on metal wear than others. The more the weapon is fired the more those marks become evident. Take a small amount of gun grease or lubricant and place it on those heavy wear areas. Leaving a thin layer of lubricant on the parts, both metal and polymer will help preserve the gun while making cleaning easier after your next visit to the range. If storing your weapon for a prolonged period of time add a slightly thicker layer of gun grease or specialized anticorrosion preservative oil to all metal parts. Make sure to remove any excess grease or oil before firing the weapon.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Make sure to remove all oils and cleaners from the chamber and barrel before firing the weapon because unequal powder burn pressures will be created causing catastrophic conditions.
Conclusion
By following these 6 simple gun cleaning tips your firearm will last a lifetime and work when you need it the most. The cleaning process can be fun and rewarding as you learn more about the weapon and notice any potential problems before they arise. Proper cleaning will also ensure the investment made in your firearm holds value and can be passed down to the next generation.
Our Crowder Bros. Hardware Spring Hill location has a large selection of gun cleaning kits, cleaning sprays, oils, cloths, mats, and supplies. Our staff are professionals and know about firearms, gun safety, and proper cleaning techniques. If you are not sure which gun cleaning products to use for your particular weapon, come in and one of our knowledgable staff will gladly help. We carry top brands in gun care and preservation from Hoppes, Birchwood Casey, and Break Free. Come in today and make sure you have the supplies you need to make your gun perform its best and last a lifetime.
Reference photos copyright and courtesy of Hoppes gun cleaning and preservation products which we proudly carry at our Crowder Bros. Hardware Spring Hill location.