Keep it clean
Ensure your shotgun is good to go with some simple maintenance
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The action
Most modern shotguns are easy to disassemble if you follow the directions in the owner’s manual. Once the action is removed, use compressed air—available at most hardware or electronics stores—to blast away any residue. If any buildup remains, use a bristle brush, cotton swabs or dedicated firearms cleaning products such as Swab-its foam swabs to get into all the little crevices. Baked-on debris may require an aerosol-based product, such as Birchwood Casey’s Gun Scrubber, to blast away the residue. Afterwards, use a brush or swab to clear away any remaining loose particles.
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Once the action and all other exposed metal is clean, it’s time to lubricate—but don’t overdo it. Excess oil attracts dirt and other particles that can mire your shotgun’s action, resulting in failures to cock or cycle, or outright misfires. Only a dab or two of gun oil should be applied to the operating rails and the slot that the bolt travels through on semi-autos and pumps. For break-actions, a drop of oil on the pivoting points and a dab of gun grease on the hinge pin are all that’s generally required. In all cases, any excess oil should be blotted up.