How to properly care for weapons

The service life and functionality of a weapon depend, first of all, on proper care. Therefore, it is very important for owners not to neglect this process: regularly maintain, clean, preserve ammunition, using special tools and means.

In our article, we suggest figuring out why weapon care is very important, what is needed and how to clean it correctly, and what mistakes are best to avoid.

Gun care involves cleaning it, i.e. removing gunpowder residue, dirt, oils - any contaminants that may accumulate in it. This process ensures safe and effective operation, as well as durability.

In addition, timely and proper care is:

1. Maintaining functionality. Any weapon requires regular maintenance, as this directly affects the preservation of functionality and readiness for use.
2. Safety. A poorly functioning weapon is unsafe for both others and its owner. In particular, if the weapon is not taken care of regularly or correctly, this is fraught with the occurrence of malfunctions when firing.
3. Savings. Proper and timely maintenance allows you to extend the service life, makes replacement of parts less frequent, and therefore reduces the frequency of visits to repair shops.
4. Improving performance indicators. If the weapon is clean and well lubricated, it will work more efficiently, which is extremely important in any situation.
5. Maintaining external characteristics. You need to clean your weapon to keep it looking impeccable, without rust, corrosion or abrasion on the body.

In addition, regular cleaning of weapons is an indicator of a responsible approach to use. Owners should be aware that they are responsible not only for their own safety, but also for the safety of others.

Gun care is carried out taking into account clear rules. So, if a weapon unit has fallen into water, dirt, sand, it is recommended to completely disassemble the mechanism and clean each of its parts. Any speck of dirt can cause malfunctions during a shot, injury to the shooter and others.

If the gun is not used, then it is necessary to clean it regularly every month, even if it is stored in favorable conditions.

In addition to following the gun care regimen, it is important for owners to have a set of tools and cleaning products with them. The standard set includes:

• Cleaning rod. Perhaps the most important tool for cleaning weapons. It is better to choose rigid cleaning rods made of 2-3 parts, longer than the barrel with the chamber. Solid cleaning rods with wooden or metal rods are also suitable. handles.
• Metal brush. The brush is used to remove dirt, metal particles, rust and carbon deposits from the barrel.
• Bristle brush. The brush is used to apply an alkaline coating.
• Powder brush. Necessary for applying neutral lubricant.
• Vishers. A visher is a special part screwed onto a cleaning rod with holes for rags or disposable napkins (patches).
• 'Toothpicks'. They are used to remove dirt even from hard-to-reach places.
• Brushes. Help remove debris and dirt from weapons.
• Solvents. These are specially made chemical solutions for the effective removal of oil and gunpowder residue. A specific solvent is selected for different types of weapons and their condition.
• Gun cleaning products. Lubricants and oils are used to lubricate and treat parts after cleaning to protect against corrosion and maintain smooth movement.
• Protective gloves. Gloves are needed to protect hands from chemicals and dirt during cleaning.

Depending on the type and condition of the weapon unit, the list may change and be supplemented.

The process of cleaning a gun is several consecutive stages:

1. The first thing to do is to unload the gun, remove the cartridges and disconnect the magazine, remove grass, dirt, sand from the body. Then the barrel must be disassembled, according to the attached instructions.
2. Contamination is removed from the barrel with a dry brush, moving from the chamber to the muzzle. It is important to move only in one direction to remove large contaminants and not leave scratches on the barrel.
3. The barrel channel, bolt and gas piston are lubricated with a weakly alkaline solution using a brush screwed onto a cleaning rod for cleaning weapons. This procedure is necessary to neutralize the acidic environment of carbon deposits and remove metal plaque. In order to achieve the desired effect, the barrel with the applied solvent is fixed in a vertical position and left for some time. At the same time other parts of the weapon where powder gases remain are also wiped.
4. The barrel bore is wiped again with a patch wound on a vibrator. After that, you need to go over the bore again with a brush or a dry disposable napkin. This step should be repeated until the carbon deposits are completely removed (usually at least three such cycles are required).
5. Using a cleaning rod and a soft brush, the barrel is lubricated with gun oil.
6. The choke constrictions are cleaned using the same solutions, oils, brushes and patches. The threads are lubricated with graphite grease, the cartridge mechanism is cleaned with napkins and sticks. It is also recommended to brush all external metal surfaces and wipe them with neutral oil, using napkins or a soft cloth. This will protect the body from corrosion.
7. Make sure that no grease or oil gets on the non-metallic surfaces of the weapon. For wooden and plastic parts, specialized tools are needed.
8. The weapon is assembled, its functionality and safety are checked.

All stages of cleaning the weapon are carried out with rubber gloves.

In addition to cleaning, guns also need to be stored properly. It doesn't matter what metal the item is made of - steel, aluminum, titanium - if it is stored in poor conditions, rust will eat it away over time.

You can prevent rust in several ways:

• Choose a storage case. A good case should be waterproof and dustproof, filled with foam inside.
• Keep your gun in the right place. Storage location is very important - in particular, we are talking about temperature and humidity. Sudden changes in temperature and humidity can lead to contraction and expansion of the metal and, as a result, to cracking.
• Use desiccants, silica gels, vacuum bags. Silica gel and desiccant will help maintain the desired level of humidity (about 55%) around the gun. Vacuum the bags will prevent oxygen and steam from getting on the weapon - rust will not appear in such conditions.
• Clean and lubricate the weapon regularly. If you do not remove dust, salt, dirt, the product will rust over time.
• Do not use weapons in bad weather. If possible, do not use ammunition during snow and rain, or carry the weapon in a waterproof case. When you return home, wipe it dry and place it in a high-quality gun case.

Field weapon care is especially important, as it is constantly exposed to various negative factors.

The basic rules for field weapon care include:

• Cleaning and lubrication after each use.
• Using special cleaning and lubrication products.
• Preventing moisture from getting into the ammunition: if water gets in, dry the weapon thoroughly before use.
• Storage in a dry and clean place.

Field cleaning of weapons should be done quickly and at the same time as efficiently. You will need the same tools and materials as for cleaning in normal conditions. During inspection, you need to make sure that there is no dirt or foreign objects, remove them with a rag or brush. Next, the barrel is lubricated with grease and other parts of the weapon are cleaned. All moving parts of the product are treated with grease to protect against wear and ensure smooth operation.

Field lubrication of weapons should be minimal. This is important, since a large amount of the product can lead to more contamination.

You can store weapons in the field in a special case or bag. If we are talking about a long period, then the weapon is lubricated with gun grease and stored in a dry place.

By following these simple rules, the weapon will function properly in any conditions.

The most common mistakes in gun care:

• Irregular cleaning. Guns should be cleaned after each use. If the ammunition is not used, then cleaning is done 1-2 times a month.
• Wrong products. For gun care, it is important to use only special products that remove carbon deposits, dirt and old grease. Do not use regular oils or grease, as they can damage the mechanism.
• Brushes, nozzles and brushes. Only brass, copper, bronze or aluminum products are allowed for cleaning.
• Cleaning rods. Choose solid, high-quality products. The diameter of the cleaning rod should be as close as possible to the diameter of the barrel. Due to the presence of a bearing in the handle, the cleaning rod should rotate freely.
• Cleaning the barrel. The barrel can only be cleaned from the chamber side. It is important to use a special guide insert in the chamber, otherwise you can damage the bullet entrance. If there is no such insert, then use a spent cartridge case with a primer socket drilled to the diameter of the cleaning rod. In cases where the design of the weapon does not allow cleaning from the chamber side, never clean it from the muzzle without using a protective guide. One awkward movement and the cut will be damaged.

And remember: if you are not sure about the correctness of certain actions when caring for weapons, be sure to consult with specialists.