How To

How to Clean a Semi-Automatic Handgun

By eHow Hobbies, Games & Toys Editor
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Once your ears have stopped ringing after spending an afternoon shooting your semi-automatic handgun at the firing range, it's time to head home and clean your gun. Any gun owner knows the importance of handgun maintenance. Cleaning a semi-automatic handgun will require some disassembly, but it will be time well spent to ensure a clean shot every time.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Bore brush
  • Cleaning rod
  • Cleaning patches
  • Oil
  • Lubricant
  • Grease
  • Rags
  1. Step 1

    Make sure the gun is unloaded. Never clean a loaded gun.

  2. Step 2

    Disassemble the handgun. How you do this depends on the type of semi-automatic handgun you own. Refer to your owner's manual. Once disassembled, the gun will be in 4 main parts: the frame, the slide, the barrel and the magazine.

  3. Step 3

    Run a solvent-soaked patch through the barrel, and follow with a bore brush. Then run a lubricant-soaked patch through the barrel, followed by a dry patch.

  4. Step 4

    Wipe exterior and inside of slide, the frame and trigger or hammer areas with lubricant, followed by a dry cloth. Apply 1 or 2 drops of lubricant to the rear of each slide channel and the decocking lever pin. Apply grease to hammer face and frame rails.

  5. Step 5

    Reassemble the handgun. Slide the action several times to work in lubricant until it slides smoothly. Wipe any excess lubricant with a dry, clean cloth. Apply a small drop of oil to all moving parts.

Tips & Warnings
  • Consider watching an instructional video on how to disassemble and clean your semi-automatic handgun. You can find videos like these online.
  • You can purchase gun cleaning kits at most sporting goods stores.
  • Do not disassemble the semi-automatic handgun beyond the 4 main parts listed in the second step.

Comments  

mike3156 said

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on 7/1/2008 I have found a can of break free works well for this . its adout all i use anymore .

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