Gun Cleaning Questions, Answered

Never cleaned a gun before? Have questions about the importance of the process? We rounded up some of the most common questions and answered them here.

1. How often should guns be cleaned?

At minimum, once per season, but it’s really better if you clean your gun after every 50 to 300 rounds. There are some who clean their guns after every trip to the range or field.

2. Why do suppressors produce more fouling?

Suppressors don’t actually produce more fouling, but they leave more in the bore because they increase bore and chamber pressures, blasting fouling back into the action under higher pressure.

3. What’s the difference between powder, lead and copper fouling?

Powder fouling is a thick, black fouling produced when powder deflagrates in the bore. It is caused by the rapid oxidation of the powder in the chamber and barrel.

Lead fouling is literally streaks of lead left behind in the barrel as a lead bullet passes through it. Lead fouling is a bigger problem with bullets that are not jacketed.

Copper fouling occurs when small amounts of copper are shorn off the bullet jacket as it moves through the barrel. You will get more copper fouling with jacketed bullets than you will with naked lead bullets.

Both copper and lead fouling can result in losses in accuracy when they accumulate.

4. How long can a gun sit before it needs to be cleaned?

It is not sitting that makes a gun get dirty, thus necessitating cleaning. It is use. Therefore, a gun can remain on the rack or in the safe for a long time without needing cleaning. Let frequency of use, not frequency between uses, determine your cleaning schedule.

5. Why should you never clean a gun from the muzzle end?

Cleaning a gun from the muzzle end exposes the muzzle crowning to the risk of damage from the cleaning rod or jag used. If the muzzle crowning is deformed or damaged it can severely impact the accuracy of the gun.

6. How much does it cost to have a gun cleaned?

That really depends on two things: what you’re cleaning and how thoroughly it’s being cleaned. However, basic cleaning services often range from $25 to $150, depending.

7. What will happen if I don’t routinely clean my gun?

Powder fouling that’s allowed to accumulate in the bore and action can attract moisture which can result in rust, corrosion and pitting. An accumulation of lead or copper fouling can adversely affect accuracy. If powder fouling accumulates in the action, it can cause problems with feeding, but is more likely to cause projects with extraction and ejection. Very dirty guns are more likely to jam.

8. What’s the best thing to use to clean a gun?

An appropriate bore solvent, like Hoppe’s No. 9, is the best thing you can use to remove powder, lead and copper fouling from a gun. Most gun cleaning kits contain bore solvents along with the other implements necessary to clean the gun.

9. Can you use WD-40 to clean a gun?

You should not use WD-40 to clean a gun. It is not a bore solvent. Actually, you should not use WD-40 even to lubricate the gun because it is not a lubricant, it is a water displacer, and will evaporate much more quickly than oil, defeating the purpose of lubrication in the first place.

10. What should come with a gun cleaning kit?

A gun cleaning kit should come with a bore solvent, lubricant, a cleaning rod, cleaning jags, mops and brushes in a variety of calibers, as well as patches.

11. I don’t have patches; is there anything else I can use?

There are lots of things you can use if you don’t have cotton patches. Old clothing and rags can be cut up and used in place of patches.

12. What do I need to clean my gun?

You will need a cleaning rod with appropriate jags and patches. A brush is also helpful to dislodge fouling from the bore. You’ll also need a bore solvent to remove fouling.

13. What is the most essential element of gun cleaning?

While it is important to keep the action and trigger group clean, keeping the bore clean is most important, all things considered, as a dirty chamber will not allow for reliable extraction and a dirty bore can shoot less reliably, and less accurately.

14. Do I still need to clean my gun even if the powder and primers are non-corrosive?

Yes, for the reasons stated in this article. And, if you do shoot corrosive powder or primers, if you don’t clean your gun in a matter of hours you will likely develop rust.

15. Why is it so important to keep a gun clean?

As stated, a clean gun will shoot more accurately and feed more reliably. On top of that, cleaning a gun keeps it in good shape, ensures proper operation, and protects its value over the long run.

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