Spring 2025 Firearm Maintenance Guide for Your Post-Winter Check-Up

As we reach the heart of spring, if you want your firearm to fire on all cylinders, post-winter maintenance ranks right up there with having the ignition key and a fully charged battery in your car. Otherwise, a trip to the used car lot or junkyard is in its immediate future.

Likewise, if you want your projectile to fire from its cylinder in a straight and true path, gun maintenance is as crucial as a steady hand and sharp eye. Otherwise, the firearm could end up in a box in your basement or military surplus store, its days of discharging hunting ammunition and shooting ammo having reached the end of the barrel.

Before doing any kind of firearm maintenance, make sure it’s devoid of ammo. Gun cleaning accidents often occur when the firearm is supposedly unloaded. Safety steps include removing the magazine, opening the action and inspecting the chamber.

Taking a page from dental care and carpet cleaning, a deep cleaning removes corrosive residue that can affect the performance of firearms over time. The best way to win the fight against corrosion is to use special brushes and tools to clean the action, slide, and other gun parts.

Firearms, like cars, need lubrication to perform at peak efficiency and reduce the wear and tear caused by the friction created through the firing process. Make sure you use the appropriate lubricant and apply the right amount, as too much or too little is detrimental to proper firing.

The next step is to reassemble the firearm by following manufacturer’s guidelines and doing a function check consisting of safety, trigger function, slide or bolt operation, and other moving parts.

Finally, there’s proper storage. Just as you want to store your car in a dry, cool place, parking your firearm in a similar environment equates to peak efficiency. Gun safes and storage cases offer an added layer of protection.