that's right. rub antiperspirant on your hips.
Alright, here we go:
Cleaning a CCW piece - when and how?
By KC
I have been frequently asked in my newspaper column about weapons maintenance. One reader writes:
"Dear KC,
I carry a handgun concealed for defense. Sometimes after a hot day, or after a strenuous day, my handgun has rust on it! Why does this happen?
Rusty in Georgia."
Rusty, your sweat contains a lot of things, including urea and salt. I'm no chemist, but salt always causes rust on metal. So the obvious answer is: don't sweat on your gun!
Here is a great article from Accurateshooter.wordpress.com that explains how salts can corrode metal,
especially certain stainless steels!
"Halogen salts, especially chlorides, easily penetrate this passive film and will allow corrosive attack to occur. The halogens are easy to recognize because they end in the letters ‘ine’. Listed in order of their activity they are: fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, astatine."
So, to all of you out there that own stainless steel firearms: you're not safe either!
A general rule of thumb goes like this: If it comes out of me, it shouldn't be on my machinery! This includes blood and urine. Urine contains urea, same as your sweat, which can corrode metals.
But never fear, Rusty in Georgia! You can't avoid all of these fluids all of the time, but some preventative maintenance will keep the Rust Monster from showing up!
Step 1: Buy a paintbrush and rag.
I know, it sounds silly: Paintbrush? Am I going to paint my S&W bright orange for the bears? No, but it would be silly!
Anyway, go to Home Depot or something and buy a 1 1/2in paintbrush. Nothing special, I bought the $0.50 special. Make a rag out of something, I use an old sock.
Step 2: Buy some Protectant.
I prefer Break Free CLP, and all that matters here is that the bottle or can or whatever has a way to effectively apply the protectant to the bristles.
Step 3: Clear the gun!
ALWAYS make sure your guns are unloaded before you do anything with them, and this includes cleaning, or a "wipe down."
Then check again.
Step 4: Paint the gun!
Yes, that's right; paint that gun with it! Make sure to get it in all the nooks and crannies.
Step 5: Wipe the protectant off.
Make sure you wipe the trigger off so your finger doesn't slip.
I hope this helps you out, Rusty in Georgia! I've done this for years, and I can tell you from first hand experience that this procedure works! It saved my little Kel-Tec mouse gun from a 5 1/2 hour mosh pit fest in a Rob Zombie concert!
With mucho amor de pistola,
KC
