How to properly Clean your Handgun

Today, we will focus on the essential steps of properly cleaning your handgun through basic field stripping. By following our instructions below and in the video above, you will learn the fundamental techniques to maintain your handgun's cleanliness effectively.

Step by Step Cleaning Process of Your Handgun

1: Ensure the Handgun is Unloaded Prioritize safety by thoroughly unloading your handgun. Remove the magazine and any ammunition while pointing the firearm in a safe direction. Perform a visual and tactile inspection to ensure the firearm is empty. Remember, never solely rely on the safety mechanism as accidents can occur. 2: Cleaning the Handgun For semi-automatic pistols, refer to the manufacturer's instructions to disassemble the firearm and separate the slide from the frame. Be cautious of small parts like bushings or springs and keep them in a container to prevent loss. Utilize a cleaning tool, such as a utility brush or cleaning swabs, to remove any loose particles from the slide, cylinder (for revolvers), frame, and chamber. Pay close attention to areas inside the frame that may accumulate lint, dust, or dirt, especially for handguns carried regularly. If there is heavy fouling, apply a small amount of cleaner before brushing and wipe away the cleaned fouling. Moving to the barrel, apply bore cleaner onto a cleaning patch. Using a cleaning rod with a jag, brush, or patch holder tip, run the patch through the barrel. Monitor the debris or residue that comes off the barrel while swiping the patch to assess the cleanliness. If using a brush, pass it completely through the barrel before reversing to avoid getting it stuck. Follow up the bore cleaner with several dry patches to ensure a clean and dry barrel. Swabs are useful for cleaning hard-to-reach areas in the frame and slide, guaranteeing a thorough cleaning of the barrel and chamber. For heavily fouled barrels and chambers, a stronger cleaner can also be used. 3: Apply Lubrication as Needed After thoroughly cleaning the slide, frame, barrel, and chamber, it's time to apply lubrication to the moving parts of your firearm. The lubrication process will vary depending on the type of firearm and the manufacturer's recommendations. In most cases, you should lubricate the following areas:

• Bearing surfaces (metal-on-metal contact points, such as slide, rails, and guides)
• External surface of the barrel (for semi-automatic handguns)
• Rails
• Springs

Avoid applying lubricants to the inside of the barrel or chamber unless you're storing the firearm for an extended period. Lubricants in these areas can create high pressures during shooting, leading to potential catastrophic failures. Lubricant on ammunition can also cause misfires or squibs. It's important to dispel the myth that more lubrication is better. While you want to ensure proper lubrication, excess lubricant can result in excessive residues, leading to malfunctions and slippery handling. Using lubricating cloths is beneficial as they help control the amount of oil or lubrication applied to specific areas of the gun. Inspect worn metal areas on bearing surfaces such as the slide, frame rails, and barrel. In a well-used firearm, you may notice bare metal showing through the finish in some places. This is generally not a problem, as it indicates that the firearm is adjusting itself to work more efficiently. Worn areas require light lubrication. Step 4: Wipe Down All Components Once you have cleaned and lubricated your firearm, use a clean, dry cloth to wipe down all the components. This step removes any remaining residue, oils, or moisture from fingerprints that may have been missed during the previous steps. Additionally, you can use wax-treated gun cloths to polish and protect your firearm, providing an added layer of shine and preservation. 5: Reassemble and Perform a Thorough Inspection With your handgun cleaned, wiped down, and lubricated, it's time to reassemble the firearm. During this process, it's essential to carefully examine each piece as you put them back together. Pay close attention to identify any damage, irregularities, excessive wear, or excessive play (movement) in the components. While occasional dents or scratches are inevitable, any other significant damage can affect the value and safety of your firearm. If you come across any questionable issues during your inspection, we strongly recommend taking your handgun to a local firearms shop or a competent gunsmith. They can conduct a detailed examination and provide guidance on the necessary steps to ensure continued safety and reliability. For long-term storage of firearms, this step can also be used to apply preservative oils and utilize an appropriate storage system to protect the firearm from environmental factors. It's important to remember that after cleaning your firearm, you should wipe down your hands and work surfaces with a cleaning cloth to remove any residue containing lead or other heavy metals. This precaution helps maintain a clean and safe environment after firearm maintenance. We currently have the Breakthrough Handgun Cleaning Kit available now! Need bulk ammo? At True Shot Gun Club, we have a wide variety of handgun ammo and rifle ammo available to purchase. Please visit our website trueshotgunclub.com, call us at (888) 736-6587, or you can email us at sales@trueshotgunclub.comfor more rifle ammo options.