Am I too anal?

[boostedxt]

I have friend and have acquaintances who clean their gun every 500 to 1000 rounds and lube them every so often. Me?

After every time I shoot I Clean, Inspect, and lube the gun. If I dont shoot the gun in 30 days I take it apart again and wipe things down and lube it again.

Thoughts? I guess I do it because its calming to clean and enjoy my collection, and plus if I always know what things look like I can replace wearing parts or get it inspected if need be.

Joe

 

[esheato]

My thoughts? You don't have enough guns if you have that much time. Pistols get cleaned when they stop working properly, rifles are "properly maintained"....ie cleaned occasionally.

EDIT: Round count logs are kept for precision rifles...cleaned occasionally means every couple hundred rounds, or when accuracy degrades. Bolts are wiped down more frequent than barrels scrubbed.

Semi-auto rifles (two ARs) get so fouled, I rum 'em until they start getting really nasty.

 

[Dino]

I clean and lube my guns every time I shoot, but once they're clean and lubed, I see no reason to go back and do it again if they haven't been shot.
That is a bit obsessive IMO.

Having said that, I do enjoy breaking down my guns and cleaning them so if you do it just for fun, that's one thing, but I honestly don't see the need.

 

[Quack]

buy more guns

 

[Dino]

My thoughts? You don't have enough guns if you have that much time. Pistols get cleaned when they stop working properly, rifles are "properly maintained"....ie cleaned occasionally.

I disagree ...
Why on earth would you wait until your pistols stop working properly?
Why not just prevent that by keeping them cleaned and lubed?
I want my pistols to be reliable every time I use them.
Especially in the event that I should need to use them.

 

[jackpinesavages]

No, you're not. Here's a better question, no offense:

When's the next time you'll need one of those weapons to save a life? YOU know they are ALL ready for life-saving service.

The morons who clean every now and again are the same fools complaining about their weapons jamming...." I'm sending it back to the factory!! " or even the better one, " This brand of ammo xxxx sucks! And I want the entirety of the interwebs to know about it!"

Clean away. Shoot to kill.

 

[esheato]

Why on earth would you wait until your pistols stop working properly?

Do you compete? During my weekly USPSA practice, I shoot bout 300-400 a session. Between reloading for that and the 25 other guns I have (nevermind wife and kid time), I don't have time to clean every gun after every range trip.

Exteriors are wiped down with RIG and they are put back in the safe. Pistols run 100% when clean and they're cleaned before matches or when they stop working.

 

[yeti]

Am I too anal?

Yes, but so what? As long as you are not cleaning them to the point of wearing down the rifling in the barrel (which would take quite a few brass brushes) and it helps you enjoy your guns, it doesn't really matter what anyone else does or thinks. I keep some (my carry guns) spotless, some of the others need to be shoveled out of the soot they leave behind, and most fall somewhere in between.

 

[19-3Ben]

If I dont shoot the gun in 30 days I take it apart again and wipe things down and lube it again.

Thoughts?

It depends. You say they are not being shot for 30 days, but the real question is, "where are they?"
If they are unshot and sitting in a safe for 30 days, I see no reason at all to break them down and clean them.

If you are carrying them daily then it's totally reasonable to clean them after 30 days.

My pocket carry guns get cleaned approx every week and a half but that's because they accumulate lint.
My belt carry guns get cleaned every 4-5 weeks in the winter time, and every 3-4 weeks in the summer time.

 

[Ron James]

You asked for an opinion, Yes, you are.

 

[HighExpert]

My competition guns are cleaned about every 4.000 rounds of practice and before every match. If you choose the right powder, you can get away with it. I have had several 'smiths tell me that the tight fit of a bullseye gun can be compromised by frequent tear downs. I choose a carry gun for it's ability to fire no matter what. I have carried a Glock 23 for close to 9 years and cleaned it exactly three times. I have fired about 5,000 rounds through it during that period and it has never failed to function. If it had the tolerances of a match gun it would have needed much more maintenance. The other problem with some guns is overlubing or using the wrong lube which will collect dirt. Dry lubes work very well for me. Either silicone or graphite based. Just my opinion.

 

[JDGray]

Am I too anal?

Maybe a bit I wipe the gun down after shooting, but don't clean them spotless. The bores dont get cleaned but maybe once a year, I do pull a snake through them after a few hundred rds. Once a year, or before I sell/trade a gun, I'll clean them really good

 

[Dino]

Do you compete? During my weekly USPSA practice, I shoot bout 300-400 a session. Between reloading for that and the 25 other guns I have (nevermind wife and kid time), I don't have time to clean every gun after every range trip.
Exteriors are wiped down with RIG and they are put back in the safe. Pistols run 100% when clean and they're cleaned before matches or when they stop working.

Do you shoot 25 guns at a time?
And which is it? ... do you clean your guns when they stop working?
Or every week before a match?

Sorta contradicting.

 

[boostedxt]

The guns are kept in a few places....

Car
Body
Bedside
Kitchen
garage

I will sit on the floor while my wife sits on the couch and we talk, watch TV, and I will go through them. I guess like jackpines said...I like to know they are all ready to go at all times. I detail cars as a hobby and have studied paints and hardness of clear coats....I guess I just like things clean. lol

joe

 

[luigi]

I do it because its calming to clean and enjoy my collection,

That's not an anal reason if you enjoy it do it

 

[f4t9r]

what ever works for you. Clean them everyday if you want.
I clean every couple hundred rounds,more often when weather or conditions are not to my liking.

 

[Nasty]

Yes.

By the logic expressed here, you should take 1 shot, clean and inspect the weapon, take one shot, etc...

All of mine get an occasional spray flush and wipedown.

They all work just fine, every time.




ps: When God thinks my Harley is too dirty, He makes it rain.

 

[Hammerhead6814]

I clean every one of my guns after use. It's just a good idea.

Now, on to the more pressing topic of why you chose to name this thread "Am I too anal?". You HAD to know we would be discussing lubricants and techniques, and on a google search you know someone will see this thread and go "w.t.f.???"

 

[esheato]

Do you shoot 25 guns at a time?
And which is it? ... do you clean your guns when they stop working?
Or every week before a match?

Did I say I shoot 25 guns at a time? No, I said between reloading for the USPSA pistol and all the other guns I have, I don't have time to maintain a strict cleaning regimen.

I'm not sure why this is difficult to understand...pistols get cleaned before a match no matter what. The only other time they get cleaned is when they start developing problems.

...they're cleaned before matches or when they stop working.

 

[6x6pinz]

there are worse things you could do.

 

[Nick5182]

I clean mine the same way as you Boosted. I don't think you're being too anal at all. Guns are tools and tools need to function properly in order to be useful and successful at achieving their purpose. Preventative maintenance is something that should be done in my opinion. It's like Dino said, why wait until your guns start performing badly to clean? I say keep doing it like you are.

 

[W.E.G.]

I clean as often as necessary to keep rust at bay, and to maintain the required level of accuracy and reliability for the particular gun.

The amount of cleaning required to achieve this varies a LOT from one gun to the next.

 

[TheProf]

Nope... you are not being obsessive. In fact, you need to clean it more often.

I clean every time the gun is fired. (Usually 100 rounds per session.) And if not fired for a long time...it gets cleaned every 6 months.

 

[jmr40]

I've seen more guns ruined by improper and excessive cleaning than by excessive firing. How often I clean depends on the gun.

Most hunting rifles are cleaned as little as possible. Once the action is removed from the stock for a thorough cleaning it may take 10-15 rounds before everything settles down and the rifle starts shooting back to it's potential. Sometimes small sight adjustments must be made as well. I never do this during the hunting season.

For a self defense gun I'd probably clean a bit more often just to be safe, but would never trust a "just cleaned" gun until a few rounds had been fired through it to check for proper functioning. You'd be surprised how many times a gun is reassembled and something is off just a bit.

I would advise checking guns from time to time, but cleaning after 30 days without firing is excessive. Inspect he gun. If you find rust, or if the lube is gummed up then a cleaning may be in order. I don't have time to clean, just to clean.

 

[orionengnr]

I think you are fine.
I clean every gun after each range session (four today, I am happy to say) .
I don't do the 30-day thing.

If it is a handgun that doesn't get carried or shot regulary, it gets sold.
If it is a rifle or shotgun (unfortunately none of them get shot regularly) they are cleaned and lubed with Eezox once a year. I also have a Goldenrod in my safe, and have no issues with corrosion so far.