Why, When, and How to Clean Your Firearm

Owning a firearm is more than pulling the trigger. It’s about responsibility, precision, and keeping your gear reliable. A firearm that isn’t properly maintained will fail you at the worst possible time whether on the range, in competition, or in a real-life scenario. Cleaning your firearm isn’t just a routine chore it’s essential to staying safe and shooting accurately.

If you’re serious about keeping your weapon in top condition, having the right tools makes all the difference. That’s where the Universal Gun Cleaning Kit comes in it’s got everything you need, built for all calibers and firearm types.

Why Clean Your Firearm?

1. Prevent Malfunctions

Every round fired leaves carbon deposits, metal shavings, and unburned powder inside your firearm. Let that build up, and you’ll start to see performance drop, stovepipes, failure to feed, misfires. It doesn’t take much residue to throw off the mechanics. Cleaning regularly ensures smooth cycling, proper chambering, and reliable extraction. Bottom line: a clean gun fires when you need it to.

2. Protect Against Corrosion

Even if you’re careful, moisture, sweat, and humidity creep in. Left unchecked, they’ll cause rust on the barrel, springs, and critical moving parts. Rust weakens metal and can permanently damage your firearm. Routine cleaning removes moisture and allows you to re-oil exposed surfaces, creating a protective layer against corrosion.

3. Maintain Accuracy

Your firearm’s barrel is key to precision. A dirty bore affects bullet spin, trajectory, and can shift your zero. What starts as a tight grouping can quickly open up after a few sessions if you don’t stay on top of cleaning. Keeping the barrel and crown spotless preserves accuracy and keeps your shots true.

4. Increase Longevity

Firearms are an investment. Whether you paid £500 or £5,000, proper maintenance ensures your weapon stays functional for years. The more regularly you clean and lubricate, the longer your springs, barrels, and parts last. Take care of your gear, and it will take care of you.

When Should You Clean Your Firearm?

After Every Range Session

This is the golden rule. Every time you fire, residue builds up especially if you’re running hundreds of rounds. Even just a quick wipe-down and barrel cleaning after a short session makes a difference. You never want to store your firearm dirty.

Monthly if Stored

Even if your firearm hasn’t been fired, you should inspect and clean it at least once a month. Dust, fingerprints, and humidity can do damage over time, especially in storage. Give it a fresh coat of oil and check all moving parts to ensure it’s still in working order.

After Exposure to Harsh Conditions

Rain, snow, mud, or extreme heat all affect your firearm’s condition. Any time your weapon’s exposed to rough environments, give it a thorough clean. Dirt and moisture don’t just sit on the surface they get into every nook, cranny, and moving part. Clean it immediately to prevent internal damage.

How to Clean Your Firearm (Step-by-Step)

Pro Tip: The Universal Gun Cleaning Kit has all the essentials brushes, rods, patches, oils ready for any firearm.

1. Make Sure It’s Unloaded

Check, then double-check. Drop the magazine, clear the chamber, and visually inspect the firearm. There’s no such thing as being too careful - safety always comes first.

2. Disassemble According to Your Manual

Field strip your firearm down to the main components barrel, bolt, slide, recoil spring. Every firearm has specific disassembly steps. Don’t wing it. Consult your manual and follow it carefully to avoid damaging any parts.

3. Clean the Barrel

Attach the right-sized bore brush to your cleaning rod. Apply solvent, run it through the barrel multiple times to loosen residue. Follow up with clean patches until they come out without any grime. A clean bore means consistent accuracy and prevents buildup from affecting shot performance.

4. Scrub the Action

Focus on areas like the bolt face, slide rails, feed ramp, and trigger mechanism. Use small brushes and picks to get into tight spaces where carbon hides. Wipe everything down with solvent, then clean with a cloth. Neglect these areas, and you’ll face malfunctions.

5. Wipe Down External Surfaces

Fingerprints, sweat, and dust settle on your firearm even when stored. Wipe down the exterior with a lightly oiled cloth to protect against rust and keep the finish looking sharp.

6. Lubricate Moving Parts

A small amount of oil goes a long way. Lubricate slide rails, springs, bolts, and pivot points. Don’t over-lubricate too much oil attracts dirt and grime. Keep it light and even.

7. Reassemble and Function Check

Put everything back together. Rack the slide, dry fire if safe to do so, and ensure all controls work correctly. A quick function check confirms you’re ready for the next session.

Keep Your Gear Range Ready

Cleaning your firearm isn’t complicated it just requires the right routine and the right tools. The Universal Gun Cleaning Kit gives you everything needed to keep any firearm clean, smooth, and reliable.

Heading to the range soon? Pair it with the Range Essentials Bundle so you’ve got everything covered.

👉 Grab your Universal Gun Cleaning Kit here and keep your firearm ready when it counts.