How Often Should You Clean Your Air Gun?

by
posted on August 30, 2017
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
airgun-2.jpg

In order to alleviate equipment malfunctions on the line, it is important to maintain a clean competition air gun. Just like in other competition firearms, it is essential to keep the barrel of your air gun clean of any unnecessary oils or undesirable particles at all times. How often you clean your barrel will depend on the type of air gun you have, the smoothness of the bore and the type of pellets you use.

Collegiate Air Rifle Competition
Regular cleaning and maintenance ensure that a gun is safe to operate. Photo by John Rickards.


Most air gun dealers will recommend that a well-used air gun be brought in annually for servicing, but a less-used air gun may require servicing only once every two years. During servicing, most shops will replace the air seals, clean, lubricate and test the air gun for accuracy. By making sure your air gun is clean and well-lubricated, you could easily turn your 10s into Xs.

Feinwerkbau 500
Feinwerkbau .177 Model 500.


For a more in-depth look at keeping your air gun in tip top shape, read the Shooting Sports USA article “Air Gun Maintenance” by Scott Pilkington.

Latest

NRAARC America250 Leaderboard 3
NRAARC America250 Leaderboard 3

NRA ARC Across America National Challenge Leaderboard Now Live

NRA ARC Across America National Challenge leaderboard is now active at arc.nra.org, letting competitors see where they rank nationally as scores update through an NRA partnership with Armory Sync/Range Pocket.

Winchester USA 250th Anniversary Commemorative Ammunition Now Available Nationwide

Winchester’s USA 250th Anniversary Commemorative Ammunition series is now available nationwide, a 15,000-unit limited run of five collectible packages with theme-matched loads.

Longshot Overhauls Its Target Camera App

Longshot Cameras has overhauled its iOS and Android app, rebuilding the interface and upgrading shot-analysis, measurement and streaming tools across every camera model.

YanXiao Gong Sweeps Every Para Title at USA Shooting Pistol Nationals

Paris 2024 Paralympic medalist YanXiao Gong sweeps all three para pistol titles at 2026 USA Shooting Nationals as Hillsdale College debuts new Nimrod Complex.

More Than a Match: The Legacy of Gary ‘Doc’ Welt Lives On at Wyoming Antelope Club

An inside look at the 14th Annual Gary “Doc” Welt Memorial Match at Wyoming Antelope Club and the legacy behind it.

Krieghoff Shooters Clean Up at 2026 Pennsylvania State Shoot

Team Krieghoff collected championship titles at the 2026 Pennsylvania State Shoot, where Clare Schaffer became just the second woman to win the Krieghoff Challenge.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Sports USA delivered to your inbox.