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United
States -Canada Fireaerms
Education
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Brought to you By Dundee
Sportsman's Club Inc. |
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Cleaning a Firearm Safely |
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All firearms—rifles, handguns, and shotguns—are exposed to mechanical wear as well as the abusive effects of the weather and unexpected handling problems. These problems include being dropped in muddy fields, fresh water, or even salt water. Taking proper care of a firearm means protecting it from the effects of such wear.
After every visit to the range or field, take time to clean your firearms and make certain your equipment is in good working order. That means checking for possible obstructions in the bore and for any mechanical malfunctions. The first step, however, is to make certain that your firearm is unloaded!
While it is certainly okay for children to watch you disassemble and clean your firearm, it is extremely important that they do not touch any of the equipment you use or waste byprodu ct
that results from the cleaning because of potential exposure to lead.
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Components of a Cleaning Kit
Cleaning Shotguns
Cleaning Rifles
Cleaning Handguns |
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Components of a Cleaning Kit |
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Having the proper cleaning equipment for a firearm is as
essential a part of firearms ownership as having the correct ammunition.
Ideally, keep cleaning equipment designed
for specific firearms in separate containers such as plastic freezer bags.
Cleaning kits include:
- Bristle brushes—preferably brass—for each caliber
and gauge firearm you own
- Cleaning rods of varying lengths for rifles,
shotguns and handguns
- Patch holders that screw into the ends of the
cleaning rods
- Patches sized to fit down the bore of each
different firearm
- A stiff toothbrush
- Bore solvent
- Gun oil
The procedure for cleaning all firearms is essentially the
same:
- Make certain the firearm is unloaded
- Check for obstructions in the bore and malfunctions
- Run a patch, brass brush, or fine steel wool
soaked in bore solvent down the bore
- Run dry follow-up patches to dry the bore and check
for traces of rust
- Once clean, run a patch with a light coat of gun oil
down the bore
- Clean all exposed parts of the action
- Clean and oil all exterior metal parts.
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Cleaning Shotguns |
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The procedure for cleaning a shotgun is as follows:
- Make certain the shotgun is unloaded
- Consult your firearm's owner's manual to determine
the extent to which you may safely disassemble your shotgun
for cleaning
- Visually inspect the bore for blockages, rust, and leading
- Apply bore solvent to a brass brush or fine steel wool,
and swab out the barrel
- Run a dry patch down the bore and check for leading or rust
- If no trace of either exists, run an oiled patch down the bore
- Follow the instructions and remove all dirt and debris
with a brush and solvent-soaked cloth
- Once clean, apply a light coat of oil to interior and exterior metal surfaces
- Reassemble and store safely.
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Cleaning Rifles
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The procedure for cleaning a rifle is as follows:
- Make certain the rifle is unloaded
- After unloading the rifle, visually inspect the
barrel's bore
- Open the action to see areas fouled by powder or lead
- In bolt-action rifles, remove the bolt
- The bore can be inspected by holding the muzzle
towards a light source and looking from chamber to muzzle; many semi-automatic
and lever action rifles must be cleaned from the muzzle only
- If there is evidence of lead deposits or rust, use a
solvent-soaked brass brush or fine steel wool on the end of the cleaning rod,
and swab out the bore
- Run a dry patch through the bore
- Continue the process until all signs of rust are
missing from the follow-up patch
- Once the surface of the bore is mirror clean, run a
lightly oiled patch (greased patch if the firearm is to be stored) through it
- Clean the inside of the receiver, including the face
of the breechblock
- Check your firearm's manual, and disassemble it to the
degree recommended
- Clean all parts thoroughly with patches and brushes
- Apply a very light coat of protective oil as the last
step
- Reassemble the rifle and store it safely.
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Cleaning Handguns |
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The procedure for cleaning a handgun is as follows:
- Be sure the handgun you intend to inspect and clean is unloaded
- Consult your owner's manual and follow instructions on
the degree of disassembly recommended for cleaning
- For revolvers, be certain to thoroughly clean and oil
not only the barrel's bore but also the interior walls of each chamber in the
cylinder
- Clean and oil the inside of the frame surrounding the
cylinder, as an incredible amount of debris collects there
- Lightly oil the appropriate interior and exterior
metal surfaces
- For semi-automatics, remove the slide and be sure to
clean both its interior and exterior, as well as the rails upon which it moves
- Follow essentially the same process in cleaning and
oiling the bore as you would on any other firearm
- Thoroughly clean and oil the interior of the action,
including the loading ramp at the base of the chamber
- After each session of routine maintenance, remember to
return them to their safe and secure storage area.
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