When it comes to having a great hunt, you shouldn’t only focus on how to use your weaponry properly to assure safety and a good aim. You also need to care for your hunting equipment by cleaning it regularly. And yes, that also includes your gun! Through cleaning your weapons properly and at the right time, you will enjoy a good hunt. But you might be wondering: “How often should I clean my gun?” There are many answers to this question, though I know you can’t follow all suggestions, which is why I made this article!
So if you want to know about how and when you should clean your gun, read on as I talk about everything you need to know about cleaning your gun for hunting purposes.
Why Should You Clean Your Gun?
You’re probably wondering: Why bother cleaning your gun besides the usual wiping down after the hunt?
Cleaning your gun rather than taking it to the shop will have you visually inspect all parts of the gun. You’ll be familiar with the way your gun works that way since you are the one who will disassemble and reassemble everything again. Through knowing the way your gun works and its make, you have more confidence in your gun-handling skills, making you more familiar and learn how to handle your gun when you’re hunting.
You can fix the inner parts of your gun and identify problems through cleaning it. Plus, it is also a safety precaution, just in case some parts get blocked, you can clean it out beforehand and ensure that there will be no safety hazards just in case.
Plus, who wants to handle a dirty gun? Not only may it feel weird, but it can also deplete its lifespan and value! That’s why it’s crucial to clean your gun!
Related article: How to Check If a Gun is Clean: The 4 Easy Ways to Do It!
How Often Should I Clean My Gun?
It’s important to do so, but how often should I clean my gun?
When hunting, you should clean your gun after you have rounds fired. Many hunters follow the rule on cleaning their gun after they have fired it even just once.
BUT, even if you haven’t cleaned it after making a few rounds, it won’t destroy your gun. That’s because newer models of guns have ammunition that won’t mess your gun’s chamber and barrel. As much as possible, I recommend you to clean your gun after every hunt, if you are unable to clean it right after using.
If you haven’t been able to hunt for a long time and did not touch your gun for a few weeks, then I recommend you to clean and oil it every month to ensure that it works well and the parts won’t break down.
Tips on How to Clean Your Gun Safely and Properly
So now that you’re familiar with who often you should clean your gun, the next question is: How? To help you out, here are some tips on cleaning your gun and making sure you have a spotless gun to use for your next hunting trip:
- Invest in the proper gun cleaning materials such as cleaning solvent, gun oil, a brush, cleaning rod, a flashlight, cotton swabs, and microfiber cloths. Put this in a bag to easily spot and organize it.
- ALWAYS unload your gun and make sure that it is free of bullets before you begin cleaning it to avoid any injuries.
- Avoid disassembling your gun more so than what was recommended by the manufacturer. Also, choose a well-ventilated area to clean your gun with to avoid getting sick from the solvent and cleaning solution you will use.
- After cleaning your guns, store them in a cool and dry environment, unloaded. This is to ensure a longer lifespan. You can also opt to put it in gun cases.
Here is an excellent video that shows you exactly how to clean your gun:
In Conclusion
Hunting has its responsibilities. Not only should you follow the rules and regulations of wherever you are, but you should also take great care of your tools and equipment, particularly the weapons you use to target and shoot your game. Without cleaning your guns properly, you won’t be able to enjoy your gun the way it should be. And yes, cleaning isn’t just for guns, but your other weapons as well, including your bow stabilizer and other equipment.
I hope that this article answers your question: “How often should I clean my gun?” Now that you know the answer to this don’t wait any longer and start scheduling your regular gun cleaning today.
If you have any questions or would like to share your tips and experiences on how to clean your gun and how often, then comment down below. I would love to hear what you have to think.