TomJ
Contributing Member
I average a range trip every other weekend. I clean my guns after every trip. If I shot several times a week as other members do I'm sure I'd wait until after a few trips to clean them.
Gun cleaning, how often?
- Thread starter Palladan44
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Don't spend much time cleaning them unless I have issues and than they go into a sonic cleaner. But usually I'll run a patch or two with solvent and a patch or two with oil after a range session there at the range. I will run a brush with oil and a couple of dry patches at home before a range session. All of them are sprayed with Corrosion X HD while and wiped to prevent rust while in the safe. I've got a Winchester 94 that I have never stripped apart but still shoots every time without problems doing what I do.
I don't have a routine,or a set method that covers all of my guns.The accurate heavy barrel bolt guns get their ammo loaded in batches of 50.When a batch of 50 is gone,the barrel gets cleaned.I use a foaming bore cleaner to loosen the fouling up,then a brush with some Butch's,wipe it out with wet and then dry patches until it's dry,then a few drops of 3-in-1 oil on a patch pushed through the bore.I also clean the chamber with a patch with a little light oil and dry it out.Hunting rifles get at least blown off and a quick wipedown with a microfiber towel that I keep a little WD-40 on to keep the outside of them from rusting.If they've been in the rain or snow,I'll blow all the moisture off with compressed air,run a patch with some 3 in 1 oil on it through the bore followed by a dry patch if it's going hunting in the next day or two.My carry pistol is usually an all steel 1911,and it gets the dust blown off and a WD wipedown once a week,with a strip and thorough cleaning every month after the monthly practice session.Rimfires get wiped off and the bores cleaned only as deemed necessary.Safe queens and collectibles get cleaned every two years,but wiped off with the dreaded WD-40 every time they're handled.One thing I've been happy to add to my cleaning equipment is a small DeWalt air compressor.I use it on a daily basis in my gun shop for a lot of things,and it's super handy to have around.
I've used a lot of different oils,and I've settled on a few that I get along well with.A product called Engage is my main lubricating oil for a lot of applications,including AR's.It's PTFE based and works very well.Kroil is great stuff for cleaning and loosening stuck things.WD-40 is what I've used for many years for general wipedowns and basic rust prevention on a short term basis.3 in 1 oil is good where a light basic oil is needed and I use it as a rust preventative in rifle bores.Superlube synthetic lubricant is used on locking lugs on bolt guns,especially the ones that I run with tight headspace.
I feel that firearms are individuals,and as such,they have different needs as far as cleaning and maintenance go.Everybody does things differently,and what I do others may scoff at,but I do what I do and don't worry about what others think for the most part.I recently replaced the barrel on one of my first hunting rifles,and that gun showed no problems that came from my cleaning regimen,and it's a little over 40 years old,so I must not be doing too bad.
I've used a lot of different oils,and I've settled on a few that I get along well with.A product called Engage is my main lubricating oil for a lot of applications,including AR's.It's PTFE based and works very well.Kroil is great stuff for cleaning and loosening stuck things.WD-40 is what I've used for many years for general wipedowns and basic rust prevention on a short term basis.3 in 1 oil is good where a light basic oil is needed and I use it as a rust preventative in rifle bores.Superlube synthetic lubricant is used on locking lugs on bolt guns,especially the ones that I run with tight headspace.
I feel that firearms are individuals,and as such,they have different needs as far as cleaning and maintenance go.Everybody does things differently,and what I do others may scoff at,but I do what I do and don't worry about what others think for the most part.I recently replaced the barrel on one of my first hunting rifles,and that gun showed no problems that came from my cleaning regimen,and it's a little over 40 years old,so I must not be doing too bad.
Zaydok Allen
Member
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Every time I shoot them.
DustyGmt
Member
WD40? Just straight up WD or Specialist. I never cared for it and thought that while it's good for dissolving corrosive and carbon, dont quote me on carbon but does it not also attract and hold water/moisture?
wiscoaster
Member
What?!?! No!! The "WD" stands for "water dispersant" --- that's the purpose for which it was invented!! (And that's about all it's good for).
It will displace carbon. On smoothbores, it makes a pretty effective bore cleaner. I've used it with barrels off the gun. You can also throw choke tubes in it overnight, and they clean up pretty easily the next morning.
That's about all I'll use it for on guns.
Many gunsmiths say in tighter areas WD-40 residue will harden to a lacquer-like buildup, and its best avoided. I concur.
In a moment, there will be a guy along to say, "I've used it for XX years, and it's great."
Guaranteed.
wiscoaster
Member
Ya, OK, I'll give you that. It has its uses. You just want to get rid of it when it's done doing what you're using it for.
DustyGmt
Member
I was in sporting goods store one day in the gun cleaning product aisle and two guys were standing there. One guy tells his friend all this gun lube nonsense is all a scam and it's all the same as WD40 at 5x the price. I keep my nose out of things typically but I wanted to tell him for the sake of his guns. His buddy said "really?" and WD40 guy was like "yop, only thing that ever touched my guns for cleaning and lube is WD40 and it's the best, it's all in one lube/cleaner, yadda yadda yada". BlechIt will displace carbon. On smoothbores, it makes a pretty effective bore cleaner. I've used it with barrels off the gun. You can also throw choke tubes in it overnight, and they clean up pretty easily the next morning.
That's about all I'll use it for on guns.
Many gunsmiths say in tighter areas WD-40 residue will harden to a lacquer-like buildup, and its best avoided. I concur.
In a moment, there will be a guy along to say, "I've used it for XX years, and it's great."
Guaranteed.
wiscoaster
Member
I'd like to open up one of his guns and see what it looks like on the inside.
Ya, OK, I'll give you that. It has its uses. You just want to get rid of it when it's done doing what you're using it for.
For sure.
My last two steps are dry patches followed by a dampened G96 patch. (G96 is rather mediocre as a lube and cleaner, IMO, but great protectant or preservative.)
WD40 makes an OK cheap cleaner for parts where tolerance is not an issue, but it should be removed, IMO.
For actual clean and non-buildup lubrication, there's far better things, among them plain ol' Lubriplate light oil (FMO 350-AW) and even the multipurpose Super Lube synthetic.
IMO, it ain't all that complicated ... lube lightly and don't leave unneeded junk in your guns, good fishing reels, etc.
I was in sporting goods store one day in the gun cleaning product aisle and two guys were standing there. One guy tells his friend all this gun lube nonsense is all a scam and it's all the same as WD40 at 5x the price. I keep my nose out of things typically but I wanted to tell him for the sake of his guns. His buddy said "really?" and WD40 guy was like "yop, only thing that ever touched my guns for cleaning and lube is WD40 and it's the best, it's all in one lube/cleaner, yadda yadda yada". Blech
Yep. My can of WD40 doesn't even live on my bench. It stays in the utility closet.
There's this, though: If you run out of toilet bowl cleaner, it will clean the bowl. I kid you not.
DustyGmt
Member
Good deal. Good hack.Yep. My can of WD40 doesn't even live on my bench. It stays in the utility closet.
There's this, though: If you run out of toilet bowl cleaner, it will clean the bowl. I kid you not.
Dudedog
Contributing Member
Unless I am going hunting at want a fouling shot, after every use, and others every 6 months when sitting around unused.
alsaqr
Member
My handguns are cleaned after every shooting session. 30-06 rifles that were fired with corrosive military ammunition are cleaned after every use. Other rifles that are fired on a regular basis are cleaned every two or three months unless used in bad weather. Seldom fired rifles are cleaned thoroughly and put away after shooting.
During my shooting session on Saturday, the Remington model 700 .30-06 began to loose accuracy. The culprit was some stout loads using the 150 grain Barnes TSX bullets. The bore developed heavy copper deposits from the monolithic bullets.
During my shooting session on Saturday, the Remington model 700 .30-06 began to loose accuracy. The culprit was some stout loads using the 150 grain Barnes TSX bullets. The bore developed heavy copper deposits from the monolithic bullets.
Ironicaintit
Member
Earlier I said I didn’t clean much.
but I have exceptions!
I have the circa 1909, model 12 Remington that my dad got from his stepdad in 1953.
On the occasion that I bring it out to plink with, it gets cleaned good and well. Even if I only put one round through it.
Hell, I’ve gone through it for maintenance without even having fired a shot.
but I have exceptions!
I have the circa 1909, model 12 Remington that my dad got from his stepdad in 1953.
On the occasion that I bring it out to plink with, it gets cleaned good and well. Even if I only put one round through it.
Hell, I’ve gone through it for maintenance without even having fired a shot.
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