Dust & lint in the barrel...problem or not?

[whatnickname]

This one has always made me wonder. So many of the holsters today are open on the bottom. The little KHAR CW9 I carry in my pocket rides in a very nice DeSantis pocket holster. Try as I might there's always a small quantity of lint in the end of the barrel. I know very well that this comes down to a matter of degree. I'm sure that at some point you could accumulate enough lint in the end of the barrel to cause damage to the barrel as well as the slide and frame. A good many duty holsters used by LEOs are open ended and I'm sure these same issues are present there as well. So with all of the above taken into account, does firing a pistol with a minor amount of dust or lint in the barrel damage the barrel? How much dust or lint is too much?

 

[trentcwwilson]

It all depends on how anal you are. Me? I'm called anal quite a bit. When I carry my 1911, it's disassembled and cleaned once a week. I think at a minimum, that a carry gun, shot or not, should be cleaned no less than every 4 months. On the other hand, I have friends that carry glocks and they never clean them.

 

[whatnickname]

I'm pretty anal myself

I usually run a lightly oiled patch down the barrel once a week also.

 

[trentcwwilson]

I usually run a lightly oiled patch down the barrel once a week also.

Assuming not a stainless barrel?

 

[Das Capitolin]

I usually run a lightly oiled patch down the barrel once a week also.

I would stop that, as your barrel can accumulate oil and once fired it all turns to carbon fouling. Use an extremely thin oil after a cleaning, if at all. Stainless and chrome-lined barrels do not need it, and for that matter none should if you practice proper humidity control wherever they're stored.

 

[GBExpat]

I keep several pressurized air tanks in the garage and periodically use one of them to give my carry pistol (and its holster) a quick-clean blast.

 

[Drail]

Compressed air. All gun owners need a compressor. And if that stuff is getting into the bore - it's getting into the action. A clean gun is a happy gun. Oiling the bore is good when storing - but wipe it all out if you plan on firing it.

 

[Robert101]

A little oil in the barrel wouldn't hurt anything when shooting. Just think if you had some copper or lead fouling in the barrel - that happens all the time. Please tell me how a little oil in the barrel will harm things.

Based on my personal experience, it has never been a problem.

 

[trentcwwilson]

It's not for some people. How often do you clean your gun? Shooting a moderately oiled barrel will result in carbon fouling. Be anal, clean your guns like I do, it'll never be a problem.

 

[Robert101]

Trent, I clean mine often. What carbon fouling are you talking about? I've looked down a previously oiled barrel after shooting and nothing more is left behind. At least not anymore than would be there from shooting a round through it.

 

[trentcwwilson]

What oil are you using? I use M Pro 7 and I've always run into fouling if I don't run a patch down the bore.

 

[MIL-DOT]

It's not for some people. How often do you clean your gun? Shooting a moderately oiled barrel will result in carbon fouling. Be anal, clean your guns like I do, it'll never be a problem.

Why ?? Do you disassemble your car engine once a week and clean it ?
They're just machines, they don;t need to be sterilized like the baby's blanket. Proper, regular cleaning is obviously important, but obsessive over-cleaning is un-necessary, and can sometimes do more harm than good.
And a little lint or dust in the barrel isn't a big deal, but I also prefer them to be clean, and generaly run a dry patch down my barrels just before shooting (but that's mostly to remove the excessive left-over oil I usually have in mine from the last time I cleaned and lubed it for storage )

 

[Robert101]

I use Mobil synthetic for lube and I don't get carbon build up in the chamber. Never had a problem. Is this one of those Urban myths again?

 

[trentcwwilson]

I use Mobil synthetic for lube and I don't get carbon build up in the chamber. Never had a problem. Is this one of those Urban myths again?

I just know what happens with my guns, my reloads, and my observations. I own plenty of cleaning supplies for a reason.

Why ?? Do you disassemble your car engine once a week and clean it ?
They're just machines, they don;t need to be sterilized like the baby's blanket. Proper, regular cleaning is obviously important, but obsessive over-cleaning is un-necessary, and can sometimes do more harm than good.
And a little lint or dust in the barrel isn't a big deal, but I also prefer them to be clean, and generaly run a dry patch down my barrels just before shooting (but that's mostly to remove the excessive left-over oil I usually have in mine from the last time I cleaned and lubed it for storage )

Mildot, please don't take what I'm about to say personally. What does that have to do with the price of eggs in China? The engine/gun comment is like comparing pebbles to asteroids. One is something that can't be fought where as the guns can be. I've sent many guns back to manufacturers only to have them commend me on how clean they are. My 1911 carry(Kimber Warrior SOC) had over 5000 jacketed and we'll over 10000 lead rounds through it. Looks like the day I bought it. Like I said, some shall be anal, some won't. It's all about personal preference.

 

[sigarms228]

This one has always made me wonder. So many of the holsters today are open on the bottom. The little KHAR CW9 I carry in my pocket rides in a very nice DeSantis pocket holster. Try as I might there's always a small quantity of lint in the end of the barrel. I know very well that this comes down to a matter of degree. I'm sure that at some point you could accumulate enough lint in the end of the barrel to cause damage to the barrel as well as the slide and frame. A good many duty holsters used by LEOs are open ended and I'm sure these same issues are present there as well. So with all of the above taken into account, does firing a pistol with a minor amount of dust or lint in the barrel damage the barrel? How much dust or lint is too much?

Any minor lint in the barrel will be incinerated by hot burning gases that escape past the bullet as it zooms down the barrel.

 

[kokapelli]

I only pocket carry and all my pistols are carried in DeSantis pocket holsters.
I usually change my carry pistols once a month and shoot a couple of mags through the one I have been carrying, take it home and clean it and it is ready for next month's rotation.

It works for me and I have not had any problems.

 

[trentcwwilson]

Want a good idea what they look like, Google it or try to find Iragveter8888's video where Chad shows his Glock 19. Lint is an understatement.

 

[jeepnik]

If you're using a semi auto, and cleaning (with whatever method you prefer) it weekly, please make sure you aren't re-chambering the same round.

My personal method is simple. I shoot at least once a week. I use the rounds in my carry gun first, then in my spare carry magazines.

When done, I clean things up, reload magazines and handgun. This does several things. My handgun is clean, my ammo is fresh, and I have fired the handgun I'm carrying.

Are there weeks when this doesn't happen? Of course, but they are infrequent. It's all a matter of setting aside the time. I don't have a lot of sympathy for folks that don't know how to use their tools, whether it be a screw driver or a firearm.

 

[trentcwwilson]

If you're using a semi auto, and cleaning (with whatever method you prefer) it weekly, please make sure you aren't re-chambering the same round.

My personal method is simple. I shoot at least once a week. I use the rounds in my carry gun first, then in my spare carry magazines.

When done, I clean things up, reload magazines and handgun. This does several things. My handgun is clean, my ammo is fresh, and I have fired the handgun I'm carrying.

Are there weeks when this doesn't happen? Of course, but they are infrequent. It's all a matter of setting aside the time. I don't have a lot of sympathy for folks that don't know how to use their tools, whether it be a screw driver or a firearm.

+1 Very good practice.

 

[jeepnik]

+1 Very good practice.

My only problem with this is that I end up having to reload. I'm not one that enjoys it. I find a load that works and stick with that, I hate experimenting for the sake of it. Progressive machines have made it easier, still...

 

[trentcwwilson]

What is the gun in question?

 

[JimKirk]

Buy watching a slow motion/high speed video of cartridges being fired ... You will see a column of air and hot gas exist the barrel before the bullet exists the barrels ...

I believe that to be a "piston type air compressor" ... most likely at high velocity also ...

 

[trentcwwilson]

Jim, I like the way you think.

 

[1911 guy]

I don't like the idea of lint in my carry guns and wipe them down and swab out bores about once every week or two.

But I'm not going to go nuts over the thought of a little lint in the barrel. Just don't let it accumulate into full blown dust bunnies.

As for oil in a bore, a light coat isn't going to hurt anything. Just light enough to be of some corrosion resistance. You don't need to slather it down so it drips. Heavy oil can be a problem, but not usually in handguns since they run at much lower pressure and velocity than rifle rounds.

 

[reddog81]

I'm with Jimkirk. The column of air being forced down the barrel is going to blow anything out before the bullet reaches it.