Many enthusiasts fall into a gross error: that of cleaning weapons with non-specific detergents and oils.
For example, using household detergents is absolutely not recommended, the same can be said for various generic lubricants such as petroleum jelly or similar. If you are thinking of resorting to household spray, remember that it certainly contains anti-limescale or different acids such as bleach and ammonia, substances that could deteriorate the weapon causing opacification.
Another myth to dispel concerns olive oil, it has a strong acid component, therefore the risk is that it can favor the oxidation of the weapon. The same goes for the various lubricants for vehicles. Weapons are not comparable to cars therefore they require different methods and products. As for grease, on the other hand, itcan have an apparent positive effect immediately, but in the long term could dry out inside the weapon and hinder the sliding of the components. In conclusion, it is better to buy only specific products for cleaning weapons without resorting to do-it-yourself remedies.
Necessities for cleaning weapons and preliminary operations
Once it is established that it is necessary to equip yourself with specific products, let’s see what is suitable. First of all, you need pipe cleaners of the right caliber, depending on the weapon to be cleaned, a rod to fix them and a cloth pusher. You will then need to have toothbrushes, absorbent paper, clean cloths and a mat in addition to the specific oil and solvent. You can still use the pipe cleaners several times. Of course, before you start cleaning your guns, make sure they are unloaded and proceed calmly and carefully. The indications below are generic, always consider the specific model of weapon to be cleaned.
Ordinary cleaning
Ordinary cleaning is carried out on average every 500/600 strokes. The procedure is simple and consists in cleaning both the barrel and the firing pin and carrying out the lubrication. Start with a primary disassembly, you will then use the solvent for cleaning the barrel. Here you will have to use just a little and you should do a few dozen strokes, waiting for a quarter of an hour for the product to act. In the meantime, you can clean other components of the weapon. After the required time, insert and remove the brush several times. At this point, in order not to leave residues, pass the brush into the cloth to dry everything. Once your firearm is clean and dry, you can reassemble it.
Cleaning every 200/300 shots
This cleaning requires more patience, as you will have to disassemble some components, especially the trigger group. In this case, you could turn to professionals in the sector, because these parts are not quickly removable to lubricate them. Cleaning the weapons will also allow you to see the wear of the parts and you can replace them, guaranteeing their longevity.