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What You Should Know | Safety Rules | Accepting a Firearm | Unloading and Loading Firearms | Safety Mechanisms | Cleaning Firearms | Storage | Final Quiz

Cleaning Firearms

Proper cleaning of your firearm helps ensure it operates in a safe and reliable manner. Firearms should be cleaned after every use and after they have been stored for a long period of time.

gun cleaning kitCleaning Materials:

The basic materials you need to clean a firearm are:

list bullet Cleaning patches
list bullet Powder solvent
list bullet Gun oil
list bullet Soft cloth
list bullet Cleaning rod and attachments, i.e. bore brush, plastic tips

Most hunters and shooters buy cleaning kits for their firearms that contain these items. When purchasing a cleaning kit it is important to select the correct gauge or caliber for the firearm(s) you own. A portable kit is also a good idea for cleaning your firearm in the field should you accidentally plug its barrel with snow, mud or other material.

Procedure for Cleaning Firearms:cleaning guns

1. Make sure the firearm is unloaded! PROVE it safe.

2. Attach a bore brush to the cleaning rod, lightly apply bore solvent, and run the brush through the bore several times to clean out powder residue.

3. Replace the bore brush with a patch that is also coated in solvent and run it through the barrel several times.

4. Repeat with additional patches until they come out clean.

5. Run a lightly oiled patch through the bore. Use only a small amount of oil.

6. Wipe the outside of the firearm with a clean cloth and apply a light coat of gun oil to the metal surfaces. The firearm is now ready for storage.

Cleaning tips:

  • Consult your owner's manual before you begin.
  • Clean from the breech toward the muzzle if possible.
  • Minimize the amount of contact between the cleaning rod and the barrel.
  • Avoid skin contact with any metal parts of the firearm. Perspiration causes rust.
  • If you discover a problem with your firearm while cleaning it, take it to a qualified gunsmith. Don't attempt to repair a firearm yourself even if you think the problem is a minor one!

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