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

Winch SLR ARTV 4
Winch SLR ARTV 4

Inside The Making Of Winchester’s Supreme Long Range Ammo

New for 2026, Winchester’s Supreme Long Range ammunition pairs the in-house BC Max bullet with match-grade components for extreme-distance accuracy and terminal performance.

Smith & Wesson’s America 250 Model 1854 Honors 1776 and Its Own Origin Story

Smith & Wesson commemorates the semiquincentennial with America 250 Model 1854 lever actions in .44 Magnum and .45-70 Government, engraved and suppressor-ready.

New: Swarovski Optik AT Endura 21-65X 75 mm Spotting Scope

Swarovski Optik’s new AT Endura 21-65X 75 mm spotting scope pairs a 75 mm objective lens with a 53.3-ounce build at a $2,899 price.

Bulletproofing Stages: A USPSA Range Officer’s Guide to Squad Management

Jay Worden explains how Range Officers can run a USPSA squad efficiently, covering roll call, stage briefings, scoring procedures and fair enforcement of safety rules.

Daisy Marks America’s 250th With Limited-Edition Red Ryders

Daisy commemorates America’s 250th anniversary with Liberty and Freedom Red Ryder carbines, 250 apiece, plus a revolver limited to 1,776 units.

Walker’s Shrinks Its Razor Muffs Down to Youth Size

Walker’s youth-sized Razor Junior electronic muffs pair a 23 dB NRR with 0.02-second sound-activated compression in a package built for smaller heads.



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