Clean your gun after each use. Sounds easy enough, right? After all, it’s just a quick wipe down with some oil, and you’re done—right? Wrong! If you don’t do things properly, you could be putting yourself at risk for damage to the gun or injury to yourself.
The days of “I’ll just use my hands then” are over. Thanks to the newest technology, the internet, and the gun, you know.
The truth is – guns have been a part of our culture for centuries. It’s natural that you own one and want to take care of it properly, especially if you will be using it often.
This article will cover how to clean your handgun, some great tips on what you should be looking out for, and different types of guns that need to be cleaned differently. Let’s Check out!
Necessary Cleaning Supplies for your Handgun
When cleaning a handgun, you will need cleaning supplies. The following items are recommended to clean your handgun, but it is also essential to consider adding the necessary gun-specific cleaning supplies to your list.
- Gun Oil
- Cleaning Solvent
- Patches
- Gun Scouring Pad
- Bore Brush or cleaning rod
- Clean cloths or tissue paper
- Q-tips
- Cleaning Mat
- Bore Snake Kit
After you have gathered the necessary items, it’s time to move on cleaning your handgun.
Step by Step Guide to Clean your Handgun
1. Decide on tools to Clean your Handgun
First off, you need to decide on the type of cleaning tool that you want to use. You can either use an ordinary household cleaner or a professional-grade product. The reason to pick the latter is they’re more expensive, but they’ll do a better job cleaning your handgun.
Regardless of which kind of cleaning tool you choose, do yourself a favor and get one with a large surface area. This will allow it to reach every nook and cranny of your firearm without damaging any parts.
2. What kind of handgun do you have
Once you have decided on what type of cleaning tool you want to use, it’s time for the next step in the process: figuring out what kind of gun you have.
Before doing so, find out if any internal parts are metal, such as the barrel or receiver (which is where all the other metal parts are located).
Then make sure that there aren’t any springs or pressure-sensitive pins inside them because those would be destroyed by any cleaning tool or even water!
3. How well can you clean your gun
This should go without saying, but if you can’t do it properly, then you shouldn’t even try to clean it.
If you’re not sure how to clean a handgun, then find a mechanical engineer or patent attorney who has been working on guns his entire life and ask him to come over and follow his instructions.
4. Determine whether it’s safe to use your handgun
If the answers to the previous question are yes, then this is the time where you consider whether or not your handgun is safe to handle.
Yes, any gun with springs in its mechanisms will be unsafe to use while they’re being cleaned as it will get compressed or possibly break. Particularly guns with a moving part or spring are unsafe to use until they are cleaned and dry.
5. Decide on the Method of Cleaning
By now, you should have a good idea of the kind of gun you have and its dimensions. There are still plenty of options available for cleaning, so you have to decide the method first.
Here are some methods –
- Hand wands
These come in several different types, but they all basically consist of a long shaft that you can use as an extension from your hand. As a result, you can rotate barrels and other internal parts without getting wet with water or oil.
They’re good for quick cleaning jobs on cocked guns. But switching the cocked and uncocked position might be difficult.
Gun scrubbers
These are short nylon brush that you can turn in the direction of the firing pin. They’re good for getting rid of gunk from just one or two parts at a time. But they’re not safe to use on dry guns as they could break or get jammed by a piece of debris that won’t come off without forcing it out.
If you choose this method, make sure you do it over an open container with plenty of ventilation. The reason is – gunk should not get in the air where it can harm people or animals who happen to breathe it in or get into their lungs.
Vacuums
I’m not really sure how these work, but some people make them out of old toilet tanks, food cans, and such. They’re basically just a small vacuum that you can use to suck up debris. These are particularly useful for getting off really stubborn debris such as grime or crud.
Shoe polish
This works mostly by holding the gun in one hand while you rub the parts with shoe polish and then wipe it off with a cloth or paper towel.
Be careful where you do this, as shoe polish is flammable, even when dry.
Sponges
Another simple method is to just wet a sponge before rinsing it clean with your water source, then wipe down the parts in question.
Again please be careful where you do this so that none of the moisture or soapy residue gets onto your skin or into the air.
6. Store your Handgun Properly
Use a lint-free tissue to wipe down the internals of the handgun after cleaning it. If you have more than one gun to clean, make sure to run your lint-free tissue under hot water afterward so that no soap residue is left on the tissue, and then remove as much of it as possible without damaging any parts.
Just be careful with the cleaning stuff as you don’t want any plastic parts to get damaged by sharp edges on your tools, so be sure to cover the handguns once they’re dry.
Also, cleaning your handgun can be a time-consuming cleaning process, but I hope this helps out anyone interested in keeping their handguns in tip-top condition.
How often do I need to Clean My Handgun
Many people think they don’t need to clean their handguns after every use. After all, the gun is only used for a few minutes at the most. But the truth is, you need to clean your gun about once a month or more.
How often you need to clean your handgun will depend on how often you use it.
If you only use your handgun for target practice, you can probably get away with cleaning it once a year.
However, if you use your handgun for self-defense or in competitions, you will need to clean it more often-perhaps every month or two.
It is always a good idea to check your gun’s owner’s manual for specific cleaning instructions. Remember, the better you maintain your handgun is, the safer and more effective it will be.
So take the time to clean it properly after each use!
Why It’s Important to Clean Your Gun After Each Use
It’s crucial to clean your firearm after every use. Why? Well, if you don’t, it can cause problems like rust or corrosion, which will make the gun difficult to shoot and could even damage the gun. To prevent this, it’s always best to thoroughly clean your gun after each use.
- The first thing you’ll need for this process is some supplies-soap, water, towels, Q-tips/Brushes (to reach into small spaces), metal polish (like Brasso), and wool rags or paper towels.
- You can start by removing any large debris from the surface of the gun with a towel or brush. Then you need soap and water to wash down anything that might be stuck on the gun by using Q-tips or brushes to clean into all crevices.
- After that, you need to dry the gun off with another Q-tip/brush, then use metal polish if necessary.
- Finally, you’ll want to oil down your gun for shooting purposes.
When cleaning different types of guns, one thing to keep in mind is that revolvers don’t really need to be cleaned as often. And the reason is there are fewer parts, and they are enclosed to prevent outside contaminants from getting inside the firearm.
So if you have a handgun, just make sure it’s protected against any moisture, and you should be good for years without needing any maintenance. Besides, you should keep it around the right humidity level in storage (not too wet, not too dry).
On the contrary, semi-automatic pistols are a little more delicate and need to be cleaned more thoroughly to keep them in good condition. More parts can be damaged or worn down over time, so cleaning and lubricating them regularly is necessary.
It’s also crucial to use the right type of oil when cleaning your gun-gun oil, not motor oil or WD-40. Because gun oil is specifically designed for firearms and will help protect them from rust and corrosion. Though WD-40 is used by many for cleaning their gun, it really is not recommended.
So, as you can see, it’s very important to clean your handgun after each use. By following these simple steps, you can ensure that your gun stays in good working order and is ready for action when you need it.
A Clean Handgun is Safe for You
Cleaning your handgun is a necessary but often overlooked part of owning a firearm. By taking your time and using the proper supplies and techniques, you can clean your gun safely and effectively.
Additionally, when you’re not using your handgun, it’s necessary to store it in a safe place. Here are some tips for storing handguns safely and responsibly –
- Always store your handgun in a locked gun cabinet or safe, away from children and pets.
- Only store ammunition in a separate locked container, away from the gun.
- Never leave your handgun out in the open, where it could be accessed by children or unauthorized persons.
- Always store your handgun with your finger off the trigger.
- Never carry a loaded firearm in a vehicle or on your person, unless it’s being used for self-defense purposes.
When it comes to keeping your handgun in good condition for a long time, maintenance is half of what’s necessary for achieving this.
Therefore, before anything else, you need to learn how to clean it properly. After reading this article, I hope you are good to go with cleaning your handgun. Have A Nice Day!
