A Quick Guide to Gun Maintenance

Thirty percent of adults living in the United States own at least one gun. If you are to own a gun, then you are taking on the responsibility of what being a gun owner means.

Knowing how to properly and safely use your gun is essential. Next, you need to learn how to perform gun maintenance.

We’ve compiled a guide just for that purpose, so continue reading below.

Organize Your Workspace

Before you start your weapon maintenance, you should have your workspace completely set up and organized.

It is most ideal if you have a dedicated table that you can use, ideally outside or in a garage. Gun cleaning requires the use of chemicals, oils, and solvents, so it’s best to have a well-ventilated workspace. If you must work indoors, find a space near an open window.

Avoid using a kitchen table or coffee table as your workspace or any place that is near food and drink. Try to find a well-lit place so you know you can be as thorough and safe as possible.

If you can find a dedicated space, keep all of your cleaning equipment organized so you know you’ll be ready for the next maintenance session. It is also wise to remove any live ammunition from the area as a safety precaution.

If you use your firearm often, you’ll want to perform maintenance on it every two weeks. If you hardly use it at all, cleaning it once a month for preventive maintenance is best.

Utilize Your Manuals

When it comes to gun care, knowledge is power. Even if you think you know all there is to know about guns, your manufacturer’s manual will be able to tell you even more.

Thoroughly reading this manual is critical if you want to understand your gun to the best of your ability. Read it all until you understand it and memorize it. This will tell you the correct operation practices, so you can have the absolute best experience with your firearm.

It will also show you exactly how to disassemble, clean, and reassemble your gun. Often, there will be charts and illustrations to help you along the way.

This manual will be specific to your gun, so it may show you how to clean certain segments and give you clear instructions on what chemical solutions to use on it.

Your gun’s manual will be one of your most valuable resources, so use it. Doing general research on the internet will never give you the details that your manual can.

And, if you can’t find your gun’s manual, you can usually download specific manuals from a manufacturer’s website.

Unload and Disassemble

It may seem obvious, but it must be said: always unload your gun before performing any kind of firearm maintenance. This should be done when you are organizing your workspace, but if you didn’t already, it’s also the time to remove any live ammunition from the room.

Now, you can start disassembling. There is always a right way to do this, so refer to your manual before proceeding. There are usually a few different parts, with some guns having much more than others, so take your time to make sure you do it in the correct way and order.

Set aside every part carefully and strategically so you know where each piece is, even the small pins.

Clean the Barrel and the Action

Now you can begin to clean the barrel. This generally requires a bore brush, which you will use to break down the larger bits of grime.

Then you can use a towel and some cleaner solvent to wipe down the barrel, allowing it to soak for five to ten minutes. Once that’s finished, use the bore brush again to remove any remnants.

Next, it’s time to clean the action, which will require scrubbing it with either a copper or nylon brush. Regardless of whether it’s a side or bolt, you can use this brush and a solvent spray to remove any debris build-up.

Make sure to allow the spray to soak before scrubbing.

The rest of the cleaning steps will vary depending on the type of guns you own. Click here to learn more about the different types of guns that are available to you, and what their maintenance may require.

Reassemble and Perform Quality Checks

Once you’ve finished cleaning all the various parts of your gun, it’s time to reassemble and do functionality quality checks. Remember, there is a right way and a wrong way to reassemble, so pay attention to the details, don’t just jam it all back together.

Once it’s assembled, test all the various parts to ensure they are placed correctly. Toggle the safety switches, check the magazine release button, and switch the slide or bolt back a few times.

Cleanse the Exterior

Lastly, use a cloth to wipe down the exterior of your firearm. It is best to use one that is treated with silicone lubricant.

Wiping down the metal parts of your gun’s exterior with lubrication will remove any dirt, debris, and fingerprints, leaving your gun looking shiny and brand new.

Make Gun Maintenance a Priority With This Guide

Now that you know all of the gun maintenance tips, it’s time to get to it. Owning a gun means taking responsibility and taking care of it, so make sure you are consistent with your care.

Use this guide, and you’re already halfway there.

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