7 Reasons Why Cleaning your Pistols Is Important

7 Reasons Why Cleaning your Pistols Is Important

A good shooter understands the importance of keeping their firearm clean. Your pistol is exposed to many powder residues and buildups in its internal parts from multiple firings. The greater the buildup, the more you compromise your gun's performance. Regular and thorough cleaning of your weapon ensures the piece operates smoothly. It also prevents most of the issues associated with poor gun maintenance. This article explains the benefits of pistol cleaning and how to clean it. Reach out to us for any pistol-related queries, and we'd be glad to get back to you.

What Is the Best Way to Clean a Pistol?

Buildup, rust, and corrosion can damage your pistol over time. Pistol Cleaning helps keep all the moving parts functional, preventing jams and streamlining functioning.

The best way to clean your pistol is to do it manually. It involves using a boresnake to wipe down the firearm or manually disassembling it to wash each part separately. Here are the most practical approaches to manually cleaning your pistol;

Using a Boresnake

You can clean your gun using a boresnake, oil, and a wiping cloth. The boresnake helps remove buildup inside the bore by applying some oil and wiping it clean. Although it lacks the deep cleaning power of a cleaning rod, it comes in handy after a long day of shooting attempts.

Using Cleaning Rods and Bore Brushes

Pistol cleaning is also easy using a cleaning rod and bore brushes. Cleaning rods are made from a soft metal, like aluminum or copper, while bore brushes attach to the rods for a deeper clean.



There are several manufacturers of cleaning rods and brushes made from varying materials. To reach the moving parts, you'll have to disassemble your firearm. Oiling these parts after every clean also helps increase their longevity.

What are the Benefits of Keeping Your Guns Clean?

Guns require attention, too, just like engines. Cleaning is among the maintenance routines to ensure proper functioning by removing all the dirt and debris in the internal parts. This section explains the benefits of cleaning your pistol;

Better Understand Your Weapon

You get a better understanding of how your gun works by participating in the several activities involved in cleaning. Cleaning exposes you to its inner components, allowing you to observe how different parts react upon pulling the trigger. Being a machine means all its parts interact for s common objective, propelling a round.

A thorough cleaning procedure requires you to disassemble the handgun. How challenging the disassembling and reassembling process depends on your weapon type. Learning about these elements gives you a better idea of why pistol cleaning is necessary and how often.

Improve Reliability and Pistol Safety: Your weapon becomes more reliable by maintaining a consistent cleaning routine. Cleaning ensures your pistol operates at peak performance by removing all the gunk and buildup in the internal components.

After several shooting sessions, the barrel and other internal components get exposed to lubricant, dirt and residue buildup. With every shot, residual fouling sticks on the barrel and compromises overall performance.

Barrel buildup significantly affects your weapon's accuracy. It is the main reason you'll find sports shooters take their time to clean their weapons thoroughly. Regular pistol cleaning and maintenance guarantee confidence that you have a reliable gun regardless of the circumstances.

Some of the most valuable handguns have existed for several generations. However, how long your pistol lasts depends on your care and maintenance routine. A simple but routine maintenance program will go a long way in extending your weapon's lifespan.

It would be best to consider how much you use your weapon when determining cleaning frequency. For example, some owners prefer cleaning their pistols after every use, while others prefer monthly schedules. You also need to know how to store a pistol safely.

Learn Proper Lubrication: Lubrication is a crucial step when cleaning a firearm. It involves applying the right amount of oil to your gun's different moving internal parts. Every firearm has the perfect lubricant balance; it is only through understanding your weapon that you'll find the balance quickly.



Be careful not to over-lubricate your pistol as it may cause several complications. Too much oil in specific internal components acts as glue for debris and particles. Regular cleaning ensures you remove the dirty lubricant, preventing any unwarranted jams.

Under-lubrication is even worse. It would help to note the main reason we lubricate the internal parts of a pistol is to reduce friction while reducing the chance of oxidation. Not enough lubricant can cause severe damage to the gun's moving components.

Avoid Other Complications

Cleaning your gun regularly also helps prevent several common issues. For example, many owners don't know it impacts their gun's performance from bullet trajectory to trigger a response. Instead of waiting for your pistol to fail, why not be proactive and keep it healthy through regular pistol cleaning?

Proper cleaning and maintenance help prevent the following;

• Failure to feed
• Rusting
• Failure to fire
• Residual fouling buildup
• Failure to eject

Why Cleaning Your Gun is Important?

Cleaning your gun is important, but so is cleaning it correctly. You may establish a consistent cleaning routine but use inadequate techniques. This section covers the basics of cleaning your pistol through a complete disassemble;

Unload the Pistol

The first step before cleaning your pistol is unloading it. Make sure the firearm is empty to guarantee the safety of yourself and anyone around you. Weapon specialists advise against relying on the pistol safety and insist you eject the magazine.



Clean the Pistol

It is vital to consult the owner's manual for a successful take-down since guns have varying mechanisms. Also, use an organizer for loose parts like springs, bushings, and other small parts to prevent them from getting lost.

Using a cleaning tool guarantees the most comprehensive cleaning. Tools like cleaning swabs and utility brushes remove all the debris within the slide, frame, chamber, and cylinder. In addition, you can consider heavy-duty cleaners to deal with badly fouled barrels.

Lubricate

After every clean, remember to lubricate your pistol. Focus on all moving parts of the firearm when lubricating. Also, focus on bearing surfaces, rails, springs, and the outside surface of the barrel to prevent rusting. Only apply lubricant inside the barrel when planning for long-term storage. Point the firearm in a safe direction to check and test after each cleaning.

Cleaning Your Gun is a Good Idea for Self-Defense?

If your pistol is for self-defense, you probably don't use it often. However, you must regularly clean and store it to ensure it doesn't jam when you need it the most. Cleaning your gun improves reliability, accuracy, and overall performance improvement, so it is a good idea.

Conclusion

Cleaning your pistol is not as complicated as it seems, especially if you have the owner's manual. In case of any challenges, you can always contact a professional. Trained technicians guarantee a thorough clean and ensure all weapon parts and pieces assemble correctly. Contact Fusion Firearms for professional weapon handling assistance.

FAQs

What are the Risks of Not Cleaning Your Pistol?

Not cleaning your firearm regularly exposes it to several complications. The residue buildup can cause the handgun to gum up, resulting in frequent jams. It also compromises accuracy and bullet velocity by interfering with the barrel's interior.

How Often Should You Clean Your Pistol?

Specialists recommend cleaning your gun after every shooting range adventure. However, at least once a month is enough for individuals who rarely use pistols. Ensure the session is thorough and you insist on storing a pistol safely.