This is the Best Way to Clean Your Firearm

By Ready to Fire News On Mar 26, 2018

No matter where you may use your firearm, there is always the possibility of extreme temperatures, dust, moisture, and more. Keeping your gun running, as well as protecting and preserving bore requires the right knowledge and tools.

Here are some basic principles, procedures, and tips for cleaning your firearm.

Cleaning out the foreign matter: Disassemble the firearm as directed and use a toothbrush or AR-15 nylon cleaning brush with solvent to break up any loose carbon fouling from the various parts. Next clean the barrel from the breech and not the muzzle side. If you must clean it from the muzzle, use a protector to keep the barrels’ crown safe for accuracy. Use a quality cleaning rod with solvent on a patch to soak up any powder or fouling inside the bore. Follow this with a brass brush to scrub the bore down.

Thoroughly inspect the firearm: Look for any cracks, loose screws, excessive wear patterns or broken parts to locate problems while they are still small.

Clean out the copper fouling from the bore: You can skip this step if you use lead bullets. Using a copper solvent keeps the abrasiveness on the bore to a minimum. Use the cleaning rod with the proper jag on the end with a soaked patch in the copper solvent. Wet the bore with solvent and run the patch down the bore, letting it soak the instructed amount of time before running a dry patch down the bore. Repeat if there is a lot of bluish streaking.

Next, use a nylon brush, so the copper solvent doesn’t eat the brush, with drops of copper solvent. Run it through the bore from breech to muzzle a few times. Let this soak a few minutes before running a few dry patches through the bore. After inspection for telltale streaks down the sides, use your regular solvent on a patch to run through a few times to remove the copper solvent. Then use a couple of dry patches to clean that solvent out.

Lubricate: Wet the working surfaces with a few drops on a Q-tip. Waiting for the copper solvent to work is a great time to apply a light coating of lubricant to areas with wear marks or are shiny. Next, lightly lube the surface of the chamber ramp to avoid bullet stoppage. The key is to use a good lube and a little goes a long way, so use very little. Take into account the environmental conditions and with expected serviceability to protect the bore.

For the best performance that lasts, it’s best to follow a regular maintenance schedule. Part of that schedule needs to include replacing parts before they wear out or break. Always wear eye protection and lightweight vinyl gloves to protect you from the chemicals. Some fumes are toxic, so be sure to clean your gun in a well-vented area.

~ Ready to Fire News