Summarize the following:
Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, treat the firearm as if it were loaded, and keep your finger off the trigger. Pull the bolt back and visually and physically (stick your finger in there) check there aren't any cartridges in the magazine well or in the chamber.    {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/74\/Maintain-a-Rifle-Step-3Bullet1.jpg\/v4-460px-Maintain-a-Rifle-Step-3Bullet1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/74\/Maintain-a-Rifle-Step-3Bullet1.jpg\/aid156737-v4-728px-Maintain-a-Rifle-Step-3Bullet1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}  Be double-sure your firearm is unloaded. You do not want an unexpected boom while stripping your firearm.    {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a8\/Maintain-a-Rifle-Step-3Bullet2.jpg\/v4-460px-Maintain-a-Rifle-Step-3Bullet2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a8\/Maintain-a-Rifle-Step-3Bullet2.jpg\/aid156737-v4-728px-Maintain-a-Rifle-Step-3Bullet2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Summary:
Be sure you always handle your firearm safely. Empty the chamber. Keep your ammunition separate from your rifle while cleaning.