Spring Readiness & Refresh: A Seasonal Gear Checklist for Gun Owners

As spring begins, most people think about cleaning out garages and closets—but smart gun owners know it’s also the perfect time to check, clean, and refresh your self-defense gear. Whether you carry daily, shoot regularly, or keep firearms staged for home defense, spring is your signal to do a gear audit.

Below is your complete seasonal checklist for firearm maintenance, self-defense readiness, and smart gear upgrades.

🔋 Replace Batteries

Batteries don’t last forever, especially in tools you rarely check. Now’s the time to swap out batteries in:

• 🔑 Gun safes and handgun lock boxes

• 🎧 Electronic hearing protection (like the Roger 22)

• ⏱ Shot timers

• 🔴 Red dots and pistol optics

• 🔦 Flashlights (EDC lights, weapon-mounted lights, emergency lights)

💡 Pro Tip: Use spring and fall time changes as your “battery check” reminders—just like with smoke detectors.

Get stocked up on batteries and save money by buying them in bulk, and for flashlights, we recommend rechargeable batteries. Here are links to our favorite batteries:

–AAAs for ear muffs and shot timers

–CR123a 

-For your pistol optics: CR2032 | CR1632

🧼 Clean and Lubricate Your Firearms

Cold weather and dry air can lead to buildup in your firearms, especially if they’ve been exposed to lint, moisture, or poor storage conditions.
Spring is the perfect time to:

• Field strip and clean all your carry and home defense guns

• Clean magazines and inspect feed lips

• Re-lube for summer carry conditions

• Function check and inspect for worn-out components like extractors, firing pins, etc

🛠 Shop Gun Cleaning Supplies →

⛑ Replace Expired/Missing Medical Gear

If you carry a trauma kit or have one staged in your vehicle, bag, or home, expiration dates matter. Hemostatic gauze, tourniquets, compressed gauze, chest seals, and even gloves can degrade over time.

Items to check:

• Gauze and compression bandages

• Hemostatic agents like QuikClot or ChitoGauze

• Chest Seals

• Tourniquet condition (especially if pre-loaded or exposed to sun)

• Expired meds (if you carry any)

• Gloves, shears, duct tape, and rescue blankets

🛒 Need replacements? Check out our full line of compact trauma kits and refill supplies: [Shop Trauma Gear →]

🧯 Check Pepper Spray and Less-Lethal Tools

Pepper spray often has a short shelf life. A spring check ensures:

• Nozzle isn’t clogged with pocket lint etc

• Expiration date hasn’t passed (I just replace mine every year and gift my old one to someone)

🔥 Pro Tip: Purchase and practice deploying an inert trainer to refresh your muscle memory.

🪛 Tighten Holsters, Mounts, and Screws

If you carry every day, your holster hardware has likely loosened over time. Spring is the time to:

• Tighten retention screws and apply a threadlocker like Vibratite

• Check belt clips, weapon light mounts, optic mounts, and mag carriers and perform any needed maintenance

• Replace your holster wedge

• Inspect your EDC belt for wear and replace as needed (gun belts)

🔧 Get Vibratite and Holster Tools and Accessories Here →

🧭 Tip: If you’re switching to lighter clothing for warmer weather, make sure your holster setup adapts well.

🎯 Consider Gear Upgrades for Spring Range Season

You’ve done the maintenance—now ask what should be upgraded or restocked. Spring is a great time to treat yourself to new:

• Quality shooting glasses

• Electronic ear pro

• SoftSeals for your Ear Pro

• Range bags and mag pouches

• Portable quality target stands

• Targets, Target Pasters, and Staples

• New carry mags for your EDC gun (downgrade previous carry mags to training status)

🌞 With more daylight and better weather, range days are back in session. Don’t show up under-equipped.

Want to download and print off this checklist? Click here for a PDF version.