As a former US Army armorer, as a
secondary Military Occupational Specialty (MOS), I can tell you I
have come up against some dirty, fouled weaponry. Therefore, the
importance of cleaning your weapon to ensure consistent accuracy and
long life, cannot be overemphasized. I cannot remember how many times
I had to refuse to accept an M16 that was not clean from turning in
their assigned rifle to the unit arms room. It did not make me
popular, at times, but it was my duty to ensure that all weaponry in
the unit arms room was battle ready.
Firearm owners and gunsmiths are
constantly looking for that right tool to do a specific job.
Cleaning firearms is a priority if you
want your firearms to last and perform as the manufacturer intended.
A handy cleaning tool can be found at
your local department store, like Walmart. It is an
interdental cleaning brush that is available wherever toothbrushes
are displayed. They are like a nylon bore brush except the brush is
only 0.1 inches in diameter. Well made, they work well when cleaning
small screw holes, firing pin holes, small cracks and grooves in a
firearm. Especially important when cleaning a bolt mechanism in an AR
rifle.
In 2012 firearm ownership skyrocketed
mainly because of the political movement to ban so many models and
types of firearms. In addition, many states finally complied with the
Second Amendment and offered conceal-carry permits available to
law-abiding citizens. This also boosted firearm training programs
that emphasized upon safety and proper carry and draw procedures.
With all those new to firearms the
myriad of gun cleaning products available on the market and some
spent a fortune when they did not need to.
Firearms stored in a gun safe or safe
room or even a wood display cabinet can be subject to moisture
primarily caused by humidity and sometimes condensation if the
temperature fluctuates greatly.
To combat humidity and compensation there are dehumidifiers
on the market to solve this problem and prevent surface rust of
firearms from occurring. Never store your firearms in cloth or
leather gun cases or even leather holsters. Moisture can be retained
and create an environment that invites rusting.
There is an electric dehumidifier by Browning[see Amazon advertisement below] which works quite well, about a foot long to be
hung vertically at the front of one of the walls of your gun safe.
The heat will prevent condensation and only uses about 18 watts of
power or less. The best model is with tubes that are 1/2” in
diameter.
In a safe room, a small fan installed
with keep air circulating and helps to prevent condensation.
When you are out hunting, protect your
firearm stock with Carnuba wax, wiped thinly over metal parts
as well as the rubbed into the stock. Cleaning and lubricating your
firearm with Break-Free CLR is also a plus. When I was jungle
training in Panama, the arms room had no windows or circulation; so
we coated Break-Free heavily on our M16s and by morning there was a
film of rust formed under the coating of oil! However, wiping our
firearms of all that extra oil removed the rust because it was
prevented from adhering by the Break-Free. Expensive in comparison to
other firearm oils, it is by far the best – used by US armed forces
since it came out in the middle 1980s. It replaced the WW2 gun oil
that was used until that time.
So, whenever you return from the range
or out in the field, always take time to wipe your firearms with
Break Free. Your firearms will be happier.
If you must store your firearm for long
periods, the American Gunsmith Institute suggests to use Vacuum Food
Storage Bags (sealed) after giving it a wipe of Break Free. A test
revealed that compared to putting a firearm in a waterproof
container, the vacuum sealed plastic prevented corrosion by 100%.
Firearm owners and collectors usually
spend a good deal of money on their firearms – so take care of
them!
You've just bought your new firearm and
head out to the range to use it. As in too many cases, the firearm is
fired at the range and back home it is cleaned as usual.
Many firearm owners do not realize that
a firearm, as a finely tuned automobile engine, has a break-in
period, something important but too often overlooked.
I will go over the basics and then
present a four-part video where an expert gunsmith demonstrates
proper procedure of breaking in a new firearm [barrel], as well as
good cleaning practices and tips …
