An important part of responsible gun ownership is to make sure that your firearms are always working properly. It’s the same whether your handgun is for target shooting or home security. Be vigilant of damage or potential issues with guns, and get to know them inside and out and how they feel when fired, so you can question oddities when they appear. Recognizing problems, no matter how small, is key to avoiding misfires and accidents. With that in mind, here are four signs your handguns in Olathe, KS may need professional cleaning or repair:
- Jamming: If you go to the range often, then you’ve likely experienced a gun jam or two. A gun jamming can happen due to improper ammo loading, a faulty bullet or a casing not ejecting all the way. Even residual gun cleaning oil or other solutions that have settled down in the barrel can jam it up. Should your handgun become jammed upon cocking or pulling the trigger or in the middle of shooting a round, unload it and check it out when you get to your tools. Guns that still continue to give you trouble need a professional inspection.
- Rust and corrosion: Finding a small amount of rust on the inside of your handgun is not unusual, but you’ll want to clean it out right away. Why? Because over time, without regular proper cleanings, rust and corrosion begin to build up and cause barrel blockage. A gun barrel filled with particles from many uses may lead to slide issues, misfires, jamming and other troubles with the trigger pull. To avoid rust or corrosion, it’s best to clean your guns after every use.
- Ammo not feeding: There are many reasons why a gun might not be taking ammo. With inexperienced folks, it could simply be the wrong type of ammunition; with experienced shooters, they may find the problem is a dirty gun or a lack of lubrication. Other causes include a bullet stuck in the chamber, bent cases blocking ammo from loading or a damaged magazine. Always unload the gun, if you can, and never point it at anyone while looking for solutions to fix the problem.
- Shooting inaccuracy: Is your handgun all of a sudden not shooting accurately? Even after you’ve adjusted and readjusted the gun’s sight, cleaned the barrel and tried a different ammo brand from what you typically use, you may find that it’s still shooting way off the mark. Poor shooting accuracy when you are positive it’s not shooter error could point to bigger, more dangerous problems. If this continues after you’ve tried all the aforementioned tips, schedule a time to take it in to your trusted gun repair shop.
Even if you know how to clean and repair your guns, there are times when you should take them to be looked at by a professional—just to be on the safe side. At Harrison Street Pawn, you can trust that we will handle handguns in Olathe, KS with the utmost care. Contact us today to find out what we can do for you in regards to gun cleaning and repair.