Why is it important to clean a firearm?
Cleaning anything is never a fun job. In order to maintain our vehicles we have to wash them. It keeps the exterior clean and hopefully keeps it from getting rusty. We wash clothes in order to keep them free of bacteria so we don’t get sick. Cleaning a firearm might sound unnecessary to some, but it is extremely important to clean the firearm.
Firearms have several mechanisms that must be maintained in order to have a properly working firearm. Firearms that are not maintained and kept clean can misfire or worse cause a firearm to explode in someone’s hand.
Part of a firearm owner’s responsibility is to understand how their firearm works, both how it shoots and how to maintain it properly. A person would never take a vehicle out onto the road if it had no breaks, no seatbelts and was leaking gasoline and transmission fluid. They would not take it onto the road because they know it is not safe to drive. Anyone in the car as a passenger or on the road near the vehicle would be in danger.
A firearm is no different in fact a firearm could be more dangerous than a vehicle if it is not properly cleaned and maintained. There are firearm cleaning kits available to purchase. Someone who is not familiar with firearms to read the manual very, very carefully and follow all the directions.
When cleaning a firearm be sure to do it in a ventilated area. Be sure that the firearm is unloaded before you handle it. Also, be aware there are lead particles, in the cleaning kit that could be inhaled. So it is important to wash hands after cleaning a firearm before handling objects and/or food. Finally, do not smoke while cleaning a firearm or right after cleaning a firearm until the area has been properly ventilated.
It is equally important to get any repairs done that are needed right away. Do not fire that firearm again until those repairs have been. Repairs should be done by a licensed firearm dealer to ensure that they are done properly.
Along with keeping a firearm properly cleaned, ammunition must also be kept in a place where will not get wet. Ammunition that is old, corroded, wet or is not marked properly should not be used in any firearm.
Even if your firearm is “squeaky clean” using ammunition that is old or wet is equally as dangerous as using a firearm that is not been cleaned and/or maintained properly.
It is very important to clean your firearm barrel after every use. A firearm should also be cleaned if it has been in storage for a long period of time.
Maintaining and cleaning a firearm is part of the firearm owner’s responsibility. For a firearm to work and fire properly it must be cleaned regularly and properly.