Do we overclean nowadays?

[badgerrr]

I'm convinced that Gun People usually clean their guns too much.....and that NonGun People (usually) clean their guns too little.

I, myself, have suffered more grief from cleaning guns than not cleaning them.

Consider: in a humid climate, a rifle bore MUST be oiled after cleaning - unless it can be fired before storage (protected by modern primer residue). In my case, firing immediately after cleaning is seldom possible. Discover that an oiled barrel, in most of my long guns, will not shoot close to "true" until 4 to 8 rounds have been sent downrange.

Most game is killed with the first shot or nothing.

For that first shot;

(1) The cold barrel phenomenon must be contended with.

(2) If the barrel is oiled....the Oiled barrel problem must be delt with.

The cold barrel phenom is predictable....in most of my guns...shooting an inch or two high.

The oiled barrel problem is much less predictable....lead shooting left-right-high-low erraticly.

If the barrel can be left dirty (protected by primer residue) only the "cold barrel effect" need be considered in that all important First Shot.

 

[Mike Irwin]

Over clean?

I'd be doing good to clean!

 

[Joe Demko]

The military insistance on weapons being spotlessly clean has its origin in three factors, I suspect:
1. A holdover from the the days when blackpowder and/or corrosive priming compounds would ruin a dirty weapon in short order.
2. It's much easier to white glove inspect a weapon and freak all over a soldier for not having a spotless weapon than it is to make a value judgement about a weapon just being clean enough for proper function.
3. The military finds it desirable to keep enlisted men busy as much of their waking hours as possible. Weapons cleaning is an excellent way to do that. Yes, it is important to keep the weapon clean and functioning properly, but as Jeff White pointed out in one of the XM8 threads, no matter what weapon they issue, Joe Snuffy will not be permitted to spend one second less cleaning weapons.
So, although I wore green once, I don't spend any great amount of time cleaning my weapons. There are no Sgt.'s waiting to white glove them. I keep them functioning and free of corrosion, which is all I think is really required. Since they are my weapons, it is all that is required.

 

[shooter1]

Food for thought:
I've never known a weapon to malfunction because it's "too clean"! On the opposite end of the spectrum---------------------I've seen dozens of malfunctions attribitable to dirty, neglected weapons. Think I'll risk overcleaning mine.
Will

 

[spartacus2002]

Don't clean them, let them corrode, buy a new one. It's better for the economy that way.

 

[natedog]

Generally when I get home I'll clean off any visible powder residue on the gun and run a boresnake down the bore, and once in a while I'll do a more thorough cleaning job (disassembly). I have never had a weapon malfunction, save for riding the bolt closed on my Mini-14 (user error) and cheap bulk ammo not cycling the bolt completly in my Marlin 795.

 

[roo_ster]

Too Clean? Well, maybe...

I will admit to, perhaps, cleaning my weapons too much. I certainly cleaned my weapon too much in the service. I shudder to think what I used as a solvent when CLP was in short supply...
--
These days I clean a CCW as soon as I get home from the range if I intend to carry it. I will generally only carry a pristine CCW.
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Other weapons may get only a wiping down, solvent in the bore, & a few passes with a bore brush. A few days later I'll come back after the solvent has done its magic and finish the process with a good cleaning.
--
After shooting corrosive milsurp ammo, windex goes down the bore and over the bolt AT THE RANGE. More of same, to inclde a thourough windex wipe-down & windex patches down the bore. Then a thourough cleaning.
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A CCW that hasn't been fired gets a monthly filed-stripping, de-linting, and re-lube.
--
Favorite supplies:
* Ed's Red Solvent: good & cheap & works like nobody's business. I don't include the lanolin.
* Sweet's 7.62: For serious copper fouling; used infrequently
* CLP: Ahhh, CLP. I love this stuff. Lube of choice where grease is not called for. Also protectant of choice.
* Synthetic Grease: Semi-auto slide & lugs on bolt actions get some of this wonderful lube. Cheap cheap cheap.
* Rods, brushes, patches. I like the USGI green brush.
* Boresnake: If you're in a hurry to clean your bore, this is the 80% solution that takes mere seconds.