Am I the only person who cleans his guns?

[BigShep85]

Not too long ago I traded for a couple pistols one I intended on keeping and one to sale, and when I recieved them while in great shape they were filthy, I mean dirty to the point that I was amazed somebody would let anything they owned get that dirty, (This guy was the original purchaser of both pistols) so I took them home cleaned them really good and they looked like new the one I kept (4506) went by the bed and the other is gone now glad to send it off in cleaned and like new shape.
Now A couple weeks ago I bought a used rifle an AR 15 off a guy and he sent it to me, great looking gun no scratches scuffs on the mags or furniture etc, I took it out to the range and sighted it in and the bolt a time or two didnt go all the way forward. Forward assist fixed that no problem so I took it home to clean it and I was amazed AGAIN at how filthy this gun was I had never seen a gun that dirty before and I see ALOT of guns, even the before mentioned pistols wasnt this dirty I wouldn't be surprised if this gun had never been cleaned.

Am I the only person who cleans their guns at all? I enjoy cleaning my guns but don't clean them after every range trip or sometimes even after a few range trips (depending on round count) but I have never seen guns this dirty and this was two seperate people on two seperate occasions. Am I the only one this happens too?
I am just looking for fellow high roaders feedback on this, I feel like this kinda wears a gun out quicker and leads to malfunctions or parts to break but thats just my opinion I guess.

 

[Hunterdad]

No, I clean mine.

 

[BigShep85]

[Merged -- Sam]

 

[spikedzombies]

I clean my ar15 when it stops functioning, my 38spcl when I get bored and almost never for my glock 19, 10/22 and Mosin nagant.

Sent vs Mytouch 4G

 

[AEA]

<Threads Merged>

Oh, I clean mine after every range trip.

 

[wildehond]

My carry gun get a onceover every week. Other guns get cleaned after a good range session.

 

[Hacker15E]

Seems to be a recent trend that I've read about quite a bit on firearms forums.

I was brought up to clean 'em as soon as you're done shooting them.

 

[briansmithwins]

I'm pretty OCD about cleaning firearms. I like to run a brush wet with gun oil down the bore and get any gas fouling wet while I'm at the range, while the guns are still warm from shooting.

I might leave a gun sit wet for a few days until I can get to it, but it will be cleaned. If I'm going to use the same gun again shortly I may just relubricate and wipe the bore before my next shooting session. A wet dirty gun will run a lot longer than a dry dirty one.

BSW

 

[Sam1911]

Some guns get cleaned right away. Definitely if they've been eating corrosive ammo.

Most guns get a wipe-down if they're going to be stored for a while.

My comp & carry guns get cleaned every 500-750 rounds or so, whether they need it or not. I shoot a fair bit and have tested them far enough to know that I stay well within the round count that starts to put me in danger of malfunctions.

 

[One_Jackal]

After shooting my guns I always clean them. All guns function much better when clean and lubricated properly.

 

[Sam1911]

All guns function much better when clean ...

Many rifles do not hit their best accuracy potential until they've had a few "fouling shots" down the barrel after a cleaning.

And, as I said, I run many hundreds through my handguns and some rifles without cleaning, and have never detected any operational or performance difference between a mildly dirty gun and a perfectly clean one.

The only time I've actually seen fouling cause a problem was with a 1911 that I shot weekly, uncleaned, and unlubricated, until it actually started to slow down. When it stopped going reliably back into battery -- something around 1,500 rounds, IIRC -- one squirt of the usual auto trans fluid lubed it right back up and it kept on running.

'Course, it also had an old, weak recoil spring so that was part of the problem.

I really wouldn't say "all guns function much better when clean." I've just never seen an example of it in my uses.

 

[beatledog7]

I remember Army armorers admonishing soldiers to turn in their weapons cleaner than when they got them.

Draw a clean and lubed weapon, put 30 rounds through it, scrub the crap out of it with bronze brushes, lube it, turn in it. Repeat daily.

I think that's why they wear out so fast.

 

[flhtcuibyhd]

Hello. My name is flhtcuibyhd and I can't stop cleaning my guns! Please help.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Pistols get cleaned when the mood strikes me, usually every 2-3 range trips.
Rifles get it at the end of each hunting season.
Obviously BP gets cleaned ASAP.
The .22s get cleaned when they start jamming.

 

[fpgt72]

Depends on the gun....my 10/22 will get cleaned when it will not run any more...same with a few of the bolt guns....others like my PSL, Krag, and other vintage stuff gets cleaned every trip even if only 5 rounds go down them.

I will also say that if I sell something it would be clean...that is just the way things should be done.

 

[Fatelvis]

I like buying a gun used that has barely (if ever) has been cleaned. I think alot of guns get damaged by people "cleaning" them, who don't know what they are doing. Also the uncleaned guns usually have unbuggered screw heads, and you can bet nobody tried to crack it open and "smooth things up", or some other home gunsmithing operations!

 

[Manny]

I truely think it's entirely possible to over do the cleaning, especially bores. Unless you have a rough bore most of the time you should be able to go several hundred rounds at least without cleaning. I thunk a lot of folks are figuring this out, I've read several tests in the last few years about how a freshly cleaned & oiled bore will often shoot to a different POI then a seasoned bore. For the average joe who just goes to the range and runs a box or less through his pet dear rifle and then scrubs the heck out of the bore I think it's overkill by a large margin.

For the action and such, when the crud gets noticable I think a least a cursory leaning and lube are in order, with the lube being the more important of those two steps. Myself, I really don't like cleaning guns and shoot no corrosive ammo. Bore snakes are my friend for a quick clean and lube, clean the crud from the action as indicated and a quick wipe & lube of external parts to prevent corrosion and call it good generally. Only if I find some indication this is not enough do I go into full blown cleaning mode. I'll generally have at least several hundred or more rounds through a weapon before I fee a full cleaning is in order. Then again most of my guns aren't highly polished show pieces but instead are Glocks, stainless Ruger DA's etc... which don't tend to need much babying.

 

[almherdfan]

I've traded/sold a few guns just after a range session, so they were mildly dirty when they changed hands.

I enjoy taking a new to me weapon and cleaning it before taking it out. It's a kind of foreplay.

I'll clean depending on circumstances. I will usually run a few wet/dry patches after a range outing, but only use a brush when I run a few hundred rounds through a gun. If I have a few hours, I'll be more thorough.

 

[Fatelvis]

I enjoy taking a new to me weapon and cleaning it before taking it out. It's a kind of foreplay.

I feel the same way.....But it does give new maning to the term "gun lover"! (rim shot please!)

 

[303tom]

I clean guns just about everyday...........

 

[jblackfish]

No, you're not the only person who cleans his guns. I do a field strip cleaning after every match and periodic detail cleaning as well - it's also a time to check the gun for any issue that might have otherwise go unnoticed....and I make sure any gun that I sell is clean too. No one wants to buy a gun, get it home and find that it's filthy - you proved that.

 

[Batty67]

I too am a bit anal about cleaning my guns. I've learned to only run a bore snake through my Ruger 10-22 every other range trip (though I clean the action after shooting). I'm working on cleaning my guns much faster, which means less intensively. Sometime I won't shoot because I do not feel up to the chore of cleaning them (and that is kind of messed up)...

 

[jblackfish]

I too am a bit anal about cleaning my guns. I've learned to only run a bore snake through my Ruger 10-22 every other range trip (though I clean the action after shooting). I'm working on cleaning my guns much faster, which means less intensively. Sometime I won't shoot because I do not feel up to the chore of cleaning them (and that is kind of messed up)...

I hate to see you NOT shoot because of your cleaning practices. I have had that thought but never let it stop me from going to the range when I can. My advice, shoot anyway and clean later. You don't have to clean it (them) the minute you get home. It'll wait a day or so - guns are "tough" and they can take it.

 

[Tim the student]

I clean them when its time.

 

[PedalBiker]

I hunt with the bore fouled from sighting shots. After the season ends I clean out the bore.

Everything else gets cleaned every trip to the range.

I've noticed some gun shop guns have a bunch of dust quite often. The green bores aren't just dust, though. I'd guess a bunch of used guns haven't been cared for well.

A friend of mine showed me his hunting rifle, it still had mud on the stock. He didn't seem to even notice. But then, I put my cricular saw away coated in saw dust...