How often to clean

[Ken C]

I try and go to the range once a week. Normally, I take two guns and shoot 150-200 rounds through each. If I use the same two guns, should I clean them after every session ? Or would, say, once a month be sufficient ?

[hotpig]

Many people clean their tools after every use. I do not but many people do.

With guns the general rule is the more they cost the less reliable they are dirty. My G17 is cleaned every 10k or every few years. Some of my 1911 are cleaned after every use.

[doubleh]

Actually, not very often. You can see if the action is dirty and when it is take appropiate action. If you are shooting cast bullet loads and the accuracy falls off check for leading and get rid of it. I almost never clean the bore of 22 rimfires. I've been doing this for a long time and have had no problems. I do wipe down the exterior of the gun ever time it is used with paste wax or Pledge (it's still wax,just in a spray can) to prevent rust.

[The Bushmaster]

If I shoot them, even one round, at least a dry patch then an oiled patch is ran through them. Yes...I clean my "expensive" and "cheap" firearms ever time I shoot them...

[xring44]

When I get home from the range, mine are cleaned, maybe its because in my youth, some primers were corrosive, at least thats what I was told.

As one poster above mentioned, some guns REQUIRE cleaning to be reliable.
Its part of the game.

[possum]

i clean all my guns after each range trip, especially the ones that i might have to use in a defensive sittuation, the ones that are not defensive handguns or rifles might wait a day after the range but that is even rare, if i shoot it i clean it.

[Mad Magyar]

If I use the same two guns, should I clean them after every session ?
I do...I'm just a compulsive nut about such things...I couldn't sleep at night knowing my pistol was filthy....:D

[putteral]

I shoot about as often as you do and I clean mine after each trip. But then again I'm retired, so time is no problem.

[Brian Williams]

I wipe off the outside after a trip, clean every once in a while.

[3rd Generation American]

I have always taken care of my tools and as guns are tools I take care of them too. So yes I clean after every trip to the range.
In this way I do not have to worry if it is time to clean or not and they are always ready to go.

[wnycollector]

I clean my guns after every trip to the range (twice/month in the winter and every week during the summer). I got into the habit when I started shooting mil surplus rifles and corrosive ammo.

[Jackal]

I clean my guns when thier performance begins to suffer.

[bikerdoc]

I clean every time I shoot then again the next day. Expensive or inexpensive they all get treated the same

[10-Ring]

Modern ammo in modern guns would allow extended use w/o cleaning for at least several 100's if not 1,000's of rounds. But, if you are relying on one of these guns for SD/HD, or if something prevents you from shooting for an extended period of time, cleaning after very use just adds for the longevity and dependability of your firearms.

[RNB65]

There is no correct answer to your question. You'll find folks from across the entire spectrum. Some folks do a detailed cleaning each time a gun is used. Some folks only clean when a gun begins to malfunction. And some folks do something in between.

The need to clean any time a gun is used is largely a holdover from the days when powder and primers were highly corrosive and would quickly damage barrel bores if not thoroughly cleaned right after shooting. Unless you're shooting old milsurp ammo, those days over long gone. Modern cartridges are non-corrosive and guns only need to be cleaned to ensure reliable operation.

The only guns I clean fanatically are the ones I use for self/home defense. They get a thorough cleaning and oiling after each use.

Other guns get cleaned just enough to ensure reliable operation. Handguns and bolt-action rifles get a quick wipedown and oiling after each use. Semi-auto rifles and shotgun I wipe out the inside of the receiver and make sure the gas ports are clean. I only clean my O/U shotgun ever couple of years since cycling is never an issue.
-

[W.E.G.]

If its a "recreational" gun I might let it sit for a bit.

If its a primary gun, I try to always clean it promptly.

Some guns need to be "cleaned" regularly even if you don't fire them.
Otherwise, they rust.

I try to stay away from "rusters" these days, except for a few special pieces I'll never let go until its time to pass them along to a special friend or family member.

[Floppy_D]

Carry gun gets it no matter what. I clean it and re-oil it once a month even if I don't shoot it. I depend on it to work, and it depends on me to keep it clean.

My usual ritual is: get back from the range, secure the ammo, pop a beer and scrub 'em down. I don't clean them every time because I feel they need to be clean to function, I do it because I enjoy handling and cleaning them. It's meditative.

[jdc1244]

I’d follow the cleaning instructions in your guns’ owner’s manuals, if present. CZ, for example, recommends cleaning after use or certain conditions.

I clean after each use because in Florida corrosion can be an issue.

[chieftain]

Actually it depends on what purpose your guns are for.

If they are not for defense or fighting, they are officially toys and you can do what you will with them.

If you use a gun for defense/fighting, then it must be cleaned every time you use it.

Only an amateur would bring a dirty weapon to a gun fight. It must be maintained, lubricated when and if needed. Springs must be fresh and current. If your weapon has some known points of wear or weakness, those parts need to be replaced on schedule.

Every piece of the weapon should be closely inspected on a regular schedule. Ideally you should know every nook and cranny of your fighting weapons. And clean them every time you use them.

No excuses, remember Darwin awaits those who don't.

I can get very anal about weapons cleaning. Understand I did two tours in Vietnam with the 3rd Marine Division, and I was a DI in Hollywood. Myself I went through my boot camp at PI.

But that is where I am coming from. I have shot competitively on and off since 1957 from small bore rifle, bullseye/2700, to today I shoot Steel Challenge, IDPA, Bowling pins etc... I have worked for The Sheriff's office in my home county in Florida and Florida DOC.

That is where I am coming from. Where are you coming from beside rationalizations and excuses for not cleaning and maintaining your fighting weapons.

Please don't insult me, or yourselves with the myth of damaging a weapon by cleaning it. Not if it is done properly.

Decide for yourself, it is you and your loved ones that rely on that fighting weapon, not me. And probably it will work. I know mine will.

Go figure.

Fred

[Ltlabner]

My carry G23 is cleaned as soon as I get home from any range trip. As is the AR-15.

The CZ-40P and Ruger 10/22 and cleaned after every range trip, but it might be a day or two before I get around to it.

The Remington 870 and S&W 4014 get cleaned when I feal like it, to be honest.

[Dksimon]

I clean my .22 every time I go shoot since I usually shoot about 300+ rounds per trip. For my hunting rifles I usually clean them every third use or so.

[jaydubya]

Every time. I might wait until the next day, but I'll dream of what is happening to my weapons because I waited. This is a good thread.
Cordially, Jack

[MarshallDodge]

I clean my .22's more often than anything. I watch my CCW (a 1911) to see how cruddy it's getting and it usually gets cleaned every other range visit. I shoot a lot of lead reloads and it can build up pretty quick.

On my Kimber Target I had been doing a wipe down, with a patch and solvent down the barrel. It had over 5000 lead reloads through it when I decided to detail strip it. Let's just say I won't do that again. It took me over an hour to get all the gunk out of it. Some of the issues were self inflicted by letting a little solvent get into the receiver everytime I cleaned it. Plated bullets would help as well.

[jhco]

if its a gun that i expect a certain level of accuracy out of then i clean it every time i shoot it but other thing like my sks never get cleaned and glocks get cleaned if i have time but i always clean and oil the exterior

[Feanaro]

Firing modern ammo, I've never had a gun rust or corrode from not being cleaned for a couple of days. Or a week. My SD pistol gets cleaned when I get home. Everything else is cleaned when I can, when I feel like it.

I don't bother cleaning my .22s much anymore, just give them a wipeoff.

[jhco]

i agree with you about not cleaning 22s but some realy have to be cleaned like ruger mk3s

[JohnBT]

"I wipe off the outside after a trip, clean every once in a while."

What he said. I used to clean them every single time, but that was 50 years ago and for me it's just not necessary.

:) I shot my Kimber Stainless Gold Match over 5k times before I detail stripped it. I cleaned the barrel and wiped it out as best I could regularly, but that was about it.

Regarding carry guns: I clean them and then shoot them before carrying. Yes, I carry dirty guns. Just because.

John

[Snapping Twig]

I Clean and oil after every use because I shoot sporadically and my guns may sit dormant for quite some time. For instance, I might get on a .357 kick and only fire those while the other calibers languish.

If I clean and oil them before storage, they're good to go whenever they get the call.

I can lay my hand on any weapon I own and it's ready for any situation from paper to hunting to SD.

[Black Majik]

Carry guns get cleaned after every trip. Range guns get cleaned every 500 rds.

[The Ruckus]

I clean my firearms every time I fire them, no exceptions. I'm very particular about the process too, I'm getting to the point (despite being a new shooter) that I don't even like to use the all-in-one CLP cleaners.

[loop]

You shoot, you clean.There are no reasonable excuses.

There are no exceptions.

A dirty gun is put away until it is a clean gun.

Tell me your reason for not cleaning a weapon and I'll tell you your excuse.

Keep your weapon clean at all times. You never know when you need one more round and that "one more round" is stuck up the pipe because your weapon is not serviceable.

Clean your weapon.

[PTK]

My S&W 1940s M&P gets cleaned after every 100 rounds, while my carry piece gets cleaned every week, which amounts to every 20-40 rounds. My silenced Buckmark pistol get cleaned every 200 rounds, as the silencer really increases the blowback and resulting lead/carbon buildup.

Most of my other pistols (Glock 17, H&K USP Tactical .45, XD45) get cleaned every 200 rounds.

[USMCDK]

I with the bushmaster and others... I clean my babies every time even if it's just one round or 1000. The longer you let that stuff stay on the weapon the more of a chance that it will harden on there and be even more of a pain in the @$$ to get off and it will effect the accuracy, action, and reliablility of the weapon. Let me ask you this??? would you spend $20,000 on a car (not a jeep or mudding truck a CAR) run her through the mud and then some salt and just let it sit like that until the month is over or the year even??? My friend if you say yes in all sincerety then I will tell you to sell the gun to someone that will treat it like gold on the princess' necklace.

[tntwatt]

I clean them after every trip to the range. Remember, cleaning also allows visual inspection of all parts you don't normally see. Plus, cleaning them is actually part of the fun for me. Get into a routine and it becomes second nature.

[coloradokevin]

On my duty weapons (Glock, AR-15, and Rem 870) the firearms are cleaned immediately after shooting, every single time. I also do a very thorough cleaning on these weapons, to the point of being accused of being a bit overly cautious.

The same procedure goes for my Mauser whenever I shoot corrosive ammo (plus a few other steps specific to corrosive cleaning).

My other guns are generally cleaned as time permits, but I don't sweat delaying for a few days on those!

[USMCDK]

I agree with you colorado. I some times forget to clean them right after or just don't have a chance and they will sit for about a week max.

I also agree with tntwatt... You don't know what kinda damage your firearm may have suffered during the firing session, so cleaning it give you the chance to inspect it guts for damage. I can't tell you how many bolt and bolt carrier groups I have cleaned in the Military (yes I know this isn't the rifle country forum) that had stuck/caked on carbon fouling that looked like it hadn't been cleaned out in over a year or firing. Let me tell you that is really hard to clean even with solvent. you have to literally scrape that stuff off using a sharp pointy object.

[chilie]

I clean them after shooting ALWAYS and whenever I feel like that after that.

[Mad Magyar]

I'm getting to the point (despite being a new shooter) that I don't even like to use the all-in-one CLP cleaners.
Welcome to the club....Even though I rant about the "power of advertising" and their various propaganda techniques, I do succumb to their tactics.
My cleaning box looks like a test kit from Consumer Reports...BTW, many of these products are pure, unadulterated junk...:o

[skinewmexico]

I clean my XDs every case of ammo. Clean rifles when accuracy starts to drop off. I'd rather be shooting.

[Zach S]

After every range session, my 5" 1911s get oiled and boresnaked. Somewhere between 750 and 1K rounds, I pull the slide off, do a quick wipedown, and reassemble. Somewhere between 1500 and 2K, I detail strip it, break out the brake cleaner, clean it thoroughly, inspect for worn or broken parts (they're Mimbers), and reassemble with a new recoil spring. Once a week I take the grip panels off and coat the inside of them with RIG. I have a dedicated rimfire 1911 that hasnt been cleaned since it was built.

My glock gets field stripped and wiped down whenever I feel like it, which isnt often.

I think my Mossberg 590 just gets lubed and boresnaked. I dont think I've had the trigger group out since I added the side saddle, shortly after I got the gun, if not that same day.

My 5.56 AR is kept pretty clean. I use a Ciener in it quite a bit.

My 9mm AR is filthy. Oil it, boresnake it, and shoot it. Repeat. I am going to actually clean it soon so I can diagnose the problems I'm having with one CProducts magazine. I keep putting it off because its going to be an all day thing.

Basicly, I dont clean them. I oil them and feed them. And they just keep on running like my Timex.

I'd rather be shooting.
Yeah, that pretty much sums it up for me.

[Ken C]

Hey, thanks guys. I guess it probably wouldn't damage the gun if it wasn't cleaned but cleaning after each use is a good habit. And, I am retired, the social calendar isn't that full !!

[John828]

I clean them after every range trip which is usually about 300 for the 1911 and 500 to 1,000 for the 22.

I clean the magazines first, so I can get them out of the way. Got feeding issues? Clean mags. Still got feeding issues? Clean mags again. Still have feeding issues? Measure the OAL of your ammo again.

[Sato Ord]

I jeep my guns clean, and ever so lightly oiled.

[GRIZ22]

A clean gun is a happy gun and a happy gun will take care of you.

[JohnBT]

"Tell me your reason for not cleaning a weapon and I'll tell you your excuse."

Because experience has shown it just isn't necessary. Experience learned over 50+ years. I'll go with facts over supposition. Stick that in your crystal ball. ;)

As far as carrying a clean gun goes, how do you know you've put it back together correctly unless you've shot it? Who wants to find out there's a glitch/mistake/broken part when you absolutely need the gun to work. Not me.

Everybody do exactly what makes you happy. I know I will.

John

[CountGlockula]

If you shoot once a week, then I'd recommend you clean them on the 2nd week.

The biggest concern for me is a dirty gun that may malfunction when I REALLY need it at home.

[JoeSlomo]

I want my heater to fire when I pull the trigger.

Murphy is always out there lurking.

By cleaning after each use, I eliminate one potential cause of a stoppage, ie, a dirty gun.

Be it at the range, in competition, or in defense of me and mine, I will NOT accept a stoppage caused by a dirty gun.

YMMV

[belus]

I try to make a habit of cleaning my centerfires after every range trip. Mostly because I enjoy it.

I avoid cleaning rimfires often because I've heard that, since their bores have shallower rifling, it's usually more damaging to clean them often or improperly than it is to let them sit.

[jackdanson]

I clean mine every time I shoot. Like to keep the value up and keep them lookin all pretty inside and out.

[chieftain]

"Tell me your reason for not cleaning a weapon and I'll tell you your excuse."

Because experience has shown it just isn't necessary. Experience learned over 50+ years. I'll go with facts over supposition. Stick that in your crystal ball.

As far as carrying a clean gun goes, how do you know you've put it back together correctly unless you've shot it? Who wants to find out there's a glitch/mistake/broken part when you absolutely need the gun to work. Not me.

Everybody do exactly what makes you happy. I know I will.

John

Amateurs advice for amateurs. He is right, it is your choice.

I know of no professional gun fighter that will go to a gunfight, or probable gun fight with a dirty weapon.

I know of no Professional gun fighter that can not put his weapon together, after cleaning and/or maintenance and KNOW it is going to fire and function properly.

I know of no Professional gun fighter that if anyone else works on his fighting weapons, will not disassemble it and make sure they are correctly put together, clean and properly lubricated.

Only an amateur would do otherwise.

I know and have known many professional gun fighters, I used to be one. As you indicate about yourself, I have only been shooting about 52 years. Competing with guns for about 48 years, and started going to gun fights on a regular basis about 41 years ago.

Trust me, no Professional is going to a potential gunfight with a dirty weapon. Particularly one he hasn't put together himself. By the way, professionals have learned to do these things BECAUSE OF THEIR EXPERIENCE.

Will a weapon "probably" work with out being cleaned. Yup. BUT..... Anytime a professional can take a potential problem out of the fighting equation with preparation, he does. His clean weapon assembled and inspected and lubricated by him is part of that preparation and taking potential problems out of the firefight mix long before any potential firefight takes place.

Anyone who doesn't have the confidence to maintain, assemble and clean his own weapon correctly, better not be planning any fighting with his weapons. Or for being a gunfighter. Because that is what amateurs and wannabes do, make excuses that they pass on to other non gunfighters as rational and practical advice, for not doing the work and do diligence necessary to maximize your odds in any potential firefight.

My best advice, is don't take advice from amateurs. But this is America, and it is your choice.

Go figure.

Fred

[USMCDK]

Fred/chieftain, I could not have said it better myself except for using the name ametuer... I would have left that part out. Needless to say I still agree with you. No professional (OORAH and Semper Fidelis fellow Teufel-Hund) especially a Marine would go anywhere where they may be a shoot-out and be there with a dirty weapon, with the exception that they were already just in a fire fight and didn't have the time to clean it, and fighting broke out again.

But I digres even I a fully trained Marine am human, falible, and err. I need to clean my pistol after shooting it 4-days-ago.

[f4t9r]

I at least wipe them down after shooting, then clean when nothing else is going on. Sometimes a few days or weeks later

[USMCDK]

Hey everybody here's a link so go and vote. KEN C I started that thread to give you a visual result of how many say "yes or no" after every firing session, I hope it helps you out.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=357974

Have fun guys

So far it's a 5 yes and 0 no

[TimboKhan]

I was a Marine, and I don't clean my guns that often.

Let me clarify a bit: Basically, my rule of thumb is every 200 rounds, I clean. I don't particularly like cleaning guns, and I have shot enough guns to know that 200 rounds is plenty frequent. For that matter, just to see what would happen, I have shot a couple of my guns well over a thousand rounds with no failure. I wouldn't advocate carrying in that state of dirty, but neither would I have been particularly worried about it. I will give my guns a wipe down when I get home, but as far as actually breaking out the hoppes, every 200 rounds.

There are exceptions. Corrosive ammo = cleaning as soon as I can, and if I happen to have a rod and patch at the range, I will even run a wet patch down the tube right then. .22's never get cleaned. I simply haven't noticed any difference in function or accuracy. My MkII can put them into a nickel off the bench, and it has been cleaned once in the entire time I have owned it (this one, 5 years) My previous MkII was never cleaned in the 10 years I owned it, and hasn't been cleaned by the guy who owns it now. My 10/22 has never been cleaned, and it has been a good 20 years now, and it still shoots exactly to point of aim. I just don't see the purpose, and given that I don't like to clean to begin with, I have no intention of changing.

[JohnBT]

"I know and have known many professional gun fighters, I used to be one."

Dang, I've never even met a professional gun fighter. Go figure. I've met soldiers, Marines, State Troopers and sheriffs and even been related to a few, but I've never met a professional gun fighter. I guess I'll stick with the training I got from the professionals I've known.

John

edited to add: Although this is Handguns: General Discussion and not the rifles section, I'd like to add that if I carried an M16 everyday instead of a handgun I'd clean it every time I sat down.

"The M16, however, has always required constant cleaning to prevent it from jamming." - Army Times editorial

[chupacabrah]

i clean after a few hundred rounds, or just whenever it looks dirty in there

[KI.W.]

If Ishoot, then clean, ofcourse.

[ImARugerFan]

I would give them a quick cleaning with a spray cleaner followed by an oiling after each range visit. Then a teardown and thorough cleaning of the whole gun once in a while.

[brentfoto]

At least from this source, to be a gunfighter the person must be a veteran of 'many' gunfights. And that's not even modifying the word by the word 'professional'.

From dictionary.com:

"gun·fight·er Audio Help /ˈgʌnˌfaɪtər/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[guhn-fahy-ter] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun a person highly skilled in the use of a gun and a veteran of many gunfights, esp. one living during the frontier days of the American West.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Origin: 1890–95, Americanism; gun1 + fighter]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006. "

[DawgFvr]

...as for me, I'm just a product of Army training. All weapons, in my family, require three cleanings after firing...the first comes at the end of first day's range session or cease of hostile action. The second and third cleanings come with the second and third succeeding week naturally.

I, personally, am unable to sleep at night with a dirty weapon in the house. I believe it is sacrilegious. Also...I enjoy cleaning my weapons...especially my revolvers. Just my two cents.

[USMCDK]

Well I can tell you this much

104 THR memebers say to clean every time you shoot your firearm and 52 said no.

Here's a link to my poll that backs up this post and the fact that I say you should clean it every time. Heck some of them said they at least clean it every month even if they haven't fired the weapon.

So here's the link

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=357974&page=2

Always respectfully,

USMCDK

[XavierBreath]

Let me check in here and point out that calling anonymous people on the internet internet amatuers or professionals is silly. The truth is, most of us here do not know who the dickens wrote what we are reading.

I'm a professional gun fighter. No, I'm a fighter pilot. I have been shooting 456 years. No wait, I've owned a squirt gun for 3 months. I was a Marine. No, wait, my wife is Maureen. Know what? All these claims mean squat. I don't have a clue as to who most of you are. The veracity of your opinion is generally assessed by the cohesion of your thoughts as you typed them into the computer. In other words, does this make sense to me?

Secondly......Most of us here have no aspirations towards being a professional football player or a professional gun fighter, assuming there was such as thing as Paladin in today's United States. We have professional policemen, professional shooting competitors, professional soldiers, professional this that or the other, but I challenge anyone here to name one person who makes his living from gun fighting, ie killing other people, in today's United States that is not a wanted felon. Anyone who claims to be a professional gunfighter, using such a claim to lend credibility to their internet advice is immediately suspect in my eyes. I would no more take gun cleaning advice from some dude claiming to be a professional gun fighter or someone claiming to know a herd of such critters, than to take medical advice from some guy in the airport claiming to be a physician.

The vast majority of our members are honest gun owners with a job outside the gun industry. We have some members who are gunsmiths, some who compete on the national level, some who are gun writers, others in law enforcement, and some in the gun manufacturing industry. There are some members who I do know personally. I know them because when I run into them and they recognize me from my blog, they introduce themselves. We have no claivoyants with a documented powers of prediction of future events. While some members may believe they have these powers, even those powers of claivoyance are only as valid as the last prediction proven true, not the one awaiting verification.


I can say this though.....for those who desire clairvoyant powers, threads that make gun owners look like loons are generally closed at The High Road.

Hey.......look, there is another one!