Modern nitrided barrels, DLC-coated slides and polymer frames may be more corrosion-resistant than the blued steel your grandfather cleaned with a cut-down toothbrush, yet dirt, moisture and carbon still shorten service life when left unchecked. Whether you’re a weekend IPSC shooter or a hunter who fires ten rounds a year, the routine outlined below will keep every firearm—from striker-fired pistols to bolt-action rifles—running safely and accurately for decades.
Why a basic gun maintenance guide still matters in 2025
- New finishes ≠ invincibility Even PVD coatings scratch under grit; rust creeps under edges.
- Warranty fine-print Most manufacturers void coverage if a gun shows “excessive fouling.”
- Optics & torque Red-dot slides and chassis rifles rely on precise screw preload; contaminated threads loosen under recoil.
- Ammo evolution Low-smoke powders burn cleaner but hotter; metal fouling builds faster, demanding updated solvent schedules.
Safety first: unload & clear before you clean a firearm
- Point in a safe direction; finger outside trigger guard.
- Remove magazine; open action; visually and physically inspect chamber.
- Relocate all ammunition to another room.
- Wear wrap-around eye protection and nitrile gloves (solvents dry skin).
- Work on a padded bench with directional lighting; small parts roll far when the spring gods strike.
Firearm cleaning supplies and their jobs
| Item | Purpose | Notes & 2025 Best Pick |
|---|---|---|
| Bore solvent | Dissolve carbon & copper | Bore Tech Eliminator (ammonia-free) |
| CLP (Clean-Lube-Protect) | Quick field wipe-down | Breakthrough Military-Grade CLP |
| High-viscosity grease | Rails, bolt lugs | Lucas Extreme Duty Gun Grease |
| Bronze/phosphor-bronze brush | Scrub rifling | One calibre larger for stubborn G5 rifling |
| Nylon utility brush | General carbon removal | Double-end “toothbrush” style |
| Pull-through cleaning cord | Rapid bore pass | Hoppe’s BoreSnake Viper, calibre-matched |
| Lint-free patches | Solvent application | Cotton knitted, pre-cut |
| Torque driver | Optic & action screws | Fix-It Sticks All-In-One (15–65 in-lb) |
| Silicone cloth | Fingerprint & moisture barrier | Birchwood Casey silicone gun cloth |
| 400-grit armourer’s pick | Carbon pick for AR bolt tail | Brownells hardened tool steel |
Tip: Keep liquids in labelled 30 ml needle-tip bottles—avoids dumping solvent on your keyboard mid-YouTube tutorial.
Step-by-step field strip & bore scrub: how to clean a firearm
- Strip Follow the manual; on Glocks remove slide, barrel, recoil spring; on bolt rifles pull bolt and drop magazine.
- Pre-soak Run a patch wet with bore solvent through chamber to muzzle; let dwell five minutes.
- Brush Spin a bronze brush full-length 10 strokes. Never reverse direction mid-bore—flex rod outside muzzle before return.
- Patch train Alternate wet and dry patches until one emerges near-white; carbon flakes are OK, no blue streaks = copper gone.
- Wipe action Nylon brush + CLP on breech face, rails, feed ramp. Cotton buds reach extractor hooks and firing-pin channels (where accessible).
- Lubricate Apply one-drop lines where metal slides on metal; smear pea-sized grease on bolt lugs or pistol rails.
- Reassemble & function-check Cycle action, dry-fire into snap cap, verify safety devices.
- Final protectant Light silicone cloth pass on exterior, fingerprints vanish.
Round-count rule of thumb: clean handguns every 400 rounds, direct-impingement ARs every 300, bolt rifles every 50—or immediately after rain.
The definitive gun lubrication checklist: where, what, how much?
- Light oil (ISO VG 10–22) Firing-pin, AR trigger pins, semi-auto bolt raceways.
- Medium oil (ISO VG 68) Slide rails on heavy pistols, AR cam pin recess, pump shotgun action bars.
- Grease (NLGI 1) Barrel locking lugs, bolt-action cocking cams, choke tube threads.
Apply until the part just glistens; any running drip is waste that will attract unburnt powder.
Storage tactics to prevent gun rust 2025
- Maintain safe humidity at 45 % (±5) via controllable dehumidifier; silica packs recharge every 90 days.
- Position long guns muzzle-down; excess oil migrates out the crown, not into stocks.
- Coat blued barrels with thin film of VCI (volatile corrosion inhibitor) oil before off-season storage.
- Insert an LED hygrometer in safe; alarms via Bluetooth keep you informed during vacations.
Stainless rifles will pit if left salty after coastal hunts—rinse with warm water, dry, then oil.
Torque & fastener care
- AR upper rail screws 20 in-lb, blue Loctite 242.
- Scope base screws 25 in-lb steel receivers, 15 in-lb aluminium.
- Action screws Ruger 10/22: 20 in-lb; Rem 700: 55 in-lb rear, 65 in-lb front.
Re-torque every time the rifle experiences >20 °C temperature swing or 500-round shot interval.
Maintenance logbook & interval tracking
| Entry | Data Example |
|---|---|
| Date / round count | 12 May 25 – 750 rds through P365 |
| Action taken | Full clean, slide rails greased, extractor inspected |
| Parts replaced | Recoil spring @ 2 000 rds |
| Torque check | Optic screws 15 in-lb confirmed |
| Notes | Light surface rust on mag base—cleaned & oiled |
Download ArrowDefence’s printable PDF or import our template into Excel/Numbers to automate spring-replacement reminders.
ArrowDefence verdict & “Clean-Shoot-Repeat” workshop
Neglect ruins far more guns than over-cleaning ever will, yet wrong solvents can strip finishes and excess lube gums triggers. Stick to the supply list, maintain humidity discipline and log every session; you’ll replace recoil springs, not barrels.
Join our hands-on workshop
- Two-hour armourer demo covering striker channel detail strips.
- Bore-scope inspection of your rifle before & after cleaning.
- Complimentary 50 ml bottle of Lucas grease and ArrowDefence torque chart.