A day out shooting is always fun, but after being out in the field, many gun enthusiasts put off cleaning their weapons. The real secret to making gun cleaning slightly more enjoyable is to do it in an organized manner. Below are some helpful tips to make your next gun cleaning as easy as possible.
Finding Things Is Half The Battle
The first thing you need is an uncluttered space, preferably one with a concrete floor rather than on carpet. Gun cleaning involves the use of oils and solvents so even just one drop of these on a carpet and it is nearly impossible to remove. Guns also have many small parts that can disappear if dropped onto a dirty floor or carpet.
Next, you need a good sized table covered with an impermeable cover such as plastic sheet or oil cloth. You want to use a bright solid color, something like yellow or white, so you can see everything you place upon it. Once you have all these items together, you are ready to start cleaning your guns.
One Thing At A Time
Only work on one gun at a time, even if you have several of the same type of firearms to clean. This helps to ensure that you don’t inadvertently mix the parts during the cleaning process. You also need a good gun cleaning kit with all of the appropriate sized rods and brushes. You also require a supply of lint-free gun cleaning patches and a quality gun cleaner solvent and oil.
Safety First
Before you jump into cleaning, put on some disposable gloves so you don’t get solvent or oils on your hands. Next unload the gun or double check to ensure that it is completely unloaded. Drop the clips, empty the magazines and work the action to make sure there is nothing in the chamber. A few seconds of extra effort might save your life of someone you love, so take the time and be safe.
Break It Down
Disassemble the gun parts and lay them out in the approximate order in which you disassembled them. Some guns are easy to put back together and some are a bit more complex. When the parts are laid out as you take the gun apart, you will be able to easily figure out how to put it back together again.
Brush It Up And Oil It Down
Use your brushes and a quality gun cleaner to clean everything inside and out. Naturally you will scrub the barrel but don’t forget about feed ramps, magazine wells, moving parts, and all other surfaces of the gun. Then you can wipe everything clean and redo the areas that still show signs of carbon buildup or require a little more work. After you are sure it is all clean, then you can use a high quality oil to lubricate all moving parts and bearing surfaces.
Does It Still Work?
Now that you are finished with cleaning you can reassemble everything and ensure everything is in its place. Once finished, cycle the action repeatedly to make sure that it works and the parts aren’t binding up anywhere.
By following these helpful tips you can easily clean your guns in a faster, more efficient manner so you can ensure that they are ready to go the next time you need them.
