If you own more than a handful of guns, you already know the problem. Every firearm seems to have its own personality, quirks, and downright frustrating disassembly/reassembly processes, with schematics that look like they’re drawn by a first grader with a dull crayon.
When you’re in the mood for it and have some time to spare, it’s no big deal. Other times, it turns what should be a 15-minute wipe-down into a two-hour ordeal, complete with a rogue spring disappearing under the workbench and a YouTube tutorial you’ve already watched five times.
A total headache.
And the more diverse your collection becomes, the more of a challenge it can be to keep it all straight.
The reality is, no two guns are the same. Some are straightforward, while others feel like they were designed by a sadist with absolutely no sense of humor. Even two guns of the same model can have their own quirks, like the M1A and those stubborn handguard retainer clips… the bane of my existence.
While it’s tempting to chase some perfect system that makes every cleaning job identical, that’s not how this hobby works. At all.
What you can do, though, is figure out a routine that works for you. Streamline the process, if you will.
I’ve found that, because I’ve created a process that works for me, I rather enjoy my cleaning days. Even while dealing with those small, nuanced annoyances and terrible schematic drawings.
All that said, let’s take a look at what it takes to streamline your process and keep your diverse collection of guns clean, functional, and ready to go… without turning an otherwise enjoyable process into a profanity-laced marathon that even the Pope can’t forgive.
Let’s dive in.
A Clean Gun is a Safe Gun
Before we get too into the weeds, I want to have a frank conversation.
A firearm is a machine. And like any other machine, they require a bit of regular maintenance to keep them running properly. And safely.
Neglect your car and it’ll leave you stranded on the side of the road. Neglect your firearm, and it might fail when you need it most. Or worse, it could pose a very real risk to life and limb. Rust, gummed-up actions, weak primer strikes, or improperly seated parts can all lead to serious problems.
But there’s more to the cleaning process than just going through the motions. It’s also an inspection process. Or at least it should be. I mean, you’re already getting close and personal with a pretty intimate massage complete with some overly fragrant oil and whatnot. Why not give everything a full once-over?
Fondle, finger, push, and pull. Make sure that things that should click go “click,” and that things that are supposed to move do so freely. And, the things that aren’t supposed to, well, don’t.
You get my point, right? There’s more to cleaning and maintaining your gun than a quick bath and a solid scrubbin’. Really give the process the care and attention it deserves, because a clean, properly maintained firearm isn’t just reliable. It’s predictable. It’s safe.
Your life depends on it.
Gun Maintenance: The Workspace
Okay, with the heavy stuff out of the way, let’s really get into the meat and potatoes here.
Gun maintenance is dirty business. Between the mess of black carbon gook, harsh cleaning chemicals, and surface-staining oils, it’s pretty clear that the kitchen table or living room coffee table is probably not the best place to be working on your guns.
While a quality cleaning mat can remedy some of the risk if you’re absolutely hellbent on working from the comfort of your couch, I highly recommend establishing a dedicated, well-lit, and well-ventilated workspace. This can be your garage, converted shed, or a room in your basement.
You don’t need a full-blown armorer’s bench with a pegboard wall and a rolling chest full of specialty tools (though they’re definitely nice to have). But you do need a stable surface, good lighting, and a place where it’s not the end of the world if you get a little overzealous with your gun oil and spill a little.
And above all, proper ventilation is a must. Inadvertent huffing of solvent fumes isn’t exactly great for that last remaining brain cell. Further, some gun cleaner fumes, like gasoline, can be extremely flammable. So, setting up your workspace in the utility closet near a gas furnace or water heater with a pilot light probably isn’t the best idea.
Personally, I have a spare room in the basement that serves as a makeshift gun room and business office. My cleaning supplies and armorer’s tools are organized neatly in my Milwaukee Packout system, and I’ve got a mobile workbench that I can move around as necessary for cleaning days, small gun maintenance classes, photo setups, and so on.
But it’s the space that matters more. The floors are concrete. I’ve got plenty of natural and artificial light. And it’s surprisingly well ventilated. That, and I’ve added a few creature comforts like a mini fridge and a small TV for the inevitable YouTube gun maintenance consult when I’m stumped by some tricky pin removal or something.
Other folks have custom-built she-sheds and man caves. Some have a small corner in the garage. It’s whatever works for you.
Anyway, if you’re like me, you’ll quickly start associating your space with a personalized gun care ritual. It makes the whole thing feel less like a chore and more like an excuse to hang out in your little slice of the world for a while.
Proper Tools for the Job
Gun maintenance can be a great way to reduce stress. At least that’s how I see it. But, without some critical, must-have tools, it can also be an awful nightmare.
I mean, you can clean and maintain your guns with an old shop rag, a bottle of cheap CLP, and a screwdriver from the junk drawer. Plenty of folks have. But if you want to save yourself time, hassle, and the occasional string of expletives when a detent spring launches across the room, it’s worth investing in a few tools that actually make the job easier.
Let’s start with the basics.
A good cleaning mat is worth its weight in gold. Not only does it protect your workspace, but most options have little built-in parts trays or raised edges to keep springs and pins from rolling off the table and disappearing into Ether. It also helps keep solvents and oil from absolutely wrecking your workbench, while making cleanup a hell of a lot faster.
Bore guides and chamber flags are the unsung heroes of cleaning long guns. A bore guide keeps your cleaning rod centered in the barrel and prevents it from gouging the chamber, while a chamber flag is a simple, visual reminder that a gun is unloaded while you’re working on it. Cheap insurance, am I right?
A quality cleaning rod or Bore Snake is an absolute must-have. Personally, I tend to gravitate toward Bore Snakes and cleaning ropes for most of my cleaning jobs. They’re quick, effective, and you don’t have to fuss with threading patches or swapping out jags and brushes every five seconds. That, and most of them are compatible with multiple calibers.
That said, there’s still a place for a good cleaning rod, especially for deep cleanings or when you’re working some stubborn lead or copper fouling out of a rifle bore. If you go that route, skip the cheap aluminum or stainless steel options. They’ll do more damage than good.
Instead, look for brass or carbon fiber rods with attachments in the calibers you actually own. It’s worth having at least one or two on standby for those times when a snake just isn’t cutting it.
For those smaller, harder-to-reach areas, picks and scrapers really save the day. Nylon picks are great for delicate surfaces, while brass and polymer scrapers give you a little extra “oomph” without scratching or marring up your gun. I prefer my Real Avid Accu-Grip picks, but that’s just me.
They’re lightweight and comfortable enough… but they’re nothing special. You needn’t spend bookoo bucks on your picks. Just make sure they’re of decent quality and you’re golden!
You’ll also want a torque driver set with a proper selection of hollow-ground bits. The cheap screwdrivers you find in hardware store kits will wreck screw heads in no time, especially on older or collectible guns. A torque driver allows you to apply consistent, safe pressure, reducing the risk of stripping threads or damaging wood stocks.
When it comes to chemicals, you don’t have to overcomplicate it. A good solvent and a reliable gun oil will cover 90% of your needs. Brands like Hoppes, Bore Tech, and Break Free all get the job done without turning your workspace into a hazmat zone.
A decent CLP is nice to have for quick wipe-downs, but it’s not a substitute for proper cleaning products.
That said, you can absolutely overcomplicate your cleaning chemical setup if you so desire. We’ll get to that in a bit.
Don’t forget a proper bench block and a small brass or nylon hammer. Guns have pins, and pins need to come out. Doing that without scratching up your finish or sending parts flying requires a stable surface and a non-marring hammer.
A magnetic parts tray is also pretty handy, keeping those tiny bits and bobs from migrating off the workbench and vanishing into the void.
And finally, a headlamp or a good bench light makes all the difference in the world. Because nothing adds to frustration like trying to spot a tiny carbon ring or hairline crack in a poorly lit corner of your workspace.
Getting in a Groove
This is where a lot of folks go wrong. They overthink it. You don’t need to clean every single firearm you own every time you go to the range. And you definitely don’t need to tear every gun down to the last roll pin unless something’s seriously wrong.
In fact, most manufacturers recommend you don’t, unless you’re a licensed gunsmith. Some go so far as to state that going too far in your disassembly will void warranties.
Read your manuals, folks.
The trick is to establish a rhythm that fits your shooting habits and your collection. For me, it’s something like this: every gun gets a basic wipe-down after range day. A quick bore pass, light oiling, and a visual once-over. Done.
Every few months, or after particularly high round counts or rough conditions, I keep track of what guns need what maintenance and grab a couple of guns out of the safe for deeper cleaning. That means full disassembly, bore scrubbing, and getting into every little nook and cranny with picks and brushes.
If you’re a list person, make a simple rotation schedule. If you’re more of a “wing it” type, just pay attention to how often you shoot and how the guns feel when you handle them. Gritty triggers and sluggish actions don’t lie.
Again, it’s gotta be a system that works for you. But whatever you do, just be consistent.
Consistency is more important than perfection. Stay on top of things in manageable chunks, and you’ll never have to face down a pile of filthy, neglected guns begging for hours of elbow grease or a trip to the gunsmith counter. Trust me: those fees can be exorbitant.
Rinse & Repeat
Once you’ve found your groove, stick with it. We’ve established that.
The more you clean and handle your guns, the faster and more efficient you’ll become with the whole disassembly/reassembly process. And the more efficient you become, the better you’ll get at navigating particular nuances or spotting potential issues.
Don’t be afraid to make slight adjustments to your routine as your collection changes. Different guns, both new and old, require differing levels of attention and care.
But make those adjustments with care. Write them down. Integrate them (with consistency) into your regular routine.
Consistency, consistency, consistency.
I also recommend keeping track of what you do and when you do it. It’ll help you keep track of your gun maintenance needs, especially as your collection grows.
Nothing’s worse than forgetting that Norinco SKS in the back of the safe, only to realize it’s developed some nasty patina on the bolt assembly and the firing pin is stuck, resulting in an increased risk of a slam fire (ask me how I know about that one).
Had my buddy paid closer attention and kept a record of his cleaning/maintenance schedule, perhaps the issue would have been caught and fixed sooner. I’ve since installed a spring-captured firing pin for him, and everything’s just peachy-keen now.
But that’s neither here nor there.
Again, consistency matters. Consistency and routine really make the whole process a lot more enjoyable and less of a chore, I’m telling ya.
Appreciate the Nuances
One of the best (and most frustrating) parts of owning a diverse gun collection is learning how each firearm behaves. Guns from different eras and countries reflect different schools of engineering. An old Mosin-Nagant feels like it was made by a blacksmith who hated the Czar. A German P38 is the product of precision and efficiency. And a Glock 19? Well, there just ain’t nothing to it.
What I’ve found is that you don’t need to memorize every detail of every gun. You just need to pay attention to where they tend to get dirty, where parts tend to stick, and which corners like to trap carbon. Over time, you’ll figure out what each one needs, how often, and what to keep an eye on.
I kind of alluded to this earlier, but I keep a small notebook in my range bag. Nothing fancy; just scribbled notes on oddball guns or things I’ve noticed. Maybe my M1A’s action feels a little stiff and needs a fresh application of grease, or maybe a particular AR likes to run a little wetter than others. Having those notes nearby helps me make informed gun maintenance decisions.
As such, I’ve built a custom set of cleaners and lubes that I like using for different firearms. Having fired tens of thousands of rounds down range, I’ve learned what does and doesn’t work well with my specific collection.
On my AR-15, I like to start with a spritz of Real Avid CLP on all parts, including the inside of the barrel, followed by a foaming bore cleaner and solvent bath before applying a thin coat of Break Free Performance Gun Oil.
My M1A, however, likes a combination of a quick CLP coating before a more aggressive solvent and oil bath, with heavy grease around the action. For another gun, I might use a less aggressive solvent followed by a liberal application of Tri-Flow lubricant.
Nuances and differences can be annoying. I get that. Sometimes, it’d be a hell of a lot easier if everything in your collection shared similar takedown procedures and had identical operational features.
But arms technology is constantly advancing, and nothing manmade is ever perfect. Personally, I find the small nuances are what make different guns and arms so interesting. Nothing is ever the same, which to me, is absolutely part of the fun.
Final Thoughts
Our gun collections are as diverse and unique as we are. No two guns, even of the same make and model, are ever 100% identical. On the surface, it can seem daunting to figure out the intricacies and nuances of disassembling/reassembling, cleaning, and maintaining a growing gun collection.
But it doesn’t have to be a chore. If you can establish a dedicated workspace, stock it with the right tools and supplies, and settle into a gun maintenance routine that makes sense for you, that’s half the battle right there. The other half is just showing up and doing it.
The more time you spend with your guns, the better you’ll get to know them. You’ll learn their quirks and develop little habits that turn a frustrating teardown into a laid-back afternoon at the bench. It takes time; it takes effort. It takes real dedication.
Whether you’re new to firearms or you’ve been doing this for decades, take the time to build a workspace that works for you. Experiment with different tools, find cleaning products you like, and don’t be afraid to tweak your routine as your collection evolves. Your guns will run better, you’ll stress less, and who knows — you might even find yourself looking forward to gun maintenance days.
I know I sure do.
Now, get out there, roll up your sleeves, and make that workbench your own.
