Cleaning of weapons

After I finish shooting at the range, I usually put some solvent into the barrel, wrap the weapon in a cotton cloth, and put it in my range bag. By the time I get home, the solvent has had time to "work", and it is easier to clean the barrel of the weapon.

Beware that some solvents, and gun oils, can actually mar the finish of your weapon, and also destroy your ammunition. Refer to the solvent manufacturers instructions.

Here are a few easy tips on the cleaning of the SIG-SAUER P series.

• Check that the weapon is unloaded. (Remove magazine, lock the slide to the rear, and verify that the chamber is empty. Visually, and with your little finger.)

• Disassemble the weapon: Remove the slide from the frame, lift out the recoil spring, guide, and barrel.

• Use an oiled copper or brass brush (not steel) and clean the bore and chamber via the chamber. Finally wipe powder residues and oil from the barrel with cleaning patches.

• Use a brush, (a discarded toothbrush works just fine) and clean the locking insert and magazine well in the frame, aswell as the areas around the breechblock, firing pin hole and extractor. The area around the extractor can be a bit tricky to clean. Be thorough.

• If possible, use compressed air to blow out any particles. There are cans of compressed air available from companies that service copiers and printers. And you won´t have to huff and puff.

• Clean the guide rails on the frame, and slide, with cotton "tops" (Q-tips), making sure that there are no particles left there.

• Wipe down the outside of the weapon, and barrel, with a cloth impregnated with gun oil.

• Lightly oil the guide rails, bore , chamber, and the part of the breechblock that contacts the hammer.

• Assemble and function check the weapon.

• The magazines are easily disassembled for cleaning, and once again the toothbrush comes handy for cleaning the inside of the magazine. Run a dry cloth through the mag, assemble, and lightly oil the outside surface of the magazine.

The SIG-SAUER P-series are known as "wet guns", meaning that they are intended to be a bit " oily" to function properly. If you carry one of these excellent weapons in a holster, be sure that the solvents and gun oil you use will not harm your holsters or clothing .