It’s one thing to own a gun and another to clean it. Unfortunately, many firearm owners don’t have the time or the enthusiasm to clean their guns. Yet, this is an unavoidable part of gun ownership. If you want to protect your gun and make your firearm investment worth every penny, you must make the time to clean it or have it cleaned.
So, in this guide, we will share how to clean your gun. We will provide a detailed guide on why you need to clean your firearm and how to find a gun cleaning service near you.
Why Do I Need to Clean My Gun?
Cleaning your gun helps protect the weapon and prevent any damage or changes before it worsens. Also, it allows you to learn more about your gun. There are several more benefits, read about them below:
Avoid Major Damage
Over time, your gun may become damaged due to corrosion and rust. Each time you discharge your gun, minute particles of carbon, plastic, copper, etc., are released in its bore and chamber. This reduces precision and leads to long-term damage.
In addition, lubricating is part of cleaning. Without lubrication, the parts will wear out faster. This can lead to more extensive repairs or replacement.
Increased Lifespan
Handguns can last a long time. Cleaning, lubricating, and properly storing your firearm contribute significantly to doing this.
You don’t need a complex routine; simple but regular maintenance goes a long way.
Ensures Efficiency
Cleaning ensures your firearm operates at peak performance. When residue, dirt, and dust collect on your gun, it can build up in the barrel. The handgun may gum up if this isn’t cleaned up for so long. This may lead to firing failures. It may also cause you to miss targets.
Provides Reassurance
If you use your gun for safety purposes, it’s even more important to clean it regularly. As mentioned above, excessive debris will cause shooting failures.
The last thing you need is to have an emergency on your hand and have your gun fail you.
Understand Your Weapon
Taking the time to clean your weapon makes you understand it better. Even if you usually take it in for maintenance, you will keep getting tips on how it works from your professional.
How to Find a Gun Cleaning Service Near Me?
Finding a gun-cleaning service in your area may be more complex than finding a local plumber. First, your immediate area may not even have one. But there’s always the next. So, you just have to be deliberate about your search.
Search on Google
You can Google search gun cleaning services with your specific location. Many gun-cleaning professionals have a Google Business Profile (GBP or GMB), so the algorithm would filter them and show the one that’s closest to you.
This will also be based on popularity and the reviews shared by customers, so you can check out the profile and make sure they tick all your boxes. You can also visit the website to see if you can book an appointment before heading in and confirm if they provide services for your gun type.
Search Local Gun Enthusiast Groups
If you shoot for a hobby, you probably have a Facebook or WhatsApp group for shooters you are part of. This group is very useful for finding cleaning services.
The best thing is you’ll get organic reviews and honest opinions on each cleaning professional. This way, you can weigh your options clearly and even get free help or discounts.
If you are not a member of any gun group, you can search on Facebook and join some. These groups aren’t only helpful in finding cleaning services, but you’ll also find other shooters, learn new techniques for free, and get invited to shooting events.
Ask People at Your Local Shooting Range
The most direct referral to a gun cleaning service near you is to ask people who share your passion. These people also clean their guns and replace parts, so they have all the valuable details.
Better yet, these other firearm enthusiasts are easily accessible and probably stay in the same area as you. So you’ll be getting gun cleaning service recommendations that are actually close to you.
So, the next time you go to a shooting event or your regular range, don’t forget to strike up the conversation. You can also ask the staff at your range; you never can tell if your range offers cleaning services on the side!
Popular Gun Cleaning Professionals
If you need a cleaning professional immediately, there are some verified professionals you can reach out to online.
Most of them are only available in certain states, so ensure you pick one that’s as close to you as possible. Here are seven gun-cleaning professionals you can check out:
ProShots Gun-smith Winston-Salem, NC
This North Carolina gun cleaning service company offers comprehensive cleaning. They also have gunsmiths and offer one-on-one shooting training.
They have membership benefits and also offer firearm rentals.
Heritage Training & Shooting Range
They provide firearm and safety classes, legal defense classes, and firearm cleaning services. They also sell forearm and firearm accessories. This service is available in Maryland.
Shooter’s World
Shooter’s World is Florida’s biggest firearm store. They have stores in Tampa, Orlando, and Villages. They provide precise gun services, including cleaning, repairs, replacement, etc.
They also have an indoor public shooting range and training facility.
HW Gun Range Training Center
HW provides a comprehensive gun cleaning service. Their most basic gun cleaning plan costs $35, and a specialty clean costs about $100.
They also install pistol sights, but their skeet field is only available to members. This business is located in Cypress, Texas.
Keystone Shooting Center
This business provides routine firearm maintenance in Pittsburgh. In addition, they have a state-of-the-art facility for sonic cleaning with several testimonials on their website.
Ultrasonic pistol cleaning costs about $40, while rifles and shotguns cost about $60.
Cross Hairs Texas
Cross Hairs is in Bastrop, Texas, and they offer a wide range of cleaning services that start from as low as $15.
They also provide repair services and training on managing and cleaning your firearms.
Tip of The Spear Training Group
Tip of the Spear offers a broad range of gun-related services. This includes specific courses on different types of guns and superiorly tailored cleaning. This cleaning is referred to as MilClean.
The company is located in Palm Bay, Florida. They charge for cleaning per hour.
What Do Professionals Do?
Gun cleaning services use safe materials to clean your gun and keep it in the best condition. They usually follow this process:
- disassemble your gun;
- clean each component;
- lubricate the parts;
- perform an inspection on each part;
- perform a thorough function check to confirm it’s in the best condition.
However, each gun cleaning service has various services. They will offer you a wide range of options, from basic cleaning to full cleaning and service.
How Often Should I Clean My Gun?
Generally, you can do a simple cleaning of any gun type after each visit to the shooting range. A practice or target gun gathers lots of carbon particles after 200-300 rounds.
So, you can clean it after the 300 mark. It would be best to also deep-clean after the 3000 rounds mark. Even if you don’t use your gun often, you should still take it out of storage and clean it occasionally.
A conceal-carry firearm can be cleaned once every two weeks. However, you should take it in for deep cleaning and inspection monthly.
Defensive firearms that don’t get used often should also be deep-cleaned monthly. Hunting rifles can be cleaned once in a while; you can keep them before and after the shooting season. Still, you can clean it faster each use to get off the debris from using them in the wild.
Can I Clean My Gun Myself?
Yes, you can do a simple gun cleaning at home. However, you need to have the essential resources for the job.
Here are some crucial steps in gun cleaning.
- Get a top-quality gun cleaning kit. This includes a cleaning solvent, microfiber towels, a cleaning rod, a bore brush, and gun oil.
- Unload your gun to ensure there’s no round ready to fire in the magazine.
- Have the manufacturer’s guide ready. Use this to disassemble the gun as much as recommended.
- Use a bore brush and a cleaning rod to clean out the barrel.
- Apply a few drops of your gun oil to lubricate the insides.
- Clean and lubricate the action with your cleaning solvent.
- Wipe down the body of the gun with the microfiber towel.
Remember that these are simple maintenance tips – you’ll still need to hire a professional for deep cleaning.
Final Thoughts
Cleaning your gun regularly will help increase its efficiency and lifespan. However, finding a gun cleaning service near you can be daunting, especially if you are a new shooter.
However, you can find professional services with Google Maps or Google search, through Facebook groups for gun enthusiasts, and in your local shooting range. You can also clean your gun yourself. But ensure you find a gun-friendly solution. For example, avoid corrosive chemicals and keep your gun feu after cleaning.
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