Does anybody ever really clean their firearm?

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The old saying is, "Never let the sun set on a dirty gun". Granted this is from the olden days with black powder, where if you left a dirty gun overnight it might be rusted out the next morning. I still clean guns right after a range trip as soon as possible. Ya never know when you will need it to absolutely positively go bang.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr
 
I was always taught "A Clean Gun Is An Accurate Gun".....I clean mine after every trip to the range including springs, extractor and firing pin...ya never know, my life could depend on it.
 
rezin - a former Marine who says "... near perfect". I'm ashamed at you!:)
 
If I cleaned my guns after every range session, that's all I'd do is sit around, cleaning guns.
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Amen.

I enjoy cleaning guns, but I really just can't take that kind of time. I probably clean whatever pistol I'm using for competiton about once a month. Maybe every 500-700 rds. Rifles, are a bit different. Corrosive ammo stuff gets cleaned immediately. Others get cleaned depending on how much they've eaten. 50-100 rds, I'm likely to clean it. Just a few shots? Not likely.

I do wipe most blued guns down with a little oil to keep the fingerprint rust away, but otherwise, I've come to believe that more wear and tear ocurrs during the stripping and cleaning process than ever happens through shooting.

-Sam
 
More bores are ruined by overcleaning than by undercleaning, IMO, unless you are shooting corrosive ammo.
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To that I will add that more parts have been lost and screws buggered through unnecessary disassembly than through necessary disassembly. I do not strip beyond field strip unless there is a really good reason to do so. Routine cleaning is not a really good reason. Some guns, like the Savage Model 99 for example, you shouldn't attempt to strip at all unless you actually_for real and for sure_know what you are doing every step of the way and have exactly the right tools. Talk to any real gunsmith who's been in business for a while. He'll tell you there are certain guns that he most often sees show up at his shop as a bag of parts because getting it back together proved more difficult than taking it apart for the owner. Also look at all the used guns next time you are at a gun show that have buggered up screw heads, scratched finishes, and other damage.

More guns get ruined by taking them apart than by not taking them apart.
 
There are varying degrees with which I clean everything.

AR-15: I will mainly focus on the bolt and bolt carrier. Give it a healthy does of oil afterwards, and put it back together after every range trip (on average, I put about 100 rounds down range). I will clean the bore every other range trip.

1911: Clean the bore and slide every range trip. I'll detail strip the slide about twice a year and clean the firing pin and extractor channels. Oil the rails and barrel and it's good to go.

Glock: About the same as the 1911. Clean the slide up and clean the bore. A couple of drops of oil in the prescribed areas.
 
bad_aim_billy said:
I run mine through the dishwasher on the "pots and pans" setting.

I figure if it can clean yesterday's meatloaf, it can clean a fouled barrel no problem.
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If my wife found me doing that she would use the gun on me afterwards! Same goes for auto parts too!
 
If I shoot my carry gun...I clean it very well. If the LEOs are looking for a guy thats "gray headed, 'bout 60ish, driving a red F-150"...I don't want my gun looking like it has been "recently fired". 'ya know? :D

I do clean when I shoot. That way they are ready to go at a moments notice. Range ready and road tested. Only way to go.

Mark
 
BenEzra said:
Herohog, what kind of pump-action rifles are those in your photo?
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They are a friend's old Remington amd Winchester. I forget the models. They were filthy as all get-out! This is the Winchester:

Winchester01.jpg
 
No, I prefer the term, polish. When I clean, I end up with a pile of shiny parts I have to learn how to put back together, after the first few times it goes much faster.

Then I degrease the parts, put on some high temp moly lube, that gives a nice dark shine, let them dry for a day, then reassemble and lube.
 
I have never been able to clean a barrel until patches come out clean and white. I clean them to "good enough".
 
Actually, I treat different guns differently.....

The hunting guns get simple cleaning regularly, detailed cleaning as seen needed (not real often given the limited use).

Plinker guns get cleaned as I have the time and feel the need.....

Black powder right away after plinking... I won't even shoot it unless I have time to clean it too....

SD gun------ well, I will actually be sure to shoot it after a thorough cleaning (anything involving disassembling- safety's, firing mechansim, trigger group assembly etc)..... gotta know it's gonna go bang! I don't have corrosive ammo, and a few rounds down the barrel aren't going to cause any problem (or you have the wrong gun for SD).... I will do a basic field strip clean and reassemble without any worry (brush/swab barrel, wipe down, little oil etc)...
 
WD-40 and Break Free CLP wipes

old dish rags, toothbrush, bronze bore brush and patch/jags

For long guns I like the Bore Snake

I clean my guns after each use

And the one I carry maybe once a month
 
"A Clean Gun Is An Accurate Gun".....

I've always said "a clean gun is a happy gun".

You can totally clean a gun using Gunscrubber/Brakleen or immersing it in a suitable solvent. You can totally clean the bore with Hoppe's but you need to let it soak in and use multiple applications. First it all comes out black and then green (jacket material) then clean.

The only reason to take a gun totally apart (detail strip) is if the gun is broken. you can do more wear on the gun from taking it apart than you will shooting it.
 
I clean as in U.S. Marine Corps clean. Other Marines or X-Marines will know what I mean.

My weapons have to be white glove inspection clean when they are being put away for more than a week. If I am shooting them for a match, I may not clean the bore but I will clean the action so it functions properly.
 
+1 to coloradokevin
My carry weapons shines like new, my range guns just get a bore snake and some Rem oil, but can wait a while for a good scrub.

As a matter of fact, I had to buy a new rod sunday because I neglected to scrub my BP rifle. A patch got stuck, I was watchin' the tube, and the OS factor hit right about the time all 3 sections of the rod snapped. But my bolt action I run 10 rounds in it, and I at least run a snake in it.
 
I clean as in U.S. Marine Corps clean. Other Marines or X-Marines will know what I mean.
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I'm seeing a surprising number of references to "ex" and "former" Marine in this thread; I was under the impression that there were no "ex" or "former" Marines, just Marines. ;)
 
Oh Thank God I'm not alone!!!

Recently I haven't cleaned my guns because I'm sick of going insane when doing it!!! When I clean a gun, it must be absolutely positively super duper clean or else I'll cry like a little girl :(
It irritates me to no end to have a dirty gun in the safe. This is why my AR was never cleaned or oiled (which BTW it probably the reason why it never jammed on me :neener:, it runs totally dry for the last 10 months) because I know I can't get it perfect.

When I do, I detail strip all handguns, clean everything with Hoops #9, oil VERY lightly. But it's a pain in the neck trying to get all the burned, pounded into metal, carbon out!!! Exactly why I'm going to give this a try: http://www.slip2000.com/carbonkiller.html
 
Just cleaned all 9 of my rifles. Took me 3 days. Cleaned up my bench and reloading bench too.
 
I have nothing but military-style (and made like it) or super-reliable firearms (AR, AK, Glock). I still clean them thoroughly after each session, since I don't know when I'll get to go again. I'm glad I do, because it's been almost two months since the last trip :(.
 
I do a thorough breakdown and cleaning. There is CLEAN meaning the absence of contaminants,anything else is varying degrees of dirty. I want my guns CLEAN,so I completely dissassemble them. I first dislodge grime with brake cleaner or another de-greaser and blast with shop air. Anything small enough to go into the hot soapy water tank is submerged(I use Dawn Dishwashing liquid). Parts coming out of the soap are rinsed with hot clean water and then spayed with WD-40 while still hot and allowed to dry. Guns are re-assemble with Rem-oil(or similar) on wear surfaces. Final wipe down of exposed surfaces with WD-40 on a cloth completes the process. This has worked to keep my guns rust and wear free for over 40 years.
 
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rimfires get a few patches ran down the barrel until the barrel shines then blast out the action with brake clean then hit it with lube.

centerfires get patches down the bored until they come clean, bolts get taken down and scrubbed with Q-tips and Hopps #9 then dusted with lube.

hand guns get field stripped and scrubbed the best i can and revolvers i clean the cylinder and the barrel and oil.
 
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