How Often Should I Clean My Gun? 5 Gun Cleaning Tips

How Often Should You Clean Your Gun? Top 5 Tips

Dave grew up in the southeast highlands of Idaho on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. He was strongly influenced by his dad, a lifelong outdoorsman who brought him along on hunting trips. He began shooting .22's at age six under close supervision. At 13 he got his first deer rifle and first mule deer in the same month. The next year he got his first shotgun and first ruffed grouse. He's often roaming the Portneuf Range and Caribou-Targhee National Forest camping and hunting game to fill the freezer. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Outdoor Education & Writing from Idaho State University and has had many jobs in the outdoor industry.

CCW
Concealed Carry
Gun Cleaning
Gun Cleaning Kits
gun storage

Are You Supposed to Clean Your Gun After Every Use?

This isn't just for new gun owners. Folks who have been using firearms for decades may not realize that they're not observing a cleaning routine that will maximize the life and performance of their firearms.

Why Is Gun Cleaning Important?

A simple gun cleaning kit can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in the long run. To ensure you clean your gun correctly, you should invest in a gun cleaning kit that includes all the necessary components, such as solvents, lubricants, brushes, and patches. Ensure you follow the manufacturer's instructions when using these products. Check your firearm manufacturer's instructions to ensure you're not using chemicals that could damage your gun (especially the finish).

How Often Do Guns Need to Be Cleaned?

The frequency with which you should clean your gun depends on various factors, including the type of firearm, how frequently you use it, and the kind of ammo you use. As a general rule, here are the top 5 tips for cleaning your gun:

How to Clean Your Gun Safely and Effectively After You've Been Shooting

Clean your gun after every use. Regardless of how frequently you use your firearm, it helps if you clean it after every use. Firing your gun can cause a buildup of dirt, grime, and debris, leading to malfunctions and damage over time. Make it a habit to thoroughly clean your gun after each use before storing it.
If you're doing really high-volume shooting or using inexpensive/corrosive ammo (corrosive ammunition is often called "dirty ammo" for a reason.) In that case, you may even need to clean it at the shooting range.
Bringing a bore snake to run through every few hundred rounds is nice. Bore snakes are also handy to take out in the field in case any foreign material gets into your barrel and to break up and remove fouling.

How Often to Clean a Concealed Carry Gun

Gun cleaning is very important for concealed carry guns, especially the bore, hammer, and any other moving parts that will accumulate contaminants.
We produce salt-rich sweat and excrete natural oils that can and will be introduced to your everyday carry gun.
Lint, dust, and various other exposures mean you should check it every 2-3 days for any buildup.
The most common concealed carry guns are handguns, which means there are many moving parts to keep an eye on, especially semi-automatics.
The same goes for guns carried in vehicles (storing your gun around the clock in a vehicle is ill-advised in the event of a break-in or car theft.)
Don't overlook this. A carry gun needs to work flawlessly at a moment's notice, and you need to be able to depend on it for self-defense.

Should I Clean My Gun After a Hunting or Outdoor Trip?

Clean your gun even if you didn't fire it or notice anything getting into it.
Dust, pollen, brush, moisture, and more can all accumulate on a gun even on a short day trip.
Your hunting rifle or shotgun probably gets carried the least, which is all the more important to make sure you take care of it.

Clean Your Gun Before Storing It

Store your gun properly. Proper gun storage can help prevent the buildup of dirt and debris, reducing the frequency of cleaning required.
For example, a hunting rifle typically only comes out of the gun safe for a few weeks a year, and cleaning it before putting it back to bed when the season's over is of the utmost importance. This only requires partially disassembling every piece and part; a regular field strip and thorough cleaning will be fine.
Store guns barrel-down to avoid gun oil running down and accumulating in the gun or damaging a wood stock. The time you could store your gun could be longer than anticipated (hope for the best, plan for the worst).

During Storage

Follow a regular maintenance schedule. In addition to cleaning your gun after each use and before storage, you should follow a regular maintenance schedule, which might require periodic deep cleaning and lubrication. This will help keep your firearm in good condition and can help extend its lifespan.
Check guns every 3-6 months to look for accumulated dust, lack of gun oil, beginning signs of surface rust, corrosion, etc.
It's a good practice to clean guns in long-term storage every 6 months to a year.

Don't wait until it's too late! Stock up on gun cleaning supplies today and protect your investment!