When and why clean my hunting guns and other firearms?

 


Hunting has been as old as you can ever imagine. It has been in humanity for a long time and has always remained an integral part, even today. In the past, hunting was a primary way to find food and eat, wear clothes and make tools. Our ancestors did that with too much efficiency and accuracy. 

Today, many hunters look forward to hunting season to enjoy the opportunity to hunt and have fun outdoors with hunting accessories. Also, some hunters take up the season’s peak to test their hunting skills and provide food to their family members. While today hunters usually use modern tools such as bows and firearms to hunt.

Well, even modern firearms need a thorough cleaning to maintain their safety and functionality. So, before you head out for your next hunting trip, try to implement the cleaning tips and tricks mentioned here.

Why should you clean your firearm? 

Safety 

As expert hunters, firearm enthusiasts, and other marksmen perhaps already know that safety is the most important than anything else. So, whether you have a bolt-action rifle, or semi-automatic, shotgun or any other type of firearm, take out some time to clean the instruments. Why else should you clean them? 

Over the time of using the firearm, dirt, unburnt powder and other small bullet fragments begin to build up in the barrel. All these things can significantly cause a jam, a misfire, or get a bullet stuck in the barrel. Thus, any or all of these reasons can cause unsafe scenarios and potentially create a hazardous situation for the operator. 

Performance 

In addition, firearms may not properly function because of performance issues. A dirty firing pin can cause light striking, prevent the primer from igniting, and do more than just that. A dirty barrel can also throw off your marksmanship and bring all the negative consequences.

And if your firearm is more complex, it can eventually show up with more chances to fail. For instance, if your gun has dirt buildup, or one from old lubricants, burnt gunpowder, chances are high that it can malfunction or cause frequent jams.

Protect your investment 

Firearms are a kind of investment no matter if you are a hunter, collector or firearm enthusiast. Also, when properly maintained, your firearm will hold its original value for long and doesn’t depreciate easily either. 

But, if you’re not looking for returns on it any sooner, it is still important to maintain and clean your firearm. Since they aren’t exactly cheap, it can be costly to replace or repair any part.

Is it important to clean a firearm after every use? 

The answer to this question highly depends on how you use it, and how frequently. Generally, it is advisable to give your gun a thorough cleaning at least after 300 rounds.

Clean after target practice and range time

If you’re practising range quite frequently, you’re likely to put a number of rounds through your firearm. And for this reason, it is better if you clean your gun after each session. 

After hunting 

Even if you had very successful hunting, it is unlikely that you would have fired the number of rounds like that in a range practice. Moderately estimating, you may possibly fire guns 5 - 10 times or maybe fewer. 

However, it exposes your firearms to other conditions like dirt and corrosion. Also, outdoor humidity, mud, rain, grass, etc. can impact your firearms, making it necessary to give them up for deep cleaning. 

Clean a rarely used firearm 

You may also have a firearm that is rarely used. Even such a firearm needs some occasional cleaning to keep out the dust, moisture and other contaminants. If you think that storing it safely and in good condition is all you need to do, well, it is not. Thus, it is a good idea to clean your firearm twice a year. 

Need hunting accessories and cleaning kit? 


At Wickham And Best, you can find a range of hunting accessories, upland hunting gear items and even gun cleaning kits. Why not explore them right now? Visit our website to know more or simply buy your favourite hunting gear. 

Source URL: https://wickhamandbest.com/


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