While we’re all stuck at home, and most of the shooting ranges are closed, spend the time productively. Take all your guns out of the safe and give them a good, full-service scrubbing.
Well, for safety’s sake, maybe just pull them out one at a time. Check that each one is unloaded, and make sure there’s no ammo in the room with the gun you’re cleaning. Then break each gun down, and clean it thoroughly inside and out.
For the barrel, my favorite cleaning products are the BoreSnake and SwabIts. Both of these provide a thorough cleaning, and they’re much easier to use than patches. SwabIts are one-time use mops for your barrels, and BoreSnakes can be used over and over. I actually use both. I run the BoreSnake through first, then I shine it all up with the SwabIts.
When you’re done, give the moving parts a bit of lube. Not too much – just a drop here and there. Everyone has their favorite gun lube, but I’m kind of partial to BreakFree and CorrosionX.
And while you have your guns out, if you don’t already have one, take the time to put together a gun inventory. Or update the one you already have, if you’ve added guns to your collection. Get photos of each gun, including the serial numbers, and put together a file that has the make, model, and serial number of each of your guns. If you have bills of sale or receipts, put those in there, too. Then get digital copies of all these records and make a couple backups. Keep a copy in a safe deposit box, if you have one, or give it to a trusted friend to hold onto for you.
Hopefully we’ll be back out at the range practicing our shooting and getting those guns dirty again soon.
