Cleaning guns... love it or hate it?

[redraidermgr]

Hey everyone, I was reading through a thread on this forum asking how many guns people take to the range and i noticed a common response. A lot of people take fewer guns because they dislike cleaning them afterwards.

I myself enjoy going out to the range and spending some time that evening cleaning them and putting them away. I find it almost relaxing even after a long day. This may be to the fact that I was raised this way and was always taught to clean my guns after a trip to the range and that practice was never varied from or skipped.

My question is how many people actually enjoy cleaning their guns after a good day of shooting? Am I in the minority, or were the people like me that enjoy doing tasks like this (no matter how many guns) simply not speaking up? If you do enjoy cleaning them how much of your training (or raising) is attributed to this.

 

[beatledog7]

Given a choice of cleaning the bathroom or cleaning guns, I'll choose the letter.

Seriously though, it's a task I don't really mind, but like so many, it's harder to get things out and get started than it is to do it.

 

[Kiln]

I actually enjoy cleaning most of mine. All of my semi autos get field stripped, my revolvers get the action sprayed out and the barrel & cylinders carefully cleaned...all 20 get completely broken down every now and then to prevent rust and to check for serious wear. Shotguns and rifles get a field stripped every time and occasionally I take then down all the way to check parts and wear just like with the pistols but somewhat less frequently. I do it after every range visit with the weapons I've used and I find it very enjoyable as well as relaxing.

The first thing I do after getting a firearm is break it all the way down and clean/lube it, learning the way it functions before taking it to the range.

 

[pockets]

I could swear this same basic thread was here a couple of months back.

Cleaning them has no impact at all on how many guns I take to the range.

 

[bikerdoc]

What Kiln said.

I do at least one daily and still dont get them all done in a month.

 

[Sam1911]

I clean them when they get dirty. Usually ~500 rounds or so.

(Unless I'm shooting corrosive ammo, then they get dunked right afterward.)

 

[mgmorden]

I certainly don't enjoy it, and I don't clean the gun after every outting. Usually just when I feel like its time for it or something indicates that they need it.

 

[303tom]

I do it pretty much all day & almost everyday !

 

[Remllez]

I'm with Sam on this one, excepting my .22's which usually just get the actions brushed out and a little lube where needed.

 

[WardenWolf]

My views (and probably those of most other people) are affected by the conditions available for cleaning. For me, if I lived in a more temperate climate, with a grassy backyard, cleaning wouldn't be bad. I'd probably enjoy it, in fact. But I live in Arizona, and have gravel instead of grass. I don't have the luxury of being able to rest the butt of my gun on the ground while cleaning it. I can't just get down on my hands and knees. I have to awkwardly do everything while standing and either clumsily holding the rifle or resting it on a table at an awkward angle. And working in the garage is out due to the heat.

As a result of all this, I usually just boresnake it with a bit of solvent after every other trip to the range and am done with it.

 

[CraigC]

I don't like cleaning and only clean when they need it. Which is NEVER after every range session. They only get wiped down after shooting.

 

[Black Knight]

At work I am responsible for making sure our duty weapons are clean and maintained after every trip to the range. That is about 15 Beretta 92FS pistols and usually 1 or 2 Mossberg 590 shotguns. I use my own cleaning gear instead of the department gear because theirs is extremely pityful. I love getting these guns into shape so that my fellow police officers have guns as well maintained as my personal ones are. Being a Beretta trained Armorer also helps. In the last five years we have not had any weapons fail to pass the Army's maintenance inspection because they were not clean. We have had some fail because of worn parts or cracked locking blocks (something that has to be repaired at their facility). Considering we have had these weapons for 12 - 14 years (and they were used when we got them) having only six needing to go back to the Army's facility for repairs is fairly good in my opinion.

 

[ball3006]

It is part of owning guns and shooting them. I am a C&R junkie so I have to clean them right after shooting or they will rust....chris3

 

[CHEVELLE427]

i clean them when i think they need it

 

[fpdsniper]

I don't mind it at all. I've got a large bench set up in my mancave. I lay the guns out and pop open a cold, frosty beverage to enjoy while cleaning them. Maybe even two...

 

[DAP90]

I voted I don’t mind but don’t do it every time.

This is true except for a few. There are some guns that are just a pain to take apart. Those usually end up getting sold or rarely shot as I don’t want to have to bother with them.

I used to clean them every time I shot them (it’s an Army thing) but don’t anymore. When a gun is new I’ll clean them every time I shoot them until I’m comfortable with how they work and how dirty they get during a shooting session. Then, only as needed.

 

[Psa1m144]

I have always enjoyed disassembling and cleaning my firearms, very calming. It's extra "bonding" time with them.

 

[Alex23]

I don't think I really care anymore. I like to keep my carry pieces cleaner than many so I'll put on some nice music or a tv and then I'm on autopilot...10 minutes and we're done.

 

[goinghot]

love my rifle

I love to disassemble and clean my rifle. i know this sounds odd but my rifle is like my girl friend. after a date to the range i love to go home and hold her and strip her down and clean her then put her to bed in the safe.

 

[Alex23]

Yes that does sound odd. You basically bash your girlfriend around, take her home and bang her tail, then lock her in a dark room.

Dude?

 

[Mike1234567]

I don't enjoy it but don't really mind it either. To me, guns are tools which need minimal care to maintain properly.

 

[RNB65]

Hate it. Can't stand it. Rarely do it. All guns work perfectly!
-

 

[M2 Carbine]

I hate cleaning guns.

I usually have several guns in my shop that need cleaning.

I often do not shoot particular guns because I don't want to clean them.

Just yesterday I swapped a Marlin 45 ACP Camp Carbine for a bolt action .223 rifle. One of the main reasons I got rid of the Marlin is it's a PITA to clean.

 

[wannabeagunsmith]

Better love it....the life of your gun depends on it! It also helps me to understand the weapon as well.

 

[CoRoMo]

Some people don't have the space and/or components that make cleaning easy. If you live in a one room efficiency apartment with no table to speak of, or maybe you don't have a good bore solvent, cleaning is not going to be a basket of joy. Additionally, some guns are better off not being cleaned by the guy who owns them.

I clean them when I darn well please.