Thu. Mar 28th, 2024

Guns are an important tool for protecting yourself and your loved ones. If it is kept in pristine condition, it can be kept stored up for decades. Professional trained fire-arm owners know the importance of maintaining a clean and safe gun. These are complex mechanical tools which require high maintenance. Keeping your firearm well-maintained is a part of gun ownership. Most people find it as a headache, but it’s not a troublesome process if you know some easy tips to get it done. This article is all about providing you with these tips and helping you keep your firearm well-maintained. Reloading Data will help you get more information on ammunition and reloading manuals. 

  1. Read the Manual

No one likes to sit down and read through a boring instruction manual when they’ve got a shiny new purchase in front of them. But in the case of firearms though, not reading the manual can mean the difference between life and death. Your owner’s manual will not only show you how to properly arm and disarm the gun, but it will also provide valuable instructions on how to keep your gun in perfect working order. If you purchase a used gun you can get your hands on a manual by contacting the manufacturer or searching online. Not all guns are disassembled the same way, which is why it’s so vital to read your owner’s manual when field stripping in order not to break anything.

  1. Unload And Disassemble

You can ask any gun owner and they’ll tell you the most important rule of firearms safety is to make sure the firearm is unloaded prior to cleaning. Keep in mind, before taking any of the next steps to clean your gun, double-check that it’s unloaded and remove all the clips and magazines. Take advice from your weapon’s specific owner’s manual to read over particular disassembly instructions when you’re ready to begin the cleaning process. Disassemble your gun only if you feel comfortable doing so yourself. 

  1. Use the Right Stuff

Gun owners are notorious for attempting to DIY their own cleaning solutions.It’d be better if you avoid doing this. Products designed specifically for cleaning, lubricating and protecting your gun are the safest option when it comes to proper maintenance. WD-40 is not going to cut it. A gun must stand up to extreme heat, friction, high-speed movement in the barrel and rust, which is why fluids and oils made specifically for firearms are the only thing you should use.

  1. Discard Excess Oil & Rust

The second most important step after making sure the gun is unloaded is removing any excess oil from the barrel and action. Excess junk can accumulate over time and impact the gun’s overall effectiveness. After wiping off the extra oil, lightly re-oil the firearm with a gun lubricant. Pour the lubricant on a rag before wiping the gun — never put oil directly on the firearm. For guns with wooden barrels, it’s especially important to use only a small amount since oil can seep into the wood and soften it.

  1. Add Light Grease

Using grease on the mechanical parts of a gun is a point of contention among gun enthusiasts. Some people believe doing so can affect the mechanics of the gun and prevent it from functioning properly. There’s no real evidence to back up this claim. Apply small amounts of anti-corrosion oil/grease to the sliding parts of your gun to keep them in proper working order so that they don’t get stuck. The proper grease for your particular gun can be found in the owner’s manual.

  1. Reassemble & Wipe Down

After each part of the gun is thoroughly cleaned and wiped down, it’s time to reassemble your firearm. Consult the owner’s manual for instructions on how to put everything back in the proper place. Once it’s all put back together, wipe down the firearm one final time to get rid of fingerprint residue, but only use a small amount of gun oil on the rag. Close the action and safely drop the firing pin to release any tension in the firearm before storing it. 

The bottom line is, in order to keep yourself and your loved ones safe, you need to safely maintain and take proper care of your firearm. Stay secured, stay safe. Have a good day.