FrogLube Gun Maintenance Pro-tip: Clean your gun.

Discussion. The number one cause of fouling-related malfunctions is contaminants in places they don’t belong.

If you can see it, it’s not supposed to be there. OK, what happens during firing---yes, contaminants do happen, and gun machined tolerances are ‘compromises’ that allow for some fouling to present so you don’t have to clean your gun after firing a few rounds. Here’s the extreme comparison: an open class ‘race gun’ v. an AK-47. The race gun is designed for supper accuracy and speed while the AK is for reliability.

When should I clean?

There are numerous answers, from grandpa’s rocking chair wisdom to precision rifle sub-MOA consistency. Here’s the most common answers:

• Habit. After you shoot, you inspect and clean.

• Round count. Determine how many rounds you can shoot before reliability becomes

• a malfunction waiting to happen.

• Accuracy. Professionals, hunters and snipers will develop their own method to ensure an accuracy expectation with that 1st shot.

• Storage. Before placing into storage and upon withdrawing from storage.

• Timed interval. Military does a 90-day interval for stored weapons, this is a good place to start. With FrogLube cleaners and preservatives, you can easily extend this interval out to 6 months or even a year.

What should I clean with? Only use a cleaner designed specifically for firearms.

1. Solvent. When loose, powdery or dusty environmental fouling is present.

2. Degreaser. When fouling is ‘caked’ or ‘baked’ onto surfaces.

3. Non-corrosive. Corrosive ‘acidic’ cleaners may strip off not only fouling, but your nice NiB coating, ceracote or duracote finishes, night sights, etch your optics, or any other numerous harmful results you don’t want.

FrogLube Super Degreaser is ultra efficient at removing stubborn fouling

What should I inspect for after I clean?  

The basic rule of thumb is if you can see the fouling, it should be removed. You can also use ‘wipes’ or patches inside spaces like receivers and barrels that will REVEAL fouling still remaining on the part. Look closely at parts with tight tolerances, like bolt faces and lugs, extractors and ejectors.

Cleaning methods:

1. Wipe. You can use a commercially available product, like FrogLube Wipes that are pre-soaked with a lubricated formula specifically designed for firearms care.

2. Brush. Agitation is effective with solvent and degreasing cleaners to dislodge the fouling from tight spaces.

3. Jag or eyelet and patch. This method is recommended for pushing fouling out of barrels.

4. Inspect. FrogLube recommends the ‘white glove’ or Marine Drill Instructor test. If you can see the fouling on the wipe, you need to keep cleaning. This prevents you from applying clean lubricant on top of dirty, stubborn fouling. 

Conclusion. FrogLube recommends you clean your gun on a regular basis and use FrogLube cleaners and Lubes to guarantee you achieve the white glove result.