Steps For Cleaning Your Pistol

Gun ownership is a constitutional right afforded every responsible, law-abiding United States citizen. That said, with this right comes heavy responsibility. Weapon owners must perform several tasks geared towards ensuring said objects are safely used and well-maintained.

One such duty is the execution of proper cleansing techniques. Failure to assume this obligation could impact the weapon’s functionality and could subsequently precipitate serious injuries.

Please continue reading on for a brief overview of the pistol cleaning process.

The Importance Of Pistol Maintenance

Though occasionally overlooked, pistol maintenance often proves critical for certain notable reasons.

First, is operation. Pistols are composed of numerous intricate parts. Appreciable accumulation of seemingly minor particles such as dirt and dust could greatly inhibit the performance capability of said components.

Moreover, greater quantities of materials like gunpowder circulate after each firing. Such circumstances could quickly result in the buildup of gunk and grime that gets stuck inside vital features and becomes more difficult to clean.

A pistol must also be routinely cleaned for safety purposes. When the weapon is used for self-defense, seconds and accuracy count. Poorly cleansed guns might hesitate to fire or inaccurately perform said action. Either event could have significant, possibly fatal consequences for the owner.

Pistol Cleaning Tips

Avoid Abrasive Cleansing Agents

When cleaning a pistol, holders are strongly encouraged to refrain from performing said task employing any type of corrosive or abrasive cleansing agents. These substances could damage operational components and render the weapon difficult to use and, in more severe instances, ineffective.

Moreover, said advice also applies to cleaning implements. Pistol owners should not engage in the cleansing process using products like steel wool but those composed of less abrasive materials.

Work In A Well-Lit Area

Pistol cleaning should not be performed in a poorly lit basement, garage, or attic. Gun industry professionals cannot stress enough that serious, potentially fatal accidents can occur when proper safety precautions are not adhered to.

Few attributes prove more crucial to this process than the ability to see what one is doing. Ergo, maintenance efforts should occur in a well-lit location.

Disassemble The Weapon

Before cleaning can commence, holders must first disassemble the pistol.

Said procedure involves several important steps such as ensuring the chamber is free of ammo, removing the magazine, unlocking the slide release and rotating said feature until the slide detaches from the frame, pushing the slide until it separates from the barrel, removing the spring, and sliding out the barrel.

Stay Away From Open Flames

Maintenance should be executed far away from any flame or other heat source. Heat can damage the weapon. Furthermore, said natural resource can also ignite lingering gun powder residue. Should this event occur, pistol owners place themselves at greater risk of sustaining serious injuries or death.

Perform A Thorough Cleaning

Remediating each and every component is important. Naturally, features such as the barrel, crown, and slide deserve first priority. However, gun experts urge owners to make sure that every tiny part receives adequate attention.

Properly Lubricate

Industry professionals often maintain that lubrication is pertinent to pistol maintenance. This extra moisture precipitates easier operation and more optimal performance. Gun experts claim lubricating agents should specifically be placed inside the slide, in addition to the hammer’s top and bottom reaches.

Reassemble

Naturally, since the pistol was taken apart, the object must then be reassembled. The reassembly process can be executed by inverting previously mentioned disassembly instructions.

How Often Should A Pistol Be Cleaned?

Opinion varies. Some gun experts maintain the process should be performed following every use. That said, these learned individuals realize most gun owners possess neither the time nor inclination to engage in such practices.

With such considerations at hand, those employed in the gun industry opine that maintenance should be undertaken after every 250 to 300 rounds.