The act of shooting a gun is extremely filthy, and even after only one shot, visible material may be seen in the barrel.
If the blowback-operated the pistol, gas pressure enters the action, spreading debris throughout the internal components.
Some folks don’t clean their firearms often, while others can’t sleep well with dirty guns. The type of ammo you use is one of the most important factors determining “Should You Clean Your Gun After Each Use“.
If the ammunition has a corrosive primer, the iron-based metals will corrode immediately after a fire. When the temperature is hot, this is particularly true for the bore.
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Using Corrosive Ammunition
If you’re using caustic priming, you’ll want to clean your pistol as soon as possible. First, you should be aware that a little corrosive primer does not exist. Either it’s corrosive, or it isn’t.
Secondly, the lower-cost surplus ammo isn’t worth the effort it takes to maintain your firearms.
Cleaning your pistol once after shooting corrosive ammo is usually insufficient, which is why it must be avoided.
Most current ammo isn’t corrosive, but the former military surplus is, and you’ll want to be careful if you use it.
Berdan and Boxer samples are the two most common varieties.
Boxer Primed Ammo
These are the most common primers in use today, and they are found in practically all army and civilian ammunition.
They were released in the late 1800s and have since grown popular. Although not all Berden samples are corrosive, almost all excess ammunition is.
Boxer primers with brass casings are preferred by most inside shooting ranges. If you don’t obtain surplus ammo, you won’t have to worry about it and should be alright.
Berdan Primed Ammo
Although this is primarily non-American ammunition, it was developed in the United States.
Because Boxer priming ammunition is difficult to come by in the United States, I won’t go into too much detail because it isn’t corrosive.
The corrosive ingredient is a chlorate-type salt, which means you’ll have to clean your pistol more frequently.
Many of the greatest gun cleaning solutions will not remove this salt, and in most situations, you will need to utilize a machine to do so.
Also learn: How to check if a gun is clean
Tips to Store Your Gun Properly
Humidity Should be Avoided
Humidity indicates the presence of moisture, while moisture indicates the presence of rust. You can’t expect your pistol to last long if it’s kept in a humid environment.
Avoid keeping your firearms in basements, attics, or other damp areas. Because not all weapons come with weather-resistant finishes, it’s best to stay away from wetness entirely.
Fingerprints Must Be Removed
Fingerprints could not only leave permanent imprints on your gun’s coating, but they can even contain acids. This may cause corrosion and other types of harm to your gun’s coating.
To guarantee that your weapon not only operates properly but also appears its best, wipe off any fingerprints before storing it.
Before storing, make sure it’s clean.
While it may appear that cleaning a weapon should be done before use, it is recommended that you clean it after each use and before storing it.
When weapons are used, residue may quickly accumulate, attracting humidity. It will be far easier to clean your pistol right after usage than it will be after a few weeks or even months in preservation.
Blocking the barrel is not a good idea.
There’s an ancient trick that involves putting a cork in the barrel of a rifle to prevent it from depreciating.
By obstructing the airflow through one side, you’re really encouraging moisture and rust to build up. The barrel of your pistol needs to breathe, and blocking it isn’t the way to do that.
Also check: How to Clean a Gun Barrel
Purchase a Gun Case for your firearms
When most individuals buy a gun, they don’t get a case with it. Foam or cardboard boxes that come with guns aren’t adequate substitutes for a good gun storage container.
Purchase a new case that will protect your pistol from dampness and unintentional impact while being stored.
Wooden Parts Should Be Waxed
Wooden portions of your firearms can swell when they come into touch with water, while metal parts are more prone to drying up and rusting. They may also crack as a result of this.
Waxing wood helps to keep it clean and moisture resistant. Make cautious not to leave any extra wax on since this might result in greasy residue.
Also Check: Can you clean a gun with WD40
Conclusion
So Should You Clean Your Gun After Each Use?
Cleaning your gun chambers at the very minimum after each firing is a basic recommendation.
New weapons are simpler to clean, and if you field-strip your firearms frequently, you’ll notice that they’re much easier to clean.
You should clean your gun within a few days of using it. You don’t have to clean up after a fire in 5 min, but one week should be enough.
The type of weapon, the condition, and the kind of ammo are all factors to consider. Hopefully, we have covered most information, and you now know when and how much to clean your weapons.
