If you are quite fat or a big guy then you may think there is no best IWB holster available for you. Some people even say you to forget about it, these are not comfortable for a big guy, etc. We believe, some of you already tried an IWB holster and found it uncomfortable to wear. If these are your problem, then let us tell you, my friend, you’re not alone. We are going to point out a couple of best IWB holster for big guys like you.
If you have a large waist or big-boned, it doesn’t mean no options are left for you. We know when it comes to a holster, size and shape matters but doesn’t say there are no options for you. For a reason, today we are going to share all our knowledge about IWB holster and two best IWB holster reviews which are perfect for you.
So, let’s jump into it.
Best IWB Holster For Big Guys
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So, here is something you’re looking for a long time. Yes, now it’s time for the product recommendations.
Before reading the product reviews, please keep one thing in your mind that all the reviews are unbiased and we used all these products. We are using these two holsters for a long time. For a reason, it won’t be a bogus fair review. We hope you’ll appreciate our efforts and hard work.
Almost everyone who carries a gun wants a comfortable and soft (even softer) holster. When someone talks about a very comfortable and stylish holster the first product that comes in our mind is Concealment Express’s IWB KYDEX holster. Why? Let’s find out!
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Key Features
Now we’re talking about a comfortable and minimalistic product that is specially made for Taurus 111/140 Millennium G2 & G2C.
It is so many settings so that you can set it according to your needs. When it comes to maintaining the pressure and carrying angle, it has both features. Yes, it has adjustable retention pressure which is very easy to set.
It also has an adjustable carry angle. You can easily adjust 0-15 degrees without using any fancy tool. All you need is a screwdriver (the manufacturer recommends Philips screwdriver) for changing. So, you can adjust it for a perfect gripping.
It’s made with 0.8” KYDEX for a perfectly shaped fit, and that’s why it’s very light in weight but sturdy when it comes to the performance.
It also has a retention lock system which is known as ‘Posi-Click’. The IWB holster also has attached sweat guard, so the holster isn’t going to sweat and make your gun slippery.
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Pros & Cons
What we really like
✔ Adjustable setting for a great fitting
✔ It’s comfortable to use it in any carry position
✔ Easy to adjust. (No fancy tool required)
✔ Durable enough!
✔ High-quality
✔ Light Weight
✔ Minimalistic design
What we don't like
✗ Some guns don’t fit perfectly in it. However, G2 and G2C fit perfectly in it.
Our experience with KYDEX holster was excellent. It was perfect for our Taurus G2 and the holster used to cover the entire gun. Comparing to the other holster, it is very light in weight, slim and that’s why it’s very comfortable to use. After hearing light these, don’t think, it’s not durable. It’s very durable, and almost no user has complained against its durability. It is also available with the adjustable setting feature so that we can set it according to our need and adjusting it wasn’t a tough task to do.
The Concealment Express is a well-known and trustworthy brand in the USA. The IWB KYDEX holster from CC is the proof of it. They just made an excellent product which is very budget-friendly. It’s hand-made in the USA not imported from any other country so we can easily trust them. The manufacture of the KYDEX holster is too confident about the product that’s why they’re offering an unconditional lifetime warranty. No matter how large your waist is, you can use it comfortably.
Do you love leather and leathery look? Are you looking for old-school but on the other side elegant and classic design leather made holster? Then this recommendation is an ideal recommendation for you.
Key Features
If you have a Glock G19, 23, 32 or 38 and you’re looking for a gun holster which is made with high-end leather then our next suggestion is Outbags heavy leather IWB holster. It’s a very premium looking holster. As we all know, leather holsters are almost lost from the holster industry. Only a few numbers of people prefer leather holsters. Comparing to the other holsters, a leather one is costly. If you want to get a nice and premium one for you, then you have to spend much more than a regular holster.
Don’t worry! our recommended product isn’t expensive at all. It’s one of the most budget-friendly we have ever used. It’s made with original high-grade leather, and you can use it inside your pant very comfortably. Yes, the leather of it goes very comfortably with your skin, and it’ll give you all the flexibility you’re looking for! The bulky leather holster also includes a durable metal clip and a large retention setting so you can conceal your weapon.
The only problem we found with it is, the leathery holster absorbs sweat and water. So, if you don’t dry it and keep your gun in it, then it can be harmful to your gun. The solution is, whenever you come home to keep your gun out of the holster and dry it.
Now, what can you do for cleaning and maintaining it? As it’s made of leather so you can’t wash it with water. What you have to use is a leather conditioner. Leather conditioners which we use for our leather shoe and belt. You can use it on your holster too.
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Pros & Cons
What we really like
✔ Made with high-end leather
✔ Affordable in price
✔ Very Elegant design
✔ Comfortable
✔ Hand-dyed
What we don't like
✗ Requires maintenance (if you want to keep your holster look like brand new, you’ve to take care of it, my friend!)
✗ Absorbs sweat and water. (We also give you the solution in detail below.)
We are a fan of leather-made accessories and love to wear the classic leather jacket. We use a leather wallet as well. So, buying one holster made with high-quality leather was like an expensive dream for me. Then one day on an e-commerce site we found this one. After purchasing and using it for the year, we can say one thing that it’s something everyone would love to have. The simple design of it always impresses our friends. The only downside we ever found is, it absorbs sweat and water. That’s why every night we come home, we keep our gun in the drawer and dry the holster in the fresh air.
If you love to use leather goodies, then you’ll like it for sure. The manufacturer Outbags is very famous for their quality in the USA. Outbags didn’t disappoint us with the quality of it. If you’re under a tight budget but still looking for leather made holster, then it’s something you may like.
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Why You Need An IWB Holster?
You may think, it’s a wired section because you already know why you need this that’s why you’re reading this article. However, it’s a section for those who don’t know much about holsters. Also if you still see a lot of holsters, We will suggest you read it because knowledge has no boundary.
Some people think, finding the best IWB holster for them is just a waste of time. These are those people who are comfortable with their old and traditional shoulder and waistband hostler. You should avoid those people because IWB holster is something that you should have. Why? Let’s find the answer down below!
Concealability
When it comes to concealment nothing can beat IWB holster. It doesn’t show up like other holsters. IWB holster doesn’t even reveal the shape it. Once the holster looped or clipped with the wristband, the exposure of its stop at the bottom of the belt. So, hiding your gun or concealment is a big factor for you then IWB is the best option for you.
Belt-less
Some IWB holster doesn’t even require a belt because it already has metal clipping system in it. So you can just easily attach it with your pants edge which is very time-saving and easy to go.
Works Great Under Un-tucked Shirts
In summer, you can’t wear a jacket or coat, and that’s why it’s quite hard to hide your gun and holster. However, if you are wearing something untucked in summer days, the IWB holster will hug your body and never show up. So, you don’t have to wear a jacket or cardigan in summer days for hiding your gun.
Stability
It keeps your gun stable, and it sticks with your body, so stability isn’t an issue with it. J
These are the reasons why we think you should own an IWB holster. Nowadays, almost everyone who carries a gun is concern about concealment and carriage style. None want to show up with a gun in public. When IWB holster is offering you both, why shouldn’t you get one?
What’s The Problem Big Guys Face With Regular Holster?
We talked with some big guys who are now using an IWB holster. According to them, the size and uncomfortable feeling are the main problems with regular holster.
From one point of view, for larger waist size, it’s very tough to use a regular holster. It’s very uncomfortable, and even the holster doesn’t fit you properly. With a regular holster, a fat guy can not sit and drive properly. For these reasons, many experts and experienced people with gun recommend the big guy to use Inside Waist Band (IWB) holster.
So, the uncomfortable feeling and larger waist size are the main problem with regular holsters for big guys. As the issue has been discussed, we think now we should move to the recommendation section so that you can get the best IWB holster for you.
Things To Consider Before Buying An IWB Holster
As you already know a lot about IWB holsters and the problems a big guy have to face for it. For a reason, we are not going for a big and detailed buying guide because if you read the entire article till now, you’ll get what I’m saying.
Comfortable or not?
– If you’re looking for something best, the comfortableness is the first priority. If you feel uneasy after using several times, then it’s not for you my friend.
Can you use it in all Positions?
– If you can’t use it in several positions like 2’O clock (10’O clock for left hand), 5’O clock (&’O clock for lefties) and 3’O clock then you’re not comfortable with it.
Is it good-looking or not?
– Appearance is something that’ll attract everyone. As you’re using it every day, it has to be something that satisfies you.
Is it made for your gun or not?
– Always try to find something that is made for your gun. If it’s made for your gun, you don’t need to worry about the safety about your gun.
Sturdy or not?
– If it’s not sturdy, then it’s not for your weapon my friend!
These are some points we always try to find before buying. If you consider all these points before buying an IWB holster. If you follow all these facts before buying, you’ll get the best one for sure. These are the facts every guy with a large waist should follow.
Conclusion
When it comes to the accessories for your gun, a holster is very important. As you already know, for big guys there is a tiny number of options are available. Still, we tried our best to recommend you two holsters, which are comfortable, stylish and sturdy enough.
Don’t be hopeless. There are so many beautiful options available for you and IWB isn’t uncomfortable. For concealing your gun, an IWB holster should be your priority. It’s offering you everything a gun holder wants from a holster.
In the end, don’t forget to tell us your experience with holster and as a big guy how you suffered from the regular holster. Also do let us know, your experience with our recommended product and is it helpful or not?
Firearms really require maintenance and cleaning but the frequency of its cleanliness is really vague, to say the least. Here, we will try to answer the question “How often should you clean your gun?” Some people say that a gun must be cleaned regularly. While others find that they should be cleaned every few months.
This basically depends on different factors. The type of the gun, the use of the guns and the ammunition’s material are some of it. It also depends on the condition of your gun. If you have a gun that you don’t use quite a lot then, it’s safe to say that it doesn’t need much care. But, if you’re an avid shooter, the cleanliness frequency is an entirely different matter altogether.
If you are shooting ammunition which is corrosive in nature or if your firearm is constantly exposed to water, moisture or other elements that could potentially damage it then you must clean your gun frequently. Some things that need frequent cleansing include salt, water, dust, rust, dirt, and corrosive ammunition. All these things can cause failure of the gun’s trigger mechanism.
Is Regular Gun Cleaning Really Needed?
Regular gun clean might be necessary because guns get dirty. That’s about it really. Simply put, you are cleaning all the dirty residue off your gun when you are cleaning it. The dirt is of many kinds, but mainly it’s carbon. Carbon can build up each and everytime you fire your gun. The propellant leaves carbon residues when it burns. Other types of residues are small bits of metal left by bullets. However, the main culprit is always carbon.
Another reason to clean your gun is to remove rust. Using a gun outside exposes it to moisture. Some places are moist such as swamp or rainforests. Even without the rain, the humidity in the air is still present that can rust your gun. As we are taught in high school science, when metal is exposed to moisture it oxidizes. This results in the formation of rust. So, to avoid rust, regular cleanliness is important.
What Happens If You Don’t Clean Your Guns?
The carbon buildup would be so much that your gun won’t cycle properly. Bullet trajectory could be ruined too. There are also other many defects that can arise from an uncleaned gun. Apart from carbon build up another thing that’ll ruin your gun is the rust. Rust can severely damage the metal. Even the barrel can be affected.
Another thing that happens to your gun is the harm done by bullets. Bullets are made up of a lead core with a copper jacket as an envelope. Even a lead-free ammunition contains copper. Fouling can occur. Carbon can foul your chamber and barrel. Copper can accumulate in the gun’s barrel too. Lead fouling is also evident. Plastic from the shotshells also ruins your gun.
Therefore, regular cleanliness of a gun is very much important. If you don’t clean them properly, they’ll definitely clean your wallet up. It’s very hard to repair a gun which is almost dead. So, be careful. A little bit of hard work to clean a gun can save you a lot of money in the future.
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How Often Should You Clean Your Gun?
There is no direct answer to this question. There are many factors that come into play. So, depending on these factors, you might want to undertake your gun cleaning routine.
These factors are explained below in detail.
Usage Level
This is the one great factor that you must consider. How much do you use your gun? If you’re someone who uses a gun frequently, you might want to periodically clean it. This will improve your gun’s performance and life. But if you just use a gun once in a blue moon then, you don’t need that frequency. Although it is advisable to clean it twice a month even if you don’t use it. Just disassemble it and clean the individual parts thoroughly. You should also learn to clean your gun yourself. That way, you learn to disassemble and reassemble it.
Usage Type
What do you use your gun for? Some people use it for target practice, some for hunting while some use it for personal defence. Depending on what you use your gun for, the cleaning routine changes.
If you’re just using a gun for target practice, shooting clays and plinking then, you don’t need to worry. You can leave them for 3-4 months before a thorough cleaning. Although, you still need to keep them clean from the outside.
For a gun that’s been constantly used for defence, hunting and shooting range, you need to lubricate it properly as they’re prone to fouling, dust and other impurities that you don’t want in a gun.
Finally, if you own a rifle for self-defence, you should keep it cleaned and oiled frequently. Even daily, in some cases. You want to make sure that the rifle works when you want it to. So, take proper care of it.
Gun Type
Another thing that is equally important to consider is the type of gun you’re using. Bolt action guns can be stored and cleansed after 3-4 months and it’ll still work great. Revolvers are prone to carbon buildup in their cylinders so they need to be cleaned in accordance with their usage frequency. Semi-Automatic rifles should be cleaned almost daily as it is very much prone to dust and dirt build up.
Ammunition
If you use ammunition which is exposed to moisture, dust, water, salt etc. Then, it is obvious that your gun will require proper cleaning all the time. Rifles are easily affected by rust, corrosion, wear and tear. This is why they should be cleaned regularly. Even if your gun manufacturer claims that your gun is made up of “stainless steel”, it is still susceptible to rust. Most ammunition manufacturers also play the same lie game to trap customers. So, make sure you buy ammunition from manufacturers who are legitimate.
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What You Must Have To Clean Your Gun Regularly?
There are a lot of ways to clean a gun. It can be cleaned with household items. You can use gun cleaning kits and you can always give your gun to a professional cleaner for cleaning it. It depends on what your choice is. Here, we’ll see the pros and cons of each type of gun cleaning methods and then discuss some equipment and kits that you should look into.
Cleaning With Household Items
All the items you need to clean a gun from the house are a piece of cloth, a toothpick/rod and a small amount of lubricant. That’s about it. It’s a really great method if you’re in a budget and want to clean a gun properly.
Cleaning With Gun Kits
Gun Cleaning kits are available on a wide scale of prices. So, depending on that, it can be quite a bargain or quite expensive. Still, you get to clean your gun yourself. But, it might be problematic for people who don’t have much time.
Professional Cleaners
There are people who make a living out of cleaning guns. If your gun needs constant cleaning and you don’t have much time to give it then, you might want to consider taking your gun to a professional cleaner.
Now let us see some gun cleaning equipment kits that can be used to clean a gun. There are many of these items but we’re only going to look at some of the crucial ones.
Cleaning Rod
The cleaning rod is important to clean the barrel of your gun but it can also damage the barrel. So, a cleaning rod must be made up of a material softer than the material of the barrel. For household cleaning, you can use a toothpick or a thin nail as a cleaning rod. Brass cleaning rods are readily available on the market to clean handguns. So, the choice is yours, you can either use a household rod or spend some money and get a great cleaning rod.
Jags & Loops
They are the little attachments that are placed at the end of the cleaning rod, thy hold the cleaning patch as you use the rod to clean the gun. They’re not needed that much but they do come with a cleaning rod.
Patches
Patches are important. They’re the piece of cloth that does the actual cleaning. You can buy inexpensive cotton patches that are available readily. Or, you can also use a piece of cloth as an alternate.
Cleaning Brush
A cleaning brush can be used to clean the outside of the gun. It’ll make the gun look aesthetically pleasing on the outside and get rid of all the dirt and dust from it.
Conclusion
Finally, it is very crucial that you clean your gun and now you know how often should you clean your gun. Depending on the gun type, usage level, usage type and ammunition, the frequency of cleaning the gun can vary. Gun cleaning can be done at your home by yourself with a gun cleaning kit or household items. You can also clean your gun at a gun refurbishing place by an experienced gun cleaning professional. All in all, guns are important and it is crucial that you take good care of them.
A gun needs to be cleaned every now and then. We know that a person won’t be using a gun daily so, keeping it on a safe would result in the gun to be in not so good condition. There are extensive gun cleaning kits which can be used to clean guns without any hassle. These cleaners, however, can cost a lot of money. But there are also some other types of cleaning methods which cost a little to no money. We’re taking a look at this hack today. It involves the use of household items and they can be very useful for cleaning a gun. We will talk about how to clean a gun with household items only.
The main goal that must be obtained while cleaning a gun is that the gun works properly without any problem. In addition, you’d also want to make the gun look good too. You might think it’s difficult to clean a gun using only household items but that is not the case. It is actually very easy. In this article, we’re going to see the ways and the methods to clean the gun using only the household items.
Best Gun Cleaning Kits You Can Use At Home
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Is It Necessary To Clean A Gun?
Gun firing is actually a very dirty process. Even if you’ve fired only a single shot, you can still witness debris in the barrel of the gun. Given that the gun is blow-back operated, you also get a fair amount of gas pressure entering the action. This, in turn, spreads debris on the internal components of the gun. Some people tend to clean their guns very little while others clean it often.
The main thing that determines the frequency of gun cleaning is the ammunition that you’re using. Ammo with iron-based metal has corrosive properties that can rust the internals of the gun as soon as you finish firing. This can be seen mainly in hot weather. Though the frequency of gun cleaning is kind of ambiguous, you can always clean your gun after a few days of using it. You don’t need to clean it that frequently. There are also some certain things that you might want to consider. The type of the gun, the age of the gun and the type of ammo being used mainly determines this frequency.
How To Clean A Gun With Household Items
Yes, it’s possible. You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on a gun cleaning kit. There is an easier and cheaper way to clean a gun using only household items. These items are easily available. Even if you have to purchase them, they’re available at a reasonable price. All you need is lubricating oil, scissors, cloth, etc. to implement this method. You can also make a household gun cleaning solvent if you want. More on that later.
Usual Gun Cleaning Process
First, let us dive right into the procedure of cleaning the gun. We’ve listed the steps as given below:
The first thing that you’d want to do is to make sure that the gun is not loaded. Disassemble the gun. Disassembling can be specific to the gun model but it’s not a big deal. Make sure to separate the gun in a way that enables you to look over the chamber, frame, barrel, bolt of your gun.
After you’ve disassembled your gun, you’d now want to start cleaning the bolt first, clean it properly, then clean the chamber and the barrel.
Take a clean piece of cloth and cut it into small squares. Make sure these clothes are small enough to fit in your barrel. Keep them on the side for a moment.
Now, use the leftovers of the cloth, make it really wet by putting it into lubricant oil. Dip it completely. Using this moist cloth, start wiping out all the dirt from carbon, oil and other debris from the bolt. Thoroughly clean the bolt with this moist cloth till you start seeing a smooth clean surface on the bolt.
The inner side of the bolt has the firing pin. Make sure it gets proper attention. Clean it really nice. Once the bolt is clean, you can now focus your attention on the chamber and the barrel.
Handle the part of the gun that has both the chamber and the barrel. Now start clean all the mess of that barrel. Remember the square cloth you cut earlier? USe that to insert into the chamber and clean it thoroughly. You can use a toothpick or a nail to insert the tiny piece of cloth in and out of the barrel. Repeat this step until all the dirt comes out of the barrel and the chamber.
With the chamber and the barrel part of the gun on your grip, you’d now want to employ the cloth left to clean the interior part of the chamber. This is similar to cleaning the bolt, just wipe off the excess oil, carbon impurities and debris from the gun until you get a shiny and clean surface.
This concludes our gun cleaning process. You can now restore your gun. Do a function check without loading the gun by firing. Make sure that the gun is assembled properly.
Things we used: Lubricating oil, Scissors, A piece of cloth, A toothpick/nail as the cleaning rod.
Required Household Items
Household Gun Cleaning Solvent
You must be wondering what the “Lubricating Oil” in our gun cleaning process refers to. Well, lubricants are used to make the engines of vehicles run smooth. A gun roughly resembles the same mechanic as the vehicle engine on a small scale. So, Lubricants can be used. But, how is it a household item? The answer is obvious, anyone who owns a car, bus or even a cycle needs some form of lubricating whether it be gear oils, transmission oils, engine oils or grease.
But if you don’t have a proper amount of lubricant, then you can mix some of them with some other material to make your custom gun cleaning solvent which works even better. Before the actual mixing of these materials, let’s first see what ingredients we’re using and why we’re using them.
Transmission oil
Transmission oil is a lubricant that keeps your gearbox functioning. It is designed to clear carbon impurities and other waste that gets accumulated in a gearbox. These same impurities are present in the gun too. So, you must get transmission fluid. Just keep a bottle at your home. It is available at a cheap price too. Brands don’t matter, just get a cheap one, it’ll work fine.
Kerosene
Everyone has kerosene at their house. It’s a general purpose solvent. You need 1-K kerosene because it has less sulfur content than 2-K kerosene. Also, try to find the purest kerosene out there, see if it has a red color or what. Red colored and low-odor kerosene tend to have fewer impurities. So, you can go for that.
Mineral Spirits
They are very good at dissolving oil. They are also sold as the aliphatic spirit which can be found in any hardware store for cheap. Check out your garage, you could’ve just put some spirits on the shelf. They are a handy item to have in your house.
Collected all the ingredients? Good. Now what’s left to do is mix the ingredients. You can mix each of them in equal quantities. Make sure you mix them properly, maybe about 5 minutes or so. After you’ve mixed them, it’s completed. Yeah, I know, right? It’s that easy!
After you’re done mixing, you can just store them at a small metal bottle. Use a metal bottle if you can, otherwise, a plastic bottle is fine too.
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Precautions Of Cleaning A Gun With Household Items
There are some precautions you should take while cleaning a gun with household items. Some of them are explained below:
Use the right gun cleaning solvent. Do not clean your gun with regular oils. They’re not meant for lubrication. Cooking oil, Hair oil, etc. have compounds that are considered as impurities when putting in a gun.
While cutting the cloth into square pieces, make sure they’re not too small. If they’re too small they can get stuck inside the bolt, the barrel or the chamber. You wouldn’t want that. Keep the size of your gun into consideration while making the cut.
Clean the gun thoroughly. Do Not clean it for a minute and leave. Give it some time. Perhaps 5-10 minutes for each item.
Unload and Disassemble the gun before cleaning and Reassemble after cleaning. Make sure you do this properly.
Function check without the bullets after you’re done to make sure that the gun works.
Final Words
This concludes our Gun Cleaning tutorial with household items. It’s a rather easy process if you follow all the steps properly. All you need are some basic items that you’ll find in your home. Even if you don’t, they’re available at a cheap price. You can also make your own solvent if you want to clean your gun properly. There are also some precautions you should take to make sure that your gun works properly. In the end, the household items work as great as the professional gun cleaning kit which is available for purchase. You just need to follow some steps. You can save a lot of money with household items.
Now that you have purchased your own gun cleaning kit after doing some research on different kits, what exactly do you need to do? You have your gun, and your gun cleaning kit right beside you. You also have an oil and a solvent to start the cleaning process. What’s the next thing you need to do now? You might be wondering how to use gun cleaning kit.
There’s nothing to worry about now since the gun cleaning process is quite easier. All you had to do is to get the best gun cleaning kit for your dirty gun staying without being used and you have done it. However, if you can implement some tricks, you can make the gun cleaning process even simpler.
First off, you might want to go through the manual provided by the gun’s manufacturer as well to get information about cleaning the gun. Here’s what you need to care about! If you do a little mistake with your brand new gun cleaning kit, then your gun which is already dirty might turn out to be useless. So, if you are looking for the perfect way to use your gun cleaning kit without damaging your gun, you need to dive deeper into this guide.
However, if you don’t already have a gun cleaning kit or you just bought your gun cleaning kit without getting sufficient information regarding gun cleaning kits, you have to know some basics before getting started with the gun cleaning guide.
What is a Gun Cleaning Kit?
Gun cleaning kit refers to a collection of different equipment that can help you in the prevention of rusting, corrosion, and metal fouling of your gun. An ideal gun cleaning kit, when used properly, can help you in all these things to keep your gun in its original condition for many years to come. You need to use your gun cleaning kit to clean your gun properly in a different time period to keep it in the same original condition without any signs of getting damaged.
With the help of a gun cleaning kit, you can get the following advantages for your gun:
Gun cleaning kit helps to increase the lifespan of your gun.
Gun cleaning kit helps to prevent different sorts of harmful effects that can arise in your gun such as rusting, corrosion, fouling of metals, etc.
With the use of a gun cleaning kit from time-to-time, you will be able to use your gun for many years to come.
You will also be able to know the working technique of your gun while performing the gun cleaning process with the gun cleaning kit.
The following list includes all the major components available in an ideal gun cleaning kit:
Gun Cleaning Solvent
Double-end Brushes
Gun Oil
Cleaning Patches
Cleaning Jag
Cleaning Swab
Cleaning Rods
Cotton Swabs
Bore Snake
Slotted Patch Holder
Bronze Brush
Nylon Cleaning Brush
Flashlight
There are many gun owners who purchase gun cleaning kits containing cheap plastic kits or the incompatible gauge for their guns. Due to this, they face several difficulties while fitting all the pieces of their kits together. Sometimes the brushes available in the gun cleaning kit also tend to get bent or destroyed during the gun cleaning process. Taking this in mind, we have performed a research on several gun cleaning kits available out there to find out the best gun cleaning kits which can totally prevent these problems and help you in increasing the durability of your gun.
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Major Types of Gun Cleaning Kits
Commercially, there are two general types of gun cleaning kits you can purchase in the market depending on the usability. One of them is Universal Gun Cleaning Kit, which can be used for any types of gun and the other is Gun-specific Cleaning Kit, which is specific for every type of guns. You need to prefer the type of gun cleaning kit that performs the best for your gun.
Universal Gun Cleaning Kit
If you own several types of guns and don’t want to purchase different gun-specific cleaning kits for every gun, then Universal Gun Cleaning Kit becomes the most preferred option for you. There are many Universal Gun Cleaning Kits which can help you in cleaning different types of guns with the same collection of equipment. With the use of Universal Gun Cleaning Kit, you won’t have to purchase another cleaning kit again for your other guns since all the major types of equipment needed to clean different kinds of guns are included in the kit.
If you are willing to spend less money in gun cleaning kit for all of your guns, you might want to get this kind of gun cleaning kit. You will also be able to use different types of equipment without having to construct them yourself. Getting a Universal Gun Cleaning Kit can turn out to be the best cost-effective solution for everyone who has a large collection of guns and wants an effective solution for maintaining their guns. However, if you own a single type of gun, this type of gun cleaning kits can be useless since you won’t be needing every equipment available in the kit for the maintenance of your firearm.
Gun-specific Cleaning Kit
A Gun-specific Cleaning Kit is different for every gun. If you own long firearms such as shotgun and rifles, you might need extra cleaning appliances to clean the barrel. You might also require a flashlight which will let you see the interior part of the gun helping you to clean the dust particles inside the gun.
If you own normal firearms like a pistol or a handgun, you might prefer Universal Gun Cleaning Kit since you won’t need any extra accessories as mentioned above. If you have a single type of gun, then getting a cleaning kit specified for that certain type of gun would be a better option rather than spending your money in Universal Gun Cleaning Kit which mightn’t contain all the necessary pieces of equipment for your long firearm. Getting a Gun-specific Cleaning Kit for your gun is highly recommended for you if you are willing to build your own customized cleaning kit.
How To Use Gun Cleaning Kit
Now, you know the basics of a gun cleaning kit and general types of gun cleaning kits. Probably you have already purchased your gun cleaning kit as well, which means you are ready to start the gun cleaning process. Cleaning a gun isn’t that difficult as it is while choosing the best gun cleaning kit. However, if you have some experience with the usage of gun cleaning kits as well as know some techniques regarding the gun cleaning process, you can perform the process even faster. You might want to go through your gun’s manual as well as the manual available with your gun cleaning kit before getting started with the cleaning process. You also need to make sure you have a specific gun cleaning kit containing all the necessary pieces of equipment in case you are using a long firearm like a shotgun.
During your entire period of going through the guide below, we will be providing you step-by-step guidance regarding the gun cleaning process with your brand new gun cleaning kit that you have recently bought. We believe you’d be able to turn your dirty firearm into a new-looking firearm that can stay with you for many years to come with the help of the guide you will be presented below.
1. Initiation of the Process in a Safe and Well-ventilated Area
Before getting started with the cleaning process, you need to place the necessary pieces of equipment and your gun in a safe and well-ventilated place. Solvent fumes consist of toxins which can result in harmful health effects when inhaled. Taking this in mind, you shouldn’t let any youngsters or pets enter the cleaning area. You also need to make sure you don’t inhale the solvent fumes while performing the cleaning process since the toxins present in the fumes can really affect your health. These fumes also have a foul smell, which is why you need to perform the process in an open and well-ventilated area.
If you are going to perform the process in a piece of furniture like a desk, you need to place plastic bags, unnecessary towels or papers in its surface. Now that you are ready to start the cleaning process, you should make sure that you can easily find all the necessary equipment properly by staying in a well-lit area.
2. Disassembling the Gun
Before disassembling the gun, you need to make sure the ammo is out of reach to prevent any sorts of disastrous activities. You also need to go through the gun’s manual provided by the manufacturer to understand the disassembling process before cleaning. Disassembling every possible part of the firearm can be helpful to clean all of its interior and exterior parts.
Here are the two major forms of firearm disassembling process that you might want to perform:
Field Stripping: Field stripping refers to an easier process of disassembling your firearm. You can perform the field stripping process quickly without the use of any extra tools. Performing the field stripping process lets you clean every general part of your gun easily. You can also clean the gun as much as you need with this process. What this process does is that it isolates the receiver action from the firearm by removing the slide of the firearm. Doing this process makes the fire control group visible, however, it doesn’t need to be further disassembled out of the firearm.
Complete Disassembly: Performing the complete disassembly process is highly recommended if you are looking to clean the overall parts of your firearm. With the complete disassembly process being completed, every exterior and interior parts of your firearm will be accessible to start cleaning. You might need to use screwdrivers and other tools to do disassemble your firearm completely. However, if you are new to the gun cleaning process, you might want to perform just the field stripping of your firearm. Before disassembling your firearm completely, you need to make sure you have the gun’s manual with you so that you can find out the complete way to re-assemble the parts after cleaning. You might want to perform a complete disassembly of your firearm around twice a year and perform field stripping every time when cleaning is necessary.
3. Cleaning the Barrel
When you have disassembled your firearm, it is now time to start the general cleaning process. You might want to get started with the cleaning of your firearm’s barrel, which is available in the interior structure of your firearm. All the dust and powder from the bullet will remain inside the gun, which is present in the barrel. To clean the barrel, you need to use a bore brush of compatible size.
You can start cleaning the barrel by first attaching the bore brush with the cleaning rod. Now, you need to dip the brush into the solvent and start cleaning the barrel. You may move the brush all over the barrel to remove all the dust and powder efficiently. You can also perform this process repeatedly to ensure that the barrel is totally free of any sorts of debris.
4. Further Cleaning of the Barrel
To ensure that the barrel is totally clean, you might want to perform the following processes to get to the next step:
Using a Patch to Clean the Barrel: You can join a cotton patch with the cleaning rod to throw out all the debris present in the barrel. With the use of a gun cleaning solvent, several parts might have been broken down, which you can accumulate with the help of a cleaning patch.
Lubricating the Barrel: You might want to use the gun oil present in the gun cleaning kit to help in making your firearm perform like a new firearm. What you need to do here is to apply oil on the cleaning patch which you have to pass inside the barrel. The lubricating agent will help in the protection of your firearm from getting corroded or turning into rust.
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Cleaning a Revolver
Do you own a revolver? If so, you might have to perform this further cleaning process as well. Generally, a revolver includes several chambers along with a long barrel which you can find in other types of firearms as well. To clean your revolver, you might need to clean the chambers included in it as well.
The process is easy and very similar to the barrel cleaning method. You can use the cleaning patches along with the solvent to start cleaning all parts of your revolver. Doing this will help you in removing all the debris present inside the firearm. With the use of cleaning patches, you will be able to reduce the chances of having solvents and other dirt particles remain inside the chambers.
You may also want to clean the exterior part of your revolver. To make your firearm look totally new, you can apply some gun oil on the exterior area with the help of cleaning patches. With this extra step, you will be able to wipe out all the dirt particles from both the interior and exterior parts of your firearm.
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Precautions While Using Gun Cleaning Kit
There are several safety precautions you need to take in mind while using the gun cleaning kit. Some of the essential precautions are listed below:
You need to make sure you are performing the cleaning process in an open, well-lit and well-ventilated area free from any youngsters or pets. Cleaning a firearm needs to be performed with maximum attention, which is why you might need to tell other people at your home not to disturb you for a while.
You need to ensure that you are performing the process in an area which is free from any ammunition store. You also need to keep the firearm unloaded.
It is highly recommended to wear eye protection while using different solvents and gun oils. If a single drop of these liquids reaches your eye, you might have to stay blind all your life.
While performing the cleaning process, you shouldn’t point your firearm towards any properties which you really need. It is better to check several times that your firearm is unloaded before performing the cleaning process.
You shouldn’t be listening or watching anything while performing the cleaning process. As we have mentioned above, you really need to put your complete focus on your firearm during the entire period. If you put your attention towards something else, who knows you could shot yourself with the gun.
Final Words
We have mentioned the overall steps of how to use gun cleaning kit to clean your gun in this guide above. It is highly recommended that you take the above precautions in mind before getting started with the gun cleaning process. You really need to focus on the safety of yourself and any valuable items nearby during the entire period. If you have any issues regarding the gun cleaning kit you need to get, you can write down in the comments mentioning about your firearm. We will get back to you right away.