Today's defensive pistols are solid and reliable machines, but they will not remain in this state without proper maintenance. Although most shooters carefully keep their guns dry and free of debris, it is not uncommon for pistols to shoot without regular cleaning and proper lubrication. Shooting a pistol dirty or dry (or both) can cause malfunction and permanent damage.
To avoid these problems, casual shooting guns should be cleaned and lubricated as soon as possible after use, if they are going to enter the warehouse, or regularly if they shoot regularly. There should be a stricter cleaning schedule for defensive pistols. They should be cleaned immediately after the end of range, stored clean, carried clean, and regularly checked for dirt build-up and proper lubrication levels. When just a few minutes of work can change everything, there is no reason to sacrifice the reliability of a defensive pistol.
It's important to take the time to read the user manual carefully before cleaning the pistol. If your pistol does not come with a manual, please order it or check it online. Pistols almost always require a certain degree of disassembly to be cleaned. It's important to know the layout of the pistol, the tools and procedures for disassembly and reassembly, and where the lubricant needs to be applied to the pistol. This will help you avoid damaging the gun, ejecting the spring through the room or leaving the key parts of the gun unlubricated.
A basic pistol cleaning tool set includes solvents to help remove lead and powder dirt, lubricants (gun oil), hole brushes, patch holders and patches, and a cleaning stick. There are also items that can be used, such as nylon cleaning brushes, small hole lamps or flashlights, and cotton swabs for small spaces. Every brand and model of pistol will have subtle changes. When you understand your particular weapon, it becomes obvious what additional tools are useful. However, regardless of the model, the entire cleaning process remains unchanged.
Work in a well ventilated area that is ready for gun cleaning. Chemicals and compounds produced by shooting and used for cleaning and lubrication are toxic and should be handled with care. A quick and easy way to prepare a workbench or table is to cover it with a large plastic garbage bag. Cover the bag with several layers of newspaper and a layer of tissue. You can change the tissue after you stain it. When you finish cleaning, just turn the garbage bag over, collect the garbage, tie it up and throw it away. It is best to wear safety glasses and protective gloves to reduce exposure to toxic substances.
Before starting cleaning, make sure the gun is removed and pointed in a safe direction. We've all heard stories of people getting hurt cleaning guns. Because there are three parts (gun, ammunition and shooter) needed to make a shooting accident, it makes sense to remove any ammunition from the work area. In addition to safety considerations, solvents and lubricants may damage ammunition, making it impossible to fire.
Apart from repairs, it is almost unnecessary to take the pistol apart completely. Field disassembly is the process of partial disassembly for cleaning. For semi-automatic pistol, the pistol is divided into main parts, such as barrel, slide rail, guide rod, gun holder and magazine. Semi automatic has a variety of configurations, so be sure to read your manual. For a single acting revolver, the cylinder is removed from the frame. For a double acting revolver, just turn the cylinder out to the open position. As part of the cleaning process, any of the three types of pistols may require you to remove the handle or handle panel.
The interior of the barrel is one of the most important parts of the pistol, and also the most labor-intensive part. A layer of material left in the barrel after shooting will reduce the accuracy of the pistol and corrode the rifle. First, connect the hole brush to the cleaning rod. Apply solvent to the brush and push it back and forth from the bore of the brush barrel several times. It's a good idea to add solvent to brush once or more for your work.
Once the hole of the barrel is thoroughly scrubbed, remove the hole brush from the cleaning rod and attach a patch holder. Put a patch on it and go through the barrel. The first patch will be dirty and need to be replaced. Wipe a few more on the hole with a cotton swab until they come out of the bucket and look relatively clean. Check the cylinder bore with a light. If you still see dirt sticking to the inside of the barrel, run the brush and solvent again, then run a few more patches. Finally, treat the clean patch with a small amount of gun oil or lubricant through the hole. This thin layer of oil will keep the rifle from getting wet.