Steps To Properly Clean Your Rifles

The steps to properly clean your rifle is important, here we will talk about how to clean your rifle step by step.

1. Completely Unload the Rifle

This is the most crucial step in the entire cleaning process. To ensure the safety of yourself and those around you, you must remove your magazine and any ammunition that may be loaded within the firearm including in internal magazines. Only do this while pointing the firearm in a safe direction. Make sure you do a thorough check, never rely on your firearm’s safety because accidents can and do happen.

2. Cleaning the Rifle

For some semi-automatic rifles, you’ll need to perform a partial take-down of the firearm for cleaning purposes. Use a cleaning tool, such as a utility brush or cleaning swabs, and remove any loose particles that may be found within the action, bolt, receiver, frame and chamber. Heavy fouling can be removed with a light application of cleaner and allowing it to sit for a few minutes prior to brushing. Remove cleaned fouling with a wipe or cloth.

Moving onto the barrel, you’ll want to apply some bore cleaner on a cleaning patch, and using a cleaning rod with a jag, brush or patch holder tip run the patch through your barrel. A good way to tell how clean your firearm is getting is to monitor the amount of debris or residue that comes off as you swipe your patch through it. If using a brush tip, run it completely through the barrel before reversing to make sure it doesn’t get stuck. Follow up your bore cleaner soaked patch with several dry ones to make sure you’ve left your barrel clean and dry. For badly fouled barrels and chambers, a heavier duty cleaner can also be used.

3. Apply Lubrication Where Necessary

Once you’ve completely cleaned your action, bolt, receiver, and barrel, you’ll want to properly oil/lubricate the moving parts of your firearm. This will depend on the type of firearm you’re cleaning and recommended lubrication per the manufacturer.

4. Wipe Down All Components

After you’ve cleaned and lubricated your firearm, wipe it down with a clean, dry cloth. This removes residue and oils/moisture from fingerprints that you may have missed in steps two and three. Once you’re done wiping down all components, you can use wax-treated gun cloths to help polish and protect your firearm.

5. Reassemble and Check for Any Irregularities

Once everything is cleaned and wiped down, it’s time to start reassembling your rifle. During this process, you want to carefully inspect each piece as you put it together and make a note of any damage, irregularities, or excessive wear or play. If you find anything questionable in your inspection, you should take it to a local firearms shop or competent gunsmith for a check.