About this time of the year you’ve probably been thinking about the guns that never got cleaned after hunting season. Hopefully the rain, dirt, and grime hasn’t got to them yet. This is your reminder to unlock the safe, put the gun on the shop bench, and get to it. Below we’ll dive into a few products that keep your guns maintained and make your life a little easier, but more importantly why this process matters and how to do it right.
Get it Out the Safe
Ideally you’d want to clean your gun after a hunt or a shoot out at the range. This usually gets away from us with the business of life but it is essential to keep up with cleaning your firearms so they can last a lifetime. What gets overlooked is even sitting untouched in a safe doesn’t mean your firearm is safe from damage. Temperature swings, leftover moisture, and even fingerprints can slowly start corrosion over time.
As you prep your area to clean your gun, lay down a towel and make sure the area is spotless. This will ensure your gun won’t get scratched during cleaning. If you end up having a part like a pin fall out, it will land on a clean surface and it will be easier to find.
Before anything else, double check that your firearm is unloaded. Then check it again. This isn’t just a routine, it’s habit building.
Cleaning
Once you’ve got the cleaning tools out such as your rods and brushes, you’ll need to grab a solvent to clean with. Use a trusted solvent for cleaning your firearm like Hoppe’s NO.9 Gun Bore Cleaner or Birchwood Casey’s Gun Scrubber. Both have been an absolute staple at the gun bench for many years, protecting millions of firearms against rust and corrosion.
Take your solvent and brush it down the barrel a few times, letting it sit briefly so it can do its job. Then follow that with a dry patch to clean up any excess cleaner. Don’t rush this part. A few extra passes can make all the difference.
What you’re really doing here is breaking down carbon, fouling, and residue that builds up every time you pull the trigger. That buildup doesn’t just sit there harmlessly. It can affect accuracy, increase pressure in the barrel, and in extreme cases lead to long term wear.
Lubricating
Once you’ve got that carbon cleaned from your barrel it’s time to get those parts moving as free as ever. Applying a good gun lubricant ensures that your firearm is going to operate without flaw each time you shoot it. A few great options to go with are Rem Oil Aerosol and Real Avid Gun-Max Gun Oil. These clean and lubricate those moving parts.
Make sure to wipe this a little bit of everywhere with a clean rag as it is a great protectant as well. Now we aren’t talking about soaking the gun in this but just a light coat to leave an oily finish on the metal.
Protection
The last step is adding a protectant. This step matters more than most people think. Bare metal surfaces are always working against moisture in the air. That thin protective layer is what stands between your firearm and rust forming in places you won’t notice until it’s too late.
Now you can put your gun back in the safe for storage. Something to keep in mind is to only handle it by the wooden or plastic parts, when you touch the metal your skin can leave oil and fingerprints that will make the gun rust.
No Time for a Full Clean
So you don’t have time for a full clean on your firearm. Or it’s just one of those days you feel like skipping it. That’s usually where the problems start.
Thankfully there’s a quick fix to clean your firearm without a full breakdown. You can get that surface moisture off by rubbing your firearm down with a silicone cloth. The Birchwood Casey Gun & Reel Cloth and Remington Cleaning Cloth will do the job on the metal, wood, and plastic parts on your gun. Using this gun cloth leaves a protective film on your gun to protect it from the elements.
If you happen to have run a few shots through your gun you’ll want to clean the carbon out of the barrel as soon as you get the chance. The best way to do this quickly is with the Hoppe’s Boresnake. Just put a little bit of cleaner on the Boresnake and run it through the barrel and it’ll be good to go without a worry of any corrosion taking place.
These two are the most versatile cleaners that you can just stick in your pack anywhere you go. But think of this as your bare minimum. Not a replacement for a full clean, but a way to buy yourself time without letting your firearm sit neglected.
Accessory Maintenance
Not only your guns will need maintenance, but your accessories as well. You won’t have to check these as much as you’ll have to clean your gun but it is equally important. Checking things such as the torque on your Riton Scope Rings today can mean a successful hunt in the future.
Loose rings can completely shift your zero. That’s the kind of problem you don’t notice until it matters most. These rings should be torqued to 15 inch pounds and the base nuts should be torqued to 45 inch pounds. It’s worth using a reliable torque wrench like the Real Avid Smart-Torq instead of guessing in this process.
While you’re at it, take a microfiber cloth and wipe your scope lenses free of dust or water spots so you can get the best image possible in the field.
The Process
This is a process that never ends so make it easy on yourself, because you’re going to spend countless hours at the gun bench.
Build a routine that works. After every hunt, after every range day, or at the very least before you put it back in the safe for an extended period. The more often you do it, the less work it becomes each time.
When you have the right tools and guidance, every aspect of the cleaning process becomes much more than a chore. It becomes part of your lifestyle.
