As a child, cleaning up was one of the most tortuous activities that our parents could have made us engage in!! Growing up, we would never have thought that cleaning up would be something that we would like to do. As avid shooters, cleaning up is not only one of our favorite activities, but it is integral to safe and effective shooting.
Making sure that your guns are clean and properly maintained helps more than preserving your guns’ looks! Cleaning and maintenance will tend to protect your firearm from wear and tear (among other things). Cleaning and maintenance will also uphold the functionality of the firearm as well as keep it safe for use. One other main benefit from cleaning and maintenance of your firearm is that it helps to preserve the firearms’ value.
After you’re done sending copious amounts of lead down range it’s integral that you take that firearm home and give it a good cleaning!!! The firearm’s world is inundated with different companies that manufacturer the “best” cleaning aids that money can buy! Regardless of the brand manufacturer, there are a few cleaning essentials that you need to make your next cleaning session a success (below we will provide some useful links to websites of companies provide cleaning solutions for your firearms).
- Solvent / Lube – This is used to clean off any lead particles that remain on gun parts. Solvents are used to reduce friction of moving parts and removing other dirt and old oil that may remain. Solvents come in many different sizes from different companies and even now are popular in aerosol forms. Lubrication oils, greases, etc. are used for just that purpose. To protect metal parts that move against each other.
- Cleaning Patches – These cloth patches are designed to absorb foreign material and firearm residues; patches are also used to pass through the bore for cleaning and are designed to impart the least amount of abrasive contact to the barrel’s rifling.
- Wire Brushes – These brushes are versatile and can be put to dozens of uses cleaning, polishing and restoring.
- Bore snakes – Very efficient cleaning tools that allow shooters one pass through the bore and tends to loosen large particles and scrub out any remaining residue. Bore snakes are constructed with a bronze brush attached to the cloth; the brush scrubs and the cloth part swabs the inside.
- Workplace Mats – Gun cleaning mats are usually made of padded neoprene and have a durable rubber backing for firearms protection. These mats are used to absorb excess oils and solvents and are also used to keep the surface of your workstation clean and dry. These mats are pliable and roll up easily to fit in range bags for easy transport and use at the range as well.
Although this list is by no means the end-all-be-all list for cleaning accouterments, this should give you a good reference point to start shopping!!!
***** When you are cleaning your firearm, it is imperative that NO ammunition is present on or near the cleaning area. This is to ensure the safety of the person conducting the cleaning and all others that may be around. *****
**** Useful Links (you may have to cut and paste into your browser):
http://www.southernbloomer.com
http://www.midwayusa.com/gun-cleaning-and-maintenance-mats/br?cid=19873
*** If you are unfamiliar with firearms and/or their accessories, and want to learn more, PSA strongly suggests that you find, enroll, and attend a comprehensive and reputable firearms safety course. Firearms safety is all of OUR responsibility.
We want to thank you for taking out the time to stop by our lane at the shooting range!! We hope that you enjoyed your stay and hope that you stop back by early and often to catch up on all PSA updates! We truly hope that we were able to hit the target, and if you ever have any questions please don’t hesitate to shoot them our way!! We look forward to shooting the breeze with you soon again!!
And as always….remember to watch your six and stay low!!!