How often do you clean your guns?

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I clean all of my centerfire guns after shooting because I want them in top working order and accuracy if I need them for SD or hunting. Rimfire, not as much. They are sort of my knockaround guns.

Cleaning does not hurt anything unless you use a substance or material that is highly abrasive. The bronze brush that I run through the bore during each cleaning hurts the barrel 0% because it is a much softer metal than the steel my barrel is made out of. I also look at it this way. I can clean it after every shooting and have an easy time, or clean it after many shootings and have a hard time getting the carbon and copper out. Easy way or the hard way.

It seems to me that not cleaning and properly lubricating them often would result in increased wear and tear. Even if I don't shoot the gun I take it field strip it after about two weeks to clean lint/dust out and properly lubricate it.

Detail stripping makes me nervous. I'm always worried I'm going to loose a part, or forget were it goes, or forget to put it back. I only do that about once a year.
 
Ben86 said:
Cleaning does not hurt anything unless you use a substance or material that is highly abrasive. The bronze brush that I run through the bore during each cleaning hurts the barrel 0% because it is a much softer metal than the steel my barrel is made out of. I also look at it this way. I can clean it after every shooting and have an easy time, or clean it after many shootings and have a hard time getting the carbon and copper out. Easy way or the hard way.

It seems to me that not cleaning and properly lubricating them often would result in increased wear and tear. Even if I don't shoot the gun I take it field strip it after about two weeks to clean lint/dust out and properly lubricate it.

Detail stripping makes me nervous. I'm always worried I'm going to loose a part, or forget were it goes, or forget to put it back. I only do that about once a year.
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Absolutely agree with you on all of the above. :cool:
 
I clean my guns every time they need it. I also clean an oil them before storing them for any extended length of time.
 
Every week on Saturday, and every time I return from the shooting range. On weekly cleanings, I simply ensure proper oiling and functioning.
 
I dont understand the minimal care concept. I have met many a shooter who doesnt understand why his good firearm has turned to junk. The field use may put wear on the gun, but I have never seen a cotton patch wear a gun. The accumulated fouling can be abrasive. My long guns will get at least a thorough wipe down after each handling and use,and a good take down and bore scrubbing every few sessions- after each use in humid or wet weather. Handguns are thoroughly cleaned after each shooting. I wont depend on a gun that may "almost" be maintained.
 
I think there's a difference between 'minimal' and 'normal'... or to say it in a different way, there's certainly some cases of overkill out there.

I read a response to this question once (same Q, different thread) in which the owner stated "I do a full cleaning on my handgun. Even if I only shoot one round through it at the range, I break down the slide and barrel just as if I'd shot 200 rds." In my opinion, that's going into the land of obsessive-compulsive.

I won't put up a weapon that i believe is fouled to a point of risking damage or potential failure... but having said that, if I thought that waiting a day to clean 50 rds worth of carbon was going to cause my gun to fail - i'd probably not be depending on that gun to start with.

thorn
 
Carry guns = after every range session
Fun guns = when they quit working due to crud build up. As a buddy puts, "powder is non corrosive now."
 
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I try to clean my guns after every range trip, but sometimes I get lazy and it ends up being a week before I get to it, lol.
 
MIgunguy said:
Every Saturday? Seriously??? :scrutiny:
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I don't clean them every Saturday, its more like running an oiled patch over the parts that need it. Five to ten minutes per gun.

After any trip to the range is when I get them spotless. I've always believed that how you keep your house reflects your character. I think how you keep your gun reflects the same.
 
Interesting.

Don't get me wrong I keep my stuff in top shape. I just don't think that a detailed field strip and a ton of cleaning is needed everytime I put a few rounds through it.

For example a lot of the guys on the Sig forum go nuts trying to get every last little bit of carbon out of the gast block and off the op rod. I don't see the point, a little carbon on the metal doesn't hurt anything. Its the build up that will affect stuff.
 
I'm going to have to revise my usual response when I hear someone claim that their gun "went off while I was cleaning it." I always immediately retort, "NO ONE cleans a loaded gun."

Apparently, some do!

Cleaned my pocket gun yesterday. Blew it off with an air hose. Don't even have to unload it for that.
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Who knew?
 
So I am curious now.

How often do the soldiers in combat clean their weapons? We were told "whenever we got a chance because your life depended on it"

Most of my guns get cleaned about once a year (taken apart completely down to every piece), but get field stripped and lubed each shooting session (BTW, I shoot 500-1000+ rounds per session).
 
Hatterasguy said:
Interesting.

Don't get me wrong I keep my stuff in top shape. I just don't think that a detailed field strip and a ton of cleaning is needed everytime I put a few rounds through it...
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Takes me about 30-60 seconds to do a basic field strip any of my pistols. I wipe the slides down with a microfiber cloth then silicone cloth, clean the barrel with a patch and CLP, take a few Q-tips with CLP and get the inside of the frame, wipe off any excess oil and reassemble -- after every time I shoot. Takes about 5-10 minutes total per gun. Longer if I take my time...
 
Cleaned after every use. Not scraped with a wire brush. But field stripped and break free or Triflow sprayed and wiped down, rails cue tipped, every interior pard at least wiped clean of powder and surface dirt. Patch down barrell until clean patch comes out. I couldn't put away a weapon full of gunpowder residue, I wouldn't sleep well. It's more about me liking my stuff clean than that it "has to be done".
 
Yes... Along with your house... er, I mean trailer.
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No trailers allowed in my subdivision, it makes the shacks look bad :neener:

Honestly I wouldn't know the "proper" way to clean one, sure I clean'em I just have no idea if I'm doing it right.. My dad taught me to shoot/handle guns a hundred years ago it seems, but usually by the time his PBR had run out, cleaning them wasn't on his mind anymore..
 
Bhamrichard said:
No trailers allowed in my subdivision, it makes the shacks look bad :neener:

Honestly I wouldn't know the "proper" way to clean one, sure I clean'em I just have no idea if I'm doing it right.. My dad taught me to shoot/handle guns a hundred years ago it seems, but usually by the time his PBR had run out, cleaning them wasn't on his mind anymore..
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:D:D:D:D

Once you know how to disassemble and reassemble the guns basic parts, it's really easy. YouTube is my first stop after purchasing a new firearm... :cool:
 
That's good advise, utube offers thousands of gun videos for every type of weapon you can think of. Many of these fellows take their videos very seriouslly breaking them into part 1,2, etc. It's a pretty simple way to learn without having to read a manual. Most of it is just a few steps, take a look it can't hurt.
 
Gentleman I clean all of my guns after each use. Good thing too, last week I found a broken Buffer Bushing in my Mini 14 and and several hairline cracks in the Bolt as well. To me cleaning is a big part in being on top of this sport. To each his own, but I say safety trumps being slack in what we all know needs to be done. Not meaning to be judgmental, just putting it out there that this truly is a safety issue.

My first post on THR
 
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