Handgun cleaning questions?

[chetrogers]

Today I took my first Nra class "Basic Pistol" and it was great and i do have a few questions.I have a "new"Ruger p97dc that i have fired aready not to long ago and did not clean it because i wanted to be show how to properly clean a pistol.We covered this in the class today and tomorrow i want to clean my pistol.I hope its easy to take apart "Have manual and am going to read it a few times before i try".But the things i have a questions on is after i run my brush through the barrel 8 to 10 times with solvent.I then need to run a patch through the barrel but im not sure if i only run the patch through the barrel once then get a new patch or can i push the patch through 4 or 5 times then put in a new patch..Then also when i put some gun oil in after im done cleaning do i just run the patch through once and then put My pistol away or do i need to run a dry patch through to get the excess oil out of the barrel..Im very new to this and i hope this makes sence.I appreciate any help..

Oh and man it was weired shooting indoors.Never have dont that..

 

[Jim K]

Hi, Chetrogers,

Some of the folks here will tell you I am not a nut on cleaning, and I hear regularly from guys who were infected with overcleaningitis by Marine gunnies. But I don't see any point in running a patch through the barrel to remove dirt and then running the same patch through to put the dirt back in. If you are tight on patches, at least turn it over.

After cleaning, moisten (not soak) a patch with oil and run it through the barrel. That should be good enough to prevent any problems until the next time you fire the gun. An oiled barrel will often cause a flier on the first shot; if you are a target shooter, dry the barrel before shooting the next time.

Then use an oily patch to wipe down the outside of the gun; if it is blued steel this can prevent rust, if it is stainless, it won't hurt. Again, just a light film of oil, not enough to pick up every piece of lint in the house.

Jim

 

[444]

I never run a dirty patch through the bore. Although I do sometimes run the patch back and forth in the bore in kind of a scrubbing action. Before I use a brush I usually run a few patches soaked in solvent through the bore to get the worst of the fouling out. In fact, I usually use patches until they come out pretty clean. Then I use a brush to get the really tough stuff. After I get the vast majority of the fouling out, I run a patch soaked in solvent through the bore and leave it sit while I clean the rest of the gun. That solvent soaking in the bore will chemically break down the copper bullet jacket fouling. When you run a dry patch through the bore, you probably will get a blue color on the patch. This is disolved copper.
Truefully, I am not a real stickler on pistol barrels. I am much more concerned with getting the rest of the gun clean because these are the parts that ensure reliability.
By the way, I don't buy gun cleaning patches. I use paper towels. If I have been shopping recently I get the heavy blue shop paper towels that they have at Wal Mart or your local auto parts store.

 

[Hkmp5sd]

I'm also picky about having clean guns. I run patches through the barrel until they come out clean and each patch only gets one trip.

 

[sm]

I'm not known for being a clean freak either.

I doubt seriously if enough copper build up can even be a factor in a pistol bore.

Personally I am more concerned with the chamber, extractor, and the action, this is what affects reliability. I don't clean my bores except when exposed to mud, rain , snow...you get the idea.

I think I actually last cleaned my CCW bores in the fall of 2003. After I do clean - I treat with RIG...I won't worry about it until I fall in the mud again.

I do take the magazines apart and brush them clean, no oil. I drop mine in the dirt, mud...magazines are part of the reliablity dealie.

Those blue towels are great, so are old T shirts.

I'd use a clean patch each time. I'd go from the chamber end of barrel. In lubricating, you just want a light film as to NOT collect dirt,if you can see it or feel it - too much.

Less is more.

 

[azrael]

I am not what you would call a "clean" freak when it comes to my pistols...However when I do clean the barrel it gets one patch at a time...then I use a light coat of oil...


Anyone tried EEZOX yet?? I got some dealer samples and love the stuff...anyone had any diff. expierences?

Also got some Mil-tec...how do they compare?

 

[Standing Wolf]

Patches, cleaning solvents, elbow grease, and oil are much less expensive than guns.

 

[Mannlicher]

I am in the camp of those that are NOT cleaning freaks. I clean when it looks like the gun needs it. Almost all the time, after a trip to the range, a few passes with a solvent soaked patch, and then a few dry ones, are enough. After that, one swipe with a small amount of oil on a patch keeps my bores in pretty good shape.

 

[Steve in PA]

Well technically, when you push a patch through the barrel, the sides contacting the barrel are getting dirty. Then, when the patch is clear ot the muzzle and you pull it back, the clean side of the patch (which was next to the rod) is now contacting the barrel.

 

[shu]

hmmmmmm

i used to do the thing with solvents, patches, cleaning rod, and oil.

have got alot more casual with pistols now that someone invented the boresnake. just pull the barrel, a few passes with the snake, reassemble the gun, and maybe a wipedown with oily cloth.

rifles are a diffrent story. alot more powder, alot more residue, and alot more barrel. with those i still use the old way.

 

[YammyMonkey]

What I've started doing on my pistols is using the bore brush to push a patch through. Creates more pressure on the sides of the patch plus adds a scrubbing action after the patch. Seems to work pretty well. I'm one of the push the patch through, then flip it over and use it again types and the brush helps keep the patch off the floor when it pops out the other end.

I also use the clean it pretty well, then let it soak method, works wonders and saves time as well.

 

[RGO]

Please feel free to visit the link in my signature, below. It has an intro to cleaning, with a few photos too.