Blog # 187 - Spring Cleaning

The doldrums of winter might have your spirits down and you might not be shooting your firearms as much, but we assure you that sunnier days are ahead. Spring is right around the corner which means more pleasant weather for outdoor range days and the turning of the seasons might also mean you are switching to a new carry pistol. In any event, this is the perfect time of year to assess your everyday carry (EDC) tools – from your firearm, knife, flashlight, pepper spray, etc – to ensure they are in optimal working and functioning order. One of the things I like to do is go through my carry pistol from top-to-bottom, left to right, and break it down into individual pieces. I am not the best about cleaning my firearms routinely so spring is the perfect opportunity to work on that. First, I will field-strip my firearm and check it for surface rust, a build-up of debris, and/or any parts that might need replacing due to wear. This is something that can be visually done in a matter of minutes; not time-consuming at all. Next, might be the seasonal replacement of batteries. I have a micro red dot on my carry pistol so I will change the battery on that as well as my weapon-mounted flashlight. With fresh batteries, my firearm clean, and re-assembled, the last thing to do is boresight my optic before sighting it in later at the range. A firearm might not be the only tool we carry though. It would be wise to check that all of the screws, hardware, and mechanics of your carry knife are sound. Also, the blade is sharpened and not damaged. If you carry an additional handheld light with you on a daily basis, similar to your firearm, you may want to replace the batteries and ensure no rust has penetrated it. If you carry a less-lethal tool like pepper spray or a stun gun, make sure those are in proper functioning order as well. Some pepper spray products have an expiration date. Make sure yours is still potent and will serve its intended purpose. If you have a taser or stun gun that is battery operated, check the batteries like all you did for all of your flashlights. Finally, assess yourself. Are you still proficient with all of your tools? Familiar with the functioning so they could be deployed at a moment’s notice? It might be time to schedule some training classes for yourself or to simply get to the range more. Until next time, continually check out our blog, join our newsletter, and watch the website for new and exciting updates! As always, let us know all of your thoughts in the Comments below. We love it when you participate in our articles and keep the conversation going!