1. After Each Shooting Session

Anytime you take your firearm to the range or use it for training, it’s best to clean it afterward. Powder residue, carbon buildup, and fouling from the ammunition can accumulate quickly and affect performance if not removed.

2. Before Storing for Long Periods

If you don’t plan to use your firearm for weeks or months, clean and lubricate it first. This helps protect the metal surfaces from rust, corrosion, and moisture damage while it is stored.

3. After Exposure to Harsh Conditions

If your firearm has been exposed to rain, humidity, dirt, sand, or dust, it should be cleaned as soon as possible. Environmental factors can accelerate wear and cause rust or malfunctions.

4. When Performance Changes

If you notice issues such as failure to feed, eject, or fire, a dirty or fouled firearm could be the cause. Cleaning can often resolve these reliability issues.

5. As Part of Routine Maintenance

Even if a firearm has not been fired, it is wise to inspect, wipe down, and lightly oil it every few months. This ensures that it remains in ready condition, particularly for defensive firearms.

Firearm Cleaning Checklist (Step-by-Step)

What you’ll need

• Cleaning mat or towel

• Nitrile gloves, eye protection, good ventilation

• Cleaning rod or pull-through (bore snake), caliber-correct jag & bronze/nylon brushes

• Patches & cotton swabs, nylon utility brush, dental/pick tool (plastic or brass)

• Solvent or CLP (cleaner-lubricant-protectant)

• Gun oil and/or grease (per manufacturer)

• Microfiber cloths, paper towels

• Optional: bore guide (rifles), chamber brush (AR-15), torque driver for optics screws

Safety prep (do this every time)

1. Point in a safe direction.

2. Remove the magazine (if applicable).

3. Lock the action open. Visually and physically inspect the chamber, magwell, and breech face—verify empty.

4. Remove all ammo from the workspace.

5. Read the owner’s manual for model-specific field-stripping steps and lube points.

Universal cleaning flow (most platforms)

1. Field strip: Separate major components (e.g., slide/barrel/recoil spring; upper/lower; cylinder open, etc.).

2. Pre-wipe: Dry wipe carbon and debris from accessible surfaces.

3. Bore—soak: Push a solvent-wet patch from chamber to muzzle (one direction). Let dwell 3–5 minutes.

4. Bore—scrub: Run a caliber-correct bronze brush 5–10 passes (one direction).

5. Bore—patch clean: Push dry patches until they come out light gray/clean. Finish with a lightly oiled patch (very thin film).

6. Chamber & breech: Apply solvent; scrub the chamber, feed ramp, locking lugs, and breech face with a nylon brush. Wipe dry.

7. Small parts: Clean extractor claw, ejector face, under springs/rails. Use cotton swabs and a plastic/brass pick carefully.

8. Magazines (if used in the session or dirty): Disassemble per manual, wipe inside tube and follower, no heavy oilinside; very light dry lube if manufacturer allows.

9. Lubricate: Apply oil/grease sparingly on specified contact points (see quick refs below). Wipe off excess—over-lubing attracts grit.

10. Reassemble per manual.

11. Function check (see below).

12. Exterior protect: Lightly oil a cloth and wipe exterior metal surfaces to prevent rust.

Platform-specific notes

Semi-auto pistol

• Focus areas: slide rails, barrel hood/locking surfaces, feed ramp, breech face, extractor claw.

• Lube: thin film on rails (grease is common here), barrel exterior/locking lugs, contact points per manual. Keep chamber, firing pin channel, and magazines dry.

AR-15 / Modern Sporting Rifle

• Upper: Clean bore as above. Use a chamber brush to scrub the star chamber and locking lugs; follow with patches. Do not attempt to clean the gas tube.

• Bolt carrier group (BCG): Disassemble; clean carbon from bolt tail, lugs, and carrier key exterior. Inspect gas rings (bolt should not fall under its own weight when extended in carrier). Check extractor, pin, and spring.

• Lube: Light oil on bolt, cam pin, gas rings, carrier rails, and contact surfaces. ARs generally run better slightly “wet.”

Revolver

• Open cylinder; verify empty.

• Clean the forcing cone, top strap (carbon line), and under the extractor star (debris here causes misfires).

• Clean each charge hole with a chamber brush.

• Lube: very light oil on crane/yoke pivot and ejector rod threads. Keep charge holes and firing pin channel dry.

Bolt-action & precision rifles

• Use a bore guide to protect the throat/crown.

• After copper solvent use, always neutralize/wipe dry and finish with a very thin oil film in the bore if storing.

• Lube: light oil on locking lugs and bolt body raceways. Grease is sometimes used on lugs—follow the manual.

Shotguns

• Remove chokes; clean choke tubes and barrel threads; apply a tiny amount of choke tube grease/anti-seize.

• Clean bore with a gauge-correct brush; pay attention to the chamber.

• For semi-autos: clean piston, action bars, and magazine tube per manual; keep gas ports unobstructed.

Quick lubrication references (general)

• Light oil: slide/bolt rails, pivot pins, contact surfaces.

• Grease (if recommended): high-load metal-to-metal areas (e.g., pistol rails, bolt lugs).

• Keep dry: chamber, firing pin/striker channel, magazines, ammo.

Function check (simple, model-agnostic)

1. Verify unloaded again.

2. Cycle the action—ensure smooth travel and proper reset.

3. Engage/disengage safety; confirm it blocks trigger movement.

4. Press trigger (on safe range) while holding the action open and closed to verify consistent operation (per model).

5. For pistols: check slide lock on an empty magazine.

6. For revolvers: check cylinder lockup and ejector rod movement.

Storage & maintenance tips

• Wipe fingerprints off metal; store with a light protective film.

• Use a dehumidifier or desiccant in safes; avoid soft cases for long-term storage.

• Intervals: after each range trip; after exposure to rain/dust/salt air; or every 3–4 months for seldom-used firearms.

• Dispose of dirty patches/solvent per local regulations. Keep chemicals away from ammo and children.