ColtPythonElite
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I have guns that I have owned for decades. None have suffered from not being cleaned after being shot.
18 rounds: would you clean it?
- Thread starter thunderbyrd
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Under the circumstances you relate I would do no more than you've already done.
If you were going to carry it I'd clean it thoroughly.
Why?
I learned this from an internal affairs officer back in the olden days. There was a shooting where multiple agents fired rounds and some didn't. The first thing the IA guy did was look at everyone's gun. If the gun was spotlessly clean his only question was what did you see. If the gun had shown evidence of being fired, did you shoot or not?
I know someone who got off a false allegation by a bad guy who claimed the officer had fired a shot at him. The officer's gun was squeaky clean.
If you were going to carry it I'd clean it thoroughly.
Why?
I learned this from an internal affairs officer back in the olden days. There was a shooting where multiple agents fired rounds and some didn't. The first thing the IA guy did was look at everyone's gun. If the gun was spotlessly clean his only question was what did you see. If the gun had shown evidence of being fired, did you shoot or not?
I know someone who got off a false allegation by a bad guy who claimed the officer had fired a shot at him. The officer's gun was squeaky clean.
THEWELSHM
Member
Bruce D Pease
Member
I agree with beag_ nut … my training is you shoot it you clean it… learned that BEFORE boot camp….. boot camp rule was clean every day for three days after shooting… perhaps a holdover from the days of corrosive m2 ball.
If the gun is not a carry gun then under normal circumstances I would not clean it after a single range trip--especially not with another range trip for that gun in the offing. I once put around 1300 rounds through a semi-auto pistol in a couple of days without cleaning it. I took closeup pictures of normal wear points before and after and couldn't see any unusual wear.
I clean my carry guns after every range trip because I don't want gunshot residue to get all over me while I'm carrying the gun. But if the gun is just going to be shot at the range, I will clean it every two or three range trips--or when I feel like cleaning it.
I clean my carry guns after every range trip because I don't want gunshot residue to get all over me while I'm carrying the gun. But if the gun is just going to be shot at the range, I will clean it every two or three range trips--or when I feel like cleaning it.
v8stang289
Member
I'd wipe it down and put it away.
I used to obsessively clean after every range trip, Now I just wipe it down and oil if needed. Thoroughly clean every once in a while. Carry guns are the only exception.
I used to obsessively clean after every range trip, Now I just wipe it down and oil if needed. Thoroughly clean every once in a while. Carry guns are the only exception.
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Armored farmer
Member
I'm pretty disciplined about cleaning my bp guns. Smokeless guns? Not so much. Two or three times per year, orif they've been working really hard.
orionengnr
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My own rule is "don't let the sun set on a fired gun" without cleaning.
I know that some may construe that as excessive, and I'm fine if you choose to go another way.
But...you asked for our opinions, and that is what you are getting.
Bottom line: any gun I take to the range, I clean afterwards. I generally take more than one gun to the range, and it's fairly unusual that I would shoot one cylinder/magazine through any individual gun, but it has happened. Regardless, it gets cleaned.
again, my choice, and YMMV.
I know that some may construe that as excessive, and I'm fine if you choose to go another way.
But...you asked for our opinions, and that is what you are getting.
Bottom line: any gun I take to the range, I clean afterwards. I generally take more than one gun to the range, and it's fairly unusual that I would shoot one cylinder/magazine through any individual gun, but it has happened. Regardless, it gets cleaned.
again, my choice, and YMMV.
1976B.L.Johns.
Member
I skipped through most responses...
I was brought up to clean a firearm after every outing, whether it was fired or not.
And this came from my Dad, who hated saluting senior officers during that Korean thing-a-ma-jig but did as was instructed. (And, YES, his guns were mint!)
A couple of months ago I "sinned", fired one round through my 1911 and did not get cleaned for weeks,,,,,,,,,,,,
oops......
So........clean your firearm, not only will you appreciate it but that heirloom's inheritance will (hopefully) like it also.
ETA After reading my post I just have to add this.
This is not our permanent residence. We are not to store up treasures on Earth, but I believe it is nice to pass them on to our children and grandkids to enjoy for the short time we all are here.
I was brought up to clean a firearm after every outing, whether it was fired or not.
And this came from my Dad, who hated saluting senior officers during that Korean thing-a-ma-jig but did as was instructed. (And, YES, his guns were mint!)
A couple of months ago I "sinned", fired one round through my 1911 and did not get cleaned for weeks,,,,,,,,,,,,
oops......So........clean your firearm, not only will you appreciate it but that heirloom's inheritance will (hopefully) like it also.
ETA After reading my post I just have to add this.
This is not our permanent residence. We are not to store up treasures on Earth, but I believe it is nice to pass them on to our children and grandkids to enjoy for the short time we all are here.
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Riomouse911
Member
My Grandfather had numerous working firearms; he was a cattle and sheep rancher by vocation and more than one marauding predator met its end at the bark of his .250-3000 or .257 Roberts. He always wiped the guns down with an oily rag at the end of every day and put them in the cabinet at night. Despite decades in horseback scabbards and rear window pickup truck racks, the guns he owned were in good shape.
One time one of the grandkids took out his 1894 .30-30 and put it away with sweaty fingerprints on the barrel. The bluing was ruined at that spot and he made it a point to show every one of us what can happen if we don’t take care of our equipment.
I may not clean a gun immediately after every time I shoot due to time constraints, but they get a good wipe down afterwards and then get cleaned the next chance I can get to it.
Stay safe.
One time one of the grandkids took out his 1894 .30-30 and put it away with sweaty fingerprints on the barrel. The bluing was ruined at that spot and he made it a point to show every one of us what can happen if we don’t take care of our equipment.
I may not clean a gun immediately after every time I shoot due to time constraints, but they get a good wipe down afterwards and then get cleaned the next chance I can get to it.
Stay safe.
Styx
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I get that some are truely anal retentive and fit the definition to a T, but it is pointless to do a deep clean only after 18 rounds let alone only 1. Wipe the little bit of power and other residue off and keep it moving.
If you are overally anal and obsessed, clean it after only one round or a mag or two. If you choose not to or only wipe off the gun power residue, a reputable pistol like Glocks, M&P, CZ, HK, etc aren't going to stop working or deteriorate. If you have issues after not cleaning after such an extremely low round count, I wouldn't carry the gun. I'd send it in for repair or replacement, or I'd find a different make/model of gun that was more reliable.
@thunderbyrd Cleaning everytime after a low round count is something people do out of habbit and having spare time on their hands, but it's generally not necessary. If you don't or choose to get around to it at a later date, you'll be just fine. A reputable handgun will still go bang after being shot 1-18 times without ever being clean.
If you are overally anal and obsessed, clean it after only one round or a mag or two. If you choose not to or only wipe off the gun power residue, a reputable pistol like Glocks, M&P, CZ, HK, etc aren't going to stop working or deteriorate. If you have issues after not cleaning after such an extremely low round count, I wouldn't carry the gun. I'd send it in for repair or replacement, or I'd find a different make/model of gun that was more reliable.
@thunderbyrd Cleaning everytime after a low round count is something people do out of habbit and having spare time on their hands, but it's generally not necessary. If you don't or choose to get around to it at a later date, you'll be just fine. A reputable handgun will still go bang after being shot 1-18 times without ever being clean.
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greyling22
Member
I used to clean my guns every time I was done. now I just shoot them. I'll scrub lead out of the bore periodically, and wipe down the blued ones, but my stainless ones, I clean them yearly.
UncleEd
Member
Truth is when it comes to revolvers
be they a few years old or 50 years
old have never had their side plates
taken off. They still work fine.
A few drops of oil into the innards
occasionally is all that's needed
with revolvers. I use Rem Oil
because it's runny and gets into
every area easily.
Colt includes with its new Pythons
a 0.135 ounce packet of Lucas
oil, a bit less runny than Rem Oil
and more than enough for the
Python if you think it needs
some oil.
be they a few years old or 50 years
old have never had their side plates
taken off. They still work fine.
A few drops of oil into the innards
occasionally is all that's needed
with revolvers. I use Rem Oil
because it's runny and gets into
every area easily.
Colt includes with its new Pythons
a 0.135 ounce packet of Lucas
oil, a bit less runny than Rem Oil
and more than enough for the
Python if you think it needs
some oil.
OP: You've about covered all the cleaning necessary on a Smith revolver. What more are you anticipating? That said, no matter the number of rounds, I clean up every gun after shooting. A wipe down is necessary as an absolute minimum, every time, for rust prevention...and that includes SS models. I run a brush through the cylinders and bbl. then patch each leaving a film of oil. I brush/clean the ejector star and under it as well, and that's it. The whole enchilada takes less than 5 minutes and will keep your arms in good shape for decades.
Lastly, the above is directed towards revolvers and I'll add that in over 50 years of shooting Rugers, Smith's and a cpl Colts, I've had the side plates off the DA models less than a half dozen times. YMMv but IMHO, more guns are screwed up by disassembling and thoughtless cleaning than by any other cause. Rod
Lastly, the above is directed towards revolvers and I'll add that in over 50 years of shooting Rugers, Smith's and a cpl Colts, I've had the side plates off the DA models less than a half dozen times. YMMv but IMHO, more guns are screwed up by disassembling and thoughtless cleaning than by any other cause. Rod
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Kentucky can be very humid, and for me, rust is the greatest concern. Wipe off the powder residue, push it out of the barrel, or better, use a solvent to remove it, and than rub an oily patch over everything. Once the rust causing carbon residue is removed from the surfaces, the pistol is ready for storage.
That is, assuming no leading. I have wiped out old leading out of pistol barrels and found rust pits underneath. You would think moisture would not get under leading, but somehow, it will.
It does not take long to wipe a pistol down, then go over the surfaces with a solvent filled patch, then wipe that off. So a pistol that is as dirty as this, will clean up very quickly.
That is, assuming no leading. I have wiped out old leading out of pistol barrels and found rust pits underneath. You would think moisture would not get under leading, but somehow, it will.
It does not take long to wipe a pistol down, then go over the surfaces with a solvent filled patch, then wipe that off. So a pistol that is as dirty as this, will clean up very quickly.
1942bull
Member
Whether you shoot 1 or a hundred rounds the only question is how dirty is it? I clean my guns after shooting them no matter how mant rounds were fired.
bassjam
Member
If I'm definitely taking a stainless gun back out in a few more days no way would I clean it. If it's being put up for a week or more I'd wipe down the exterior with an oily rag as stainless can still corrode but that's it, I'm not touching the internals. My blued guns get wiped down with that oily rag every time I touch them.
Modern guns (including that m65) with modern ammunition and modern cleaning supplies don't need cleaned after every use unless using them entails sitting outside in a rainy duck blind all day and maybe a dunk under water. "I clean after every use because that's how I was raised" was important prior to WWII when powder was still corrosive, and into the 1950's still when primer compound was still corrosive, which is why my grandpa born in the 20's taught by dad born in the 50's to clean his guns after every use because if you didn't back then you could ruin the bore. But now I might let a barrel go years and thousands of rounds before I run any cleaner through it.
Modern guns (including that m65) with modern ammunition and modern cleaning supplies don't need cleaned after every use unless using them entails sitting outside in a rainy duck blind all day and maybe a dunk under water. "I clean after every use because that's how I was raised" was important prior to WWII when powder was still corrosive, and into the 1950's still when primer compound was still corrosive, which is why my grandpa born in the 20's taught by dad born in the 50's to clean his guns after every use because if you didn't back then you could ruin the bore. But now I might let a barrel go years and thousands of rounds before I run any cleaner through it.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
30yrs ago, yes. Today, no. I think we were all raised to clean our guns every time we shoot them. Some of us came to question the practice, many did not. I've also heard the point made that the more guns you own and the more you shoot them, the less you're inclined to clean and I tend to agree with that. To put things in perspective, I have 81 revolvers and I've been shooting on my own property for nearly 15yrs. I shoot all the time. If I gave every gun a proper cleaning every time I shot one, I'd barely have time to brush my teeth. I shoot a lot of cast bullets through them and folks think you have to be diligent to keep the lead out of their bores. Wrong. Unless there is an issue, lead deposits will only go so far. I have revolvers that have never seen a bore brush, yet they have thousands of rounds through them. My high mileage guns, like the Old Model Single Six I've been trying to wear out for 20yrs, see the least cleaning. I'll wipe them down every few hundred rounds, swab the chambers every thousand and clean the ejector when necessary. After several years and several thousand rounds of suppressor use, I broke down and cleaned my 4" Ruger MKIII last year, mostly to try out my new ultrasonic cleaner. It's the only gun I "cleaned" last year. A year I spent building half a dozen or more AR's and shooting A LOT.
I think this is a point lost on many.
Folks are free to do as they wish with their guns but I have to take issue with this. It assumes that NOT doing it your way, guns don't last as long as that is patently false.
Sounds like you cleaned it? In the space of time to post this thread you could have cleaned it again
Wait folks clean 22s? Only time I clean mine is when they don’t work. Haven’t cleaned a 22 barrel in my 39 years of being alive. Grandpa taught me it isn’t necessary unless you had a squib.The must all be 22LR, never ever ever clean those
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