Manual
WARNING: ENSURE YOUR FIREARM IS UNLOADED
BEFORE BEGINNING TO CLEAN IT (SEE
“INSPECTING YOUR PISTOL” SECTION). ALWAYS
FOLLOW THE RULES OF SAFE GUN HANDLING.
Before using your firearm for the first time, it should be cleaned.
Your firearm has been treated with either a preservative or oil to
protect it against corrosion. Before using it, all excess oil should
be wiped from the bore, chambers (charge holes), and exposed
areas using a clean swab or patch. A light coat of high quality
gun oil should be applied to the outside surfaces and mecha-
nism. Care should be taken not to oil the mechanism to the
extent where oil will be dripping or running down the handgun.
Dirt and residue will be trapped if too much oil is present.
After each use of your firearm, it should be cleaned by brushing
the barrel bore and chamber (charge holes) with a good powder-
removing solvent and bore brush. Wipe the areas clean with
patches or a swab. Using a small brush dipped in solvent,
remove all deposits from around the breech of the barrel, cham-
ber (charge holes), extractor and adjacent areas which have
been subjected to the action of powder or primer residue.
Remove any residue on the frame with light brushing and a sol-
vent. After cleaning the entire gun, use a cloth to apply a light
film of high quality gun oil to all external metal surfaces and wipe
clean.
After sustained firing, it may be more effective to clean the com-
ponents after the pistol has been field stripped. Remove all firing
residue from the exterior of the barrel, the bottom of the slide
and the top of the frame using a nylon or soft brass brush.
Remove lead and firing residue from the interior of the barrel
using a brass brush.
CAUTION:
Always follow the instructions provided with your gun cleaner
and gun lubricant.
CAUTION:
Some cleaners can cause damage to your handguns. You should
avoid prolonged solvent immersion and prolonged ultrasonic
cleaning of your firearm. Choice of solvent should be restricted
to those products specifically de
veloped for firearms mainte-
nance. Damage to a firearm’s finish may occur if these cautions
are ignored. Ammoniated solvents or other strong alkaline sol-
v
ents
, should not be used on an
y Smith &
W
esson firearm. As a
rule of thumb, if you would be comfortable applying the solvent
of y
our choice to the finish of your automobile, it will probably be
saf
e for use on your firearm.
CLEANING AND
MAINTENANCE
27