Cleaning Your Firearm

Clean your firearms after every use to keep them in top condition. Every hunter should own a kit with all the components needed for a thorough cleaning.

Work on a cleared table or bench. Always give firearm cleaning your full attention. Never clean a firearm while doing something else.

Follow these basic steps to clean your firearm.

Point the muzzle in a safe direction, and make sure the gun is unloaded.
Remove all ammunition from the cleaning bench.
For the most thorough cleaning, field strip the firearm as directed in the firearm owner’s manual. Then clean each part separately.
Follow the instructions in your cleaning kit. If possible, clean the barrel from the breech end using a cleaning rod with a brush or patch attached. Pass the brush or patch all the way through the barrel. Because the chamber diameter is greater than the bore, you may need a chamber brush and a larger patch.
Use cleaning solvents in a well-ventilated area and only as directed.

Cleaning Kit (recommended)

Assorted rod tips—brushes, mop tips, slotted tips, jag tips
Bore light
Clean cloths
Cleaning rods
Cotton swabs
Dental mirror
Gun grease
Gun oil
Gunsmith screwdrivers
Patches for the caliber or gauge of the firearm
Pipe cleaners
Solvent
Stand to hold the firearm securely in a horizontal position
Toothbrush

See a detailed diagram (PDF format) showing the supplies and procedures for cleaning both a rifle and a handgun.

Missouri Department
of Conservation

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Official hunter education course for Missouri hunters last modified: November 16, 2011
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