What is the first maintenance action performed after firing?

• A. Field cleaning.
• B. Lubrication of moving parts.
• C. Reassembly.
• D. Inspection for wear.

Answer: (A)

After firing, residues from powder and primer coat the internal surfaces and can bake on with heat, which can lead to corrosion or hidden wear if not dealt with promptly. The first maintenance action is field cleaning, which removes that fouling from the bore, chamber, bolt, and other exposed areas. Cleaning first is crucial because it primes the weapon for accurate inspection and proper lubrication—lubricating dirty parts can trap grit and mask damage, and you can’t reliably reassemble or assess wear until the gun is clean. Once clean, you move on to lubricating the moving parts, then reassembling and performing any wear or damage checks as the final steps.