How to Properly Clean Your Semi Automatic Pistol
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Hello and welcome back to True Shot Academy. Today, we will be taking you through a detailed guide on cleaning a semi-automatic handgun. Specifically, the Savage Stance nine millimeter semi-automatic handgun will be the model in use.
Maintaining your firearms not only ensures they work optimally when required, but also safeguards your valuable investment. Hence, understanding how to clean your firearm correctly is paramount.
Why ‘Breech to Muzzle’ Cleaning Is Essential
When you embark on the process of cleaning your firearm, it’s crucial to clean ‘breech to muzzle’ -- always clean the direction the bullet travels. This practice is significant because it helps prevent driving carbon and file into your handgun’s action or trigger group.
Cleaning Tools
The cleaning process can be executed conveniently with a selection of tools. First up, the pull-through bore cleaning system like the Otis Ripcord, a handy tool to use especially when you’re at the range and the barrel is still hot from firing. Alternatively, you could disassemble your firearm for deeper cleaning at your home bench using a solid rod cleaning system. We also provide the Memory Flex cable cleaning system for easy portability so you can clean at the range or comfortably at home.
Before we delve deeper into the cleaning procedure, it’s essential to ensure that your firearm is safe and unloaded. Visually and manually inspect the chamber and remove the magazine for safety. Always refer to your owner’s manual for disassembling instructions.
A Brief Overview of Firearm Components
Most handguns comprise similar basic components, namely the frame, guide rod with recoil spring, barrel, and slide.
The cleaning demonstration I will be providing utilizes a three-step process involving a wet patch, a bronze brush, and a dry patch.
Step-by-Step Process
1. Wet Patch Preparation
First, get the Memory Flex cable, tie on a patch referencing the instructions in your cleaning kit to ensure the patch ties on perfectly and matches your handgun's caliber. Following this, apply the Cleaner Lubricant Protectant (CLP) or your preferred solvent ensuring the patch is well saturated. For this demonstration, we're using the Shooter's Choice FP Ten – a multifunctional cleaner lubricant and protectant. 2. Barrel Cleaning With your wet patch ready, commence cleaning from the breach to the muzzle. The initial wet patch applied with your CLP or solvent helps break down carbon and fowling in the barrel. Subsequently, the bronze brush and the following dry patch should efficiently extract the broken-down carbon and fowling materials. In some cases, you might need to repeat this process until your final patch comes out clean - an indication of a sparkling clean bore. 3. AP Brush Application Next, shift focus to the AP brush. Apply a generous amount of CLP to the feed ramp and to any friction points or sections with visible carbon build-up. This kit comes with its short and compact AP brush. Your brush might look different – possibly a toothbrush. The key thing is to have something suitable to scrub the essential areas. Use the AP brush to scrub areas around the barrel, slide, and frame to break down and remove carbon. The AP brush can also be used to clean the magwell, your recoil spring, and your guide rod. The nylon fibers on the AP brush are gentle on your firearm parts as well as the bronze brush, as these are softer than steel - hence they won’t cause any damage. 4. Wipe Down After brushing, it’s imperative to wipe down the recoil spring and guide rod, eliminating any additional oils that might accumulate dust and debris. The wipe-down process also extends to the exterior of your barrel, frame, and slide, ensuring the removal of excess oils. 5. Final Touches Before reassembling your firearm, apply some CLP or lubricant on the friction points and run one final wet patch through the barrel to protect it from corrosion. Ensure to check your firearm’s owner manual for their recommendations on oil or grease points. Finally, proceed to reassemble your firearm following your manufacturer's instructions, apply a bit of CLP to the external metal components, and find a clean area of your microfiber cloth to wipe away excess oils, fingerprints, fouling carbon or debris. 
Purchase Cleaning Kits
And that's all there is for today's hands-on guide to cleaning a semi-automatic handgun. The cleaning process might seem a bit daunting at first, but with practice, it becomes a routine task you can efficiently execute.
If you found this guide useful, be sure to let us know and subscribe for more content. Until next time, thank you for reading and happy cleaning!
