Gun Cleaning

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Bigjake

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Just sorta wondering what you folks' habbits are on keeping your iron clean. do you do different things for each particular type of gun, be it pistol, rifle or shotgun? how often do ya clean, what products do you preffer, the like. i'm just curious, i'm always of for improving my existing technique. post away :cool:
 
Bore snakes are about the best thing invented. They do about 20 minutes work in 10 seconds and don't mess up the crown.
 
Ditto on the boresnakes. I use most of my old patches now for wiping small parts down. I use a boresnake, CLP, and a toothbrush to do most of my cleaning these days.
 
But don't forget that if you use the boresnake from the chamber end you must also use a mop that fits the chamber to clean it, no?
Lots of guys forget that part.

:^)
 
Dontcha ever wish someone would invent a "clean" cartridge. (Spoken from someone just finished cleaning his Ruger P97 after range session).

Thought I do admit, I love the smell of Hoppes in the morning...it smells like VICTORY!:D

Now, Shooter's Choice Cppper remover, on the other hand....
 
Boresnake for 99% of rimfire and about 70% of shotgun cleaning (twice yearly "make extra dern sure it's CLEAN" sessions are the only time a rod is used in rimfire, and if i see plastic build up in the ????gun...)

and boresnakes for "quick touch-up"

as for the rest of the stable gets a through but careful cleaning after every session, use mostly Pro-Shot "tools" (brushes, jags, mops, etc) b/c Pro-shot unlike most other more well known names does not make "dual caliber" brushes (ie 44/45 ect) where the brush is sized between optimal diameter for the two, there is a dedicated .44 and a dedicated .45.

the one "tool" exception is that, i'm still using the Kleen-bore one-piece rod that I bought the day after i realized that my Pro-shot was missing and i didn't want to mess with driving all the way up to houston that night to get a new one. been using Hoppe's and shooter's choice solvents. But I am currently looking for better ideas that are more efficient at copper and lead removal, (preferably a single one to cut both) and thus reduce the amount of "scrubbing" needed, and the attendant wear on and risk of damage to, the bore.

BTW that shooter's choice "lead remover" solvent might be better than Hoppe's for cutting lead, but not by much! i STILL shudder when i think about the Marlin 1894 i bought two years ago, i don't know WHAT they shot through that thing at the factory but it left behind lead deposits that looked like candle wax!! only gun i ever used a Lewis tool on.
 
1911sr

Saw your tag line on the PRS. Nice. Got a couple myself. Wouldn't play anything else.:cool: :cool:
 
Definitely gotta recommend the Boresnake. I also use a set of dental picks. They're great for getting into those tiny nooks and crannies.

greyhound,

Check out Winchester's WinClean line of ammo. They run a tad higher pricewise than their normal range ammo, but they are a bit cleaner.

Frank
 
OEF_VET-

Yah, I use Winclean when I can. I mean "clean" as in leaves no deposits at all. No scrubbing necessary. I can dream, at one point going to the moon must have seemed impossible!:D
 
In my experience, Bore Snake is good for powder fouling, but won't remove leading or copper fouling. So I use a Bore Snake, but every 3-4 cleanings I use the rod & brush. For centerfires. .22's only see the Bore Snake.

Shotguns? The load I'm using now is so clean that I only clean it after hunting season. Then I give it a thorough clean including the action. As Dave McC sez, most shotgun bores are over-cleaned, and actions under-cleaned.
 
Otis pull through system. Been using since first called Kit and Kaboodle
Fits all calibers and gauges...
Though I do have nice uncoated steel rods, IF I need them.
Don't clean bores that often , more concern with chamber and extractor.
Been treating bores with RIG ( yellow label) for a looong time. Umm actually been treating firearms inside and out for a looong time with RIG ;)

People give good reviews on Boresnake, I've just never owned or used one...my old stuff is paid for...
 
Do you Bore Snake users run it through your gun a second time, or through a second gun in the same session?

If yes: Doesn't it bother you to run the dirt back through the barrel?


I've been using an Otis kit for a few years, can't imagine doing without it.

GL
 
Holly76201, Welcome to THR!

I like the way you think...and I'm a guy.

FWIW Lots of fellas here "really" attracted to the scent of woman being that of Hoppe's No. 9.

"it ain't cheatin' if it works...it's ingenuity" ;)
 
Brought this back to answer GoldenLoki's question. I enjoy his site's ballistics testing so much I figure I at least owe him an answer to a simple question.

"Do you Bore Snake users run it through your gun a second time, or through a second gun in the same session?

If yes: Doesn't it bother you to run the dirt back through the barrel?"

A: My usual routine is, spray a bit of CLP on the front end of the 'snake, and pull it through 3 times. I figure the CLP helps loosen crud, and the next two pulls remove the CLP (along with other crud).

No, I'm not worried about pulling the crud through the barrel. I figure the worst case is no worse than the first patch through the bore, by the time that patch has reached the far end of the bore. Besides, powder fouling is pretty soft stuff. And the 'snake apparently does a real good job of retaing the stuff in its pores. When the snake gets dirty, I wash it.
 
As Dave McC sez, most shotgun bores are over-cleaned, and actions under-cleaned.
Click to expand...

How often should each be cleaned? I took my Mossberg out yesterday for the first time and put about 60 rounds through it.
 
Cleaning rod. Cloth patches. Hoppes #9. Rem Oil w/ Teflon. Apply after every shooting session. The only thing that has changed in the last 35 years is the oil. Works for me.

RJ
 
Dave R

Thanks for the reply!

I may have to stop being so anal and give the Bore-Snake a try.

GL
 
1. Make cleaning easy. If it is hard to do, you'll make excuses not to do it.

2. Don't damage your barrel by cleaning - Use a bore guide or crown protector, and a ONE PIECE ROD. Take that jointed aluminum rod you bought at Wally World, and use it for a tomato stake.

3. Use the right stuff. Breakfree or Hoppes may work okay on chrome lined barrels, but with a "regular" barrel, you're gonna get copper and carbon buildup. Use something that'll cut it - I prefer Butch's Bore Shine.
 
Hey Greyhound, you just need a Magnetic Linier Accellerator Gun. Commonly, and incorrectly, called a rail gun. Only problem is feeding them the power. There are some interesting hobbiests working on what they call coil guns. Here are a couple sights I found interesting.
http://www.powerlabs.org/multistagecg.htm
http://mcleanmun.rockin.net/coilgun/

Boresnakes rock. Do a better job of cleaning the chamber than I ever managed too. Of course I never had a chamber cleaning tool. On most of my guns the chamber gets pretty clean just in the barrel cleaning process.

I use lots of differant stuff to clean and lube depending on the chore.
 
How often should each be cleaned? I took my Mossberg out yesterday for the first time and put about 60 rounds through it.
Click to expand...
I think I owned and shot my Mossberg 500 for about 8 years before cleaning it once. That's probably not a good answer for you though.

Some firearms should be cleaned after every shooting. I believe ARs and custom 1911s fall into this category, although somebody will doubtless come along and tell me I'm wrong. I clean my pistols (Glocks) after every few range sessions, because I'm shooting so much I don't like to clean every night.

Mossy or Remington 870... well, they'll go a long time between cleanings if you are only concerned about reliable function, but I wouldn't let 'em go too long as a matter of principle. (That and the longer the crud sits, the harder it is to get out.)
 
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