often cleaning gun

For gun owners, they must know how often should they clean guns. People have been cleaning their gun for thousands of years. For early men, the weapons were used as tools and needed frequent maintenance to keep them in good shape. 

When firearms became widespread in the 20th century this was no longer a practical solution, as gun parts could easily be stolen from one another or lost to primitive oil and rust traps. Today’s gun owners clean their weapons at home between uses, with the understanding that this will extend their firearm’s life and decrease wear and tear on it. 

How Often Should I Clean My Gun?

There are no set guidelines on when to clean our weapon. It depends on many factors: what kind of gun you have, how much you use it, where you live, and the environment in which you store it. You should clean your gun at least once every three months if you don’t use it more than once a week. Use common sense when deciding whether or not your weapon needs cleaning. 

There are some occasions that you should clean your gun right away:

When your gun has been exposed to water, sand, or mud, you should clean it as soon as possible.

If your gun hasn’t been used for a long period of time (more than a month), you should clean it before using it again.

If you have fired more than 200 rounds from your gun, it’s time to clean it. This is especially true for rifles and handguns that are used for target practice.

Why Should I Clean My Firearm?

There are many reasons that you should take care of your firearm regularly. One thing for sure is that frequent cleaning will prolong the gun's lifespan. Here are the common reasons why:

  • To prevent corrosion and wear on the exterior of your gun
  • To remove any dirt and grime
  • To keep the bore at its happiest and most accurate condition for optimum accuracy
  • To maintain the ecosystem of the bore to prevent rusting, to keep your weapon safe from damage. 

If you don’t use your gun often or if it’s stored in an environment with very little ventilation (e.g., a lockbox) then you should clean it more frequently than when used regularly. 

What Skills Do You Need to Clean a Gun Properly?

Here are the important skills you need to have before cleaning your gun:

Ability to Work with Smalls Parts

The ability to work with small parts safely (thumb and fingers). This is one of the most important things; you should be able to remove all parts (i.e., sights, grips, clips, springs, etc.) from the main body of the firearm without using any tools. 

Knowledge About All Kinds of Gun Parts

You should know the names of these parts and how they perform: breech face, bolt face, hammer, bolt handle, extractor, ejector, trigger bar sear springs, etc. 

This is important because it will help you identify which parts have been affected by corrosion and wear.

Understanding Different Cleaning Solvents

Understanding how different cleaning solvents work. After you've cleaned the part you need to know if you should use gun oil, shellac, or a solvent. Make sure that the solvent for your gun has the same basicities as those of your other guns. 

Gun cleaning takes on a variety of styles. There are gun cleaners that are readily available at any hardware store; you can use them on both firearms and auto parts. There are also products available for your use that will clean your weapons in your own home, such as a gun cleaning kit or hand cleaner. 

Weapon Assessment

Knowing how to assess your weapon’s condition and repair it if necessary. You need to know how to check for rust and corrosion and whether are any parts that are corroded, worn out or damaged. 

You should also know how to maintain the overall condition of your weapon. 

Frequently Asked Questions

#1 Is It Bad If You Don’t Clean Your Firearm?

If you don’t clean a firearm, it will fail to function properly. The dirt and debris that builds up in the gun barrel will cause your gun to “misfire,” and it can also allow water into the chamber, which can rust your weapon. 

#2 Is It Really Good to Clean Your Gun Too Often?

Over-cleaning a firearm can do more harm than good. Some of the gun’s parts, such as the firing pin, can have a sheen that could be removed by too much scrubbing. If you over-clean your firearm, it will need to be broken down and reassembled. This can cause damage to some weapons. 

#3 How Often To Oil Your Gun?

Most gun owners have a grease gun that can be used to oil their weapon. If you own a firearm that does not have a grease gun, petroleum jelly can be used as an alternative. You should apply a light layer of petroleum jelly or oil to your weapon’s moving parts every few months. This helps the weapon to function properly over time.

#4 What Products Do You Need to Use for a Proper Handgun Cleaning?

 There are many products available that can be used for the cleaning of handguns. Products such as Clenzoil and CLP, along with hand cleaners, can be used for your handgun cleaning. 

#5 Do You Need to Clean a Gun You Don’t Use?

If you haven’t used your gun for a long time, it should be cleaned before using it. You can fire a shot to remove the dirt and debris in your barrel. This will help to get rid of any rust that has accumulated, as well as reduce the likelihood of misfires.

Conclusion

There are many different styles of firearms, which can determine how often should you clean your handgun. Try using common sense and asking yourself if your gun needs to be cleaned at all before deciding what is the best course of action. 

There are various things that determine when it’s appropriate for you to clean your weapons including when it’s been underwater or exposed to sand or mud, whether it has been used recently or if the weather conditions have changed. 

Some people find that cleaning their weapon once every few months is enough while others only clean their weapon twice a year so as to prevent corrosion on its exterior. The most important thing is that all gun owners know how to properly care for their weapons and keep them in good working order. 

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