Firearms require regular maintenance and cleaning, just like any other purchase, but there are different opinions on how frequently a gun should be cleaned. Some people say that a gun should be cleaned every time it is fired and every few months. Other people think it is fine to clean your gun after a couple of trips to the range.
How often should you clean your gun?
For new gun owners, the best advice is to do a light cleaning after every shooting session and do a deep clean every couple of months. Depending on how frequently you shoot your gun, you may need to deep clean it more often. It’s important to clean your firearm even if you are not using it because the parts inside can rust, which can lead to the gun misfiring or simply not working as well as it should. Especially if you carry your gun on you, not keeping it properly clean can mean having issues when you need your weapon the most.
The good news is you cannot clean your gun too frequently because you will remove harmful debris and residue from your firearm each time you do a cleaning session. However, cleaning your gun incorrectly too many times can cause problems. For example, using the wrong type of brush or not using the right lubrication can damage the frame and make your gun more susceptible to rust.
When it’s time to deep clean your firearm, make sure you work in a well-ventilated area and have the right materials for the make and model of your gun. To ensure you purchase the correct cleaning materials, you should buy them when you buy your firearm. This way, you can guarantee that you are using the proper materials to keep your gun working properly for years to come.