Care and cleaning the pistol includes daily preventive maintenance, which is the ordinary care of the pistol required to preserve its condition and appearance when no firing is done. Cleaning before firing ensures that the pistol is safe to fire and is properly lubricated for efficient operation. Cleaning after firing ensures that all corrosion-inducing agents deposited in the bore and chamber of the pistol are completely removed.

Daily Preventive Maintenance

Damp air and sweaty hands are great promoters of rust. You should clean your pistol and protect it with the recommended oil after every firing or handling. You should inspect the pistol each day and clean it if necessary.

To clean the pistol, rub it with a rag lightly saturated with oil; then rub it with a dry cloth. Clean the bore with a swab saturated with oil, and then, with a dry swab. Dust out all crevices with a small, clean brush. To protect the pistol after cleaning it, cover all the surfaces, including the bore and chamber, with a light coat of lubricating, preservative oil.

After cleaning and oiling the pistol, place it back in your holster or the pistol rack Do not place a cover, such as canvas, over the pistol because it collects moisture that rusts the metal.

Care and Cleaning before Firing

Before the pistol is fired, you should clean and dry the bore and chamber and exterior parts of the receiver of the pistol. You should lubricate the guide rails on the receiver and the grooves on the slide with oil. Place a light coat of oil on all other interior metal parts EXCEPT those that come in contact with the ammunition. Excess oil should be removed from the grips and the grip area of the receiver to aid you in griping the weapon.

Care and Cleaning after Firing

You must clean the pistol as soon as possible on the day of firing and daily for the next 3 days, or longer if necessary. Do this in the following manner:

1. Disassemble the pistol.

2. Clean all parts with a rag lightly saturated with oil. Dry all parts and apply alight coat of oil.

3. Clean the bore and chamber as follows:

a. Wet a swab with rifle bore cleaner and run it back and forth through the bore several times.

b. Attach the pistol bore brush to the cleaning rod and run it through the bore and chamber several times.

c. Run dry swabs through the bore and chamber until they are clean.

d. Inspect the bore for cleanliness. If it is not free of all residue, repeat the cleaning process.

e. When the bore and chamber are clean, coat them with rifle bore cleaner and leave it on overnight.

f. Assemble the pistol.

g. Apply a light coat of oil to the exterior surfaces of the pistol.

h. After the third daily cleaning, if the bore and chamber are clean, remove the rifle bore cleaner.

Replace the bore cleaner with alight coat of lubricating, preservative oil.