Gun Cleaning

[GunnyUSMC]

I clean my guns after I shoot them. A basic field strip and clean is all that is needed. If you shoot so much that you need to totally disassemble a gun for cleaning then you should also be changing parts ever so often too.
Now letting a gun get so dirty to the point that it no longer functions properly, that is just neglect.

 

[rpenmanparker]

The fanciest shotgun clay target club in Houston has a little house for members and guests outfitted for cleaning their guns before they go home. Fully equipped with every doo-dad and cleaning solution you could want including quality gloves. I have used this facility when a guest at the club. Not having to make a mess at home is very sweet.

 

[Jack B.]

I have a cleaning setup in my garage on a workbench . My reloading room is in the house. After almost 60 years of shooting and reloading I finally got the setup I've wanted for years

 

[CapnMac]

It's a constant struggle for me, between "boot camp" cleaning and "realistic cleaning."
Typically, only after a range session.

 

[hdwhit]

25-20 WCF wrote:
More people are shot/killed when “cleaning their gun” than at any other time.

Yep, but my own experience has been that about half of the "cleaning their gun" deaths have actually been suicides that were classified as accidents 1) for the peace of mind of the family, or 2) to ensure the life insurance didn't have a reason to not pay out.

 

[Walkalong]

I have a cleaning setup in my garage on a workbench . My reloading room is in the house.

Me too, cleaning is out back in the shed, loading is in the house in what used to be my older son's room.

 

[Riomouse911]

I still clean guns in my garage. I move the cleaning mats onto the workbench and have at it. At the County range where I do my triannual qualifications there is a large cleaning area, but the cleaning area is usually a shambles. Sadly, with roughly 2,200 officers and deputies through there to qualify every four months the people who use the cleaning area leave rods and jags broken, cleaning patch drawers left empty, oil bottles are missing, no one has Hoppes, etc. I save the headache and load back up after qualifying and drive home to do it with my stuff.

My garage is an attached 3-car, double deep on one side... two cars fit in the front and my tools and other stuff occupies the deep portion. Sadly I’m getting squeezed in what’s left of my remaining man cave, with the kids motorcycles, bicycles, scooters, etc now occupying the center of what was my patch of solitude.

The reloading bench is on the other side, nestled between the metal shelving units that hold my ammo and metal shelving that holds a variety of stuff like soda pop, outdoor chair cushions, batteries, light bulbs and the crock pots and electric griddle. I must admit I am seriously waiting for the bench to collapse under the weight of LOTS of bullets I have purchased in the past 8 months .

I’m able to shuffle stuff and get room to load...in fact I think Im going to assemble several dozen .38 wadcutter loads tomorrow before the in laws descend on the house for Christmas Eve... and If I have enough time, some Eggleston Munitions 200 gr coated .44 mag loads as well .

Stay safe!

 

[rpenmanparker]

I still clean guns in my garage. I move the cleaning mats onto the workbench and have at it. At the County range where I do my triannual qualifications there is a large cleaning area, but the cleaning area is usually a shambles. Sadly, with roughly 2,200 officers and deputies through there to qualify every four months the people who use the cleaning area leave rods and jags broken, cleaning patch drawers left empty, oil bottles are missing, no one has Hoppes, etc. I save the headache and load back up after qualifying and drive home to do it with my stuff.

My garage is an attached 3-car, double deep on one side... two cars fit in the front and my tools and other stuff occupies the deep portion. Sadly I’m getting squeezed in what’s left of my remaining man cave, with the kids motorcycles, bicycles, scooters, etc now occupying the center of what was my patch of solitude.

The reloading bench is on the other side, nestled between the metal shelving units that hold my ammo and metal shelving that holds a variety of stuff like soda pop, outdoor chair cushions, batteries, light bulbs and the crock pots and electric griddle. I must admit I am seriously waiting for the bench to collapse under the weight of LOTS of bullets I have purchased in the past 8 months .

I’m able to shuffle stuff and get room to load...in fact I think Im going to assemble several dozen .38 wadcutter loads tomorrow before the in laws descend on the house for Christmas Eve... and If I have enough time, some Eggleston Munitions 200 gr coated .44 mag loads as well .

Stay safe!

Some people would call that a barn, not a garage.

 

[Labguy47]

If it’s stored right, all safe queens need is a good oil wipe down. I do this every 6 months because the last thing I want is a rust issue in Florida.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I tend to clean my guns after each range session.

I just do it on my coffee table in front of a movie.

I rather enjoy it. It's like knitting for me.

 

[Dudedog]

At my advanced age I need to take them apart every so often before I forget how they go back together.

I wipe down the un-shot ones in the safe and run an oiled patch thru the bores about every 4 months.
Ones I shot I like to do a field strip and clean shortly afterward.
Brainwashed I guess, dad was in the Army for 30 years and in a couple wars.
He always said keep them clean, never can tell when it might make a difference.

 

[The Evangelist Cowboy]

Range guns get cleaned every other trip normally about 200 rounds in. My carry gun(s) get cleaned after every trip as they get shot much more than others. The one that takes the longest is going to be a revolver, especially after shooting a bunch of lead rounds.

 

[rpenmanparker]

Most modern barrels are stainless. Okay, maybe not most. Maybe just many. Do you take that into account? Running oil through the bore is totally unnecessary. Does that matter to you?

 

[lightman]

I usually go through my safe on New Years Day. I'll make sure that my master list of serial numbers and descriptions is up to date and check all of them for rust or mold. I'll wipe them down with an oily rag as I put them back.

As far as really cleaning them goes;
I clean my match rifle after every match.
I clean my Prairie Dog rifle/rifles as much as 4 times a day, depending on the availability of targets! And really good once back to home.
I clean my hunting rifle/rifles as often as conditions warrant. (dust, rain, mud, ect) And really good after the season closes.
I clean my Wife's and My concealed carry pistols about twice a year or as conditions warrant.
The Safe Queens get looked at on New Years Day and wiped down.

I have a lot of cleaning gear. I take it pretty serious. Coated one pice rods, caliber specific. Bore guides. Muzzle protectors. On and on, you get the picture! I agree about the burn out concern if you detail clean after every range session but I do wipe them down after each use. Heck, I even have a dedicated tool box for my cleaning stuff, spare parts and special tools.