Never let the sun set on a dirty firearm

Here’s a quick and easy guide (and reminder) on how to clean your firearms and prepare them for next season.

Preparation

Before you run downstairs and take off all the clips and screws on your gun, do a little housekeeping. Choose a suitable, clean work area with enough space to store parts and tools.

As you will be working with cleaning products, ensure your workspace is well lit and has good ventilation.

A sturdy table is a must. Leaving your valuable weapon on a pile of cardboard boxes is sure to damage some expensive features. Also, make sure the table is not the one where the family sits for dinner. Gun cleaning solvents are greasy and can be toxic. Therefore, do not clean your weapon on the same table where you process your game meat.

Learn how your firearm works

Being a responsible gun owner means more than just knowing where to point the muzzle and when to pull the trigger. The assembly of a firearm can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Therefore, it is important to make sure you have a current copy of the firearm’s manual to understand how to take things apart or, more importantly, how to put them back together. A lot of pride went into building this weapon, and you should put just as much pride into maintaining it.

Elbow grease

It’s time to get to work. Whether you’ve spent most of your time hunting deer with a rifle or hunting grouse with a small-bore shotgun, the principle is the same. However, different firearms require different cleaning strategies, but the tools and concept are largely the same.

Tools to have in your cleaning kit:

• cleaning rod
• Bore brush (matching the caliber of your weapon)
• Pull-through hole cleaning tool
• Cleaning prongs (slotted and form-fitting to hold patches)
• Cloth patches
• All-purpose brushes
• cotton swab
• Gun oil
• Cleaning chemicals including barrel cleaners, action cleaners and lubricants