How often do you clean?

[ocabj]

I always clean my handguns/rifles after each shooting session: spray cleaner in the barrel, brush the barrel, run a patch through the barrel, clean chamber, etc. But I've been going to the range one weekend after the other lately (had more time to shoot), and was wondering if my cleaning habits are overkill.

 

[telewinz]

Very lightly with pistols and rifles. Don't want their to be more wear from the cleaning rod than the bullets. Just inspect often, has worked for years even with corrosive ammo. WD40 almost does it all

 

[Schuey2002]

I answered this question once on an earlier post and nearly got my head bitten off.

So, I'm going to say, Yes! I clean my guns, and they get cleaned ....when they get cleaned.

 

[12.7x99mm]

I try and take a shower everyday. Sometimes two.

 

[PAshooter]

Every time I get back from the range. In between times I do a periodic (every two or three months or so) wipedown of the exteriors with Sheath or CLP... primarily of those guns that seldom venture out of the safe. Besides - it gives me an excuse to fondle... I mean inspect the collection. Especially nice during the gray days of winter when venturing to the ourdoor range is not practical.

 

[Beav]

After a trip to the range.

 

[SquirrelNuts]

I also showered this morning.

I clean guns that I carry with my for defensive purposes each time I shoot them (my Glock, 1911A1, and Raven). My rifles may be shot a few times between cleanings.

-SquirrelNuts

 

[Malone LaVeigh]

Boresnake and a light wipe-down every time. Good, thorough cleaning about quarterly, depending on amount of use.

 

[redhead]

I've gotten a bit lazy, now that I shoot more often. I used to clean my guns thoroughly after every outing. Geeze, what a chore. Now, I do a light cleaning after a trip to the range, and a more thorough cleaning after having them to the range two or three times.

 

[Hkmp5sd]

Clean any guns used during range visits. Clean carry gun once every week. Clean guns not used in every 6 months.

 

[kalibear45]

Once a year

 

[sm]

Clean ?

 

[TarpleyG]

I usually shower every morning

GT

 

[10-Ring]

I clean after ever trip to the range. I use to clean afterevery few trips. Then, after a session I didn't clean, I somehow stopped shooting for a very extended period. When I go back to my guns, they all looked very neglected. I'm back to after every session.

 

[benewton]

A good question, I think.

When it was an hour to the range, and I went once every couple of weeks, they got cleaned when they got home.

Now I can shoot out the back door, and do, and the weapons get cleaned as I know them.

Rifles are cleaned after each firing, since they'll do 50 rounds or so and are, without exception, semiauto. The MAC 90, at $200 is a sometimes deal.

The handguns I fire are those I carry, but, even here, some thought is in order.

The Colt DS requires about a once a week cleanup, given I've fired a couple of boxes or so (168 CLSWC/3,5 BE), otherwise it misfires rounds. And, as we all know, I want it to go "bang" on demand.

The H&K USPc normally gets cleaned at about the same intervals, although I've not noted any type of ammo related failure with this weapon.

FWIW, even though failures with cast slug practice ammo have occured, neither weapon has failed in any way, means, shape or form with the "duty" ammo, test fired after questionable practice shots.

Clean is better, or course, but I've go a life!

 

[Stevie-Ray]

After every trip to the range. And about once a year if the gun is not used in that time.

 

[synoptic]

I usually wipe them down after range visits, make sure there is no gunk or any other foriegn objects in the chamber and dab a little oil on it. I run a few patches through the barrel to get the major stuff in there. If I don't make it out to the range for a few weeks I'll go ahead and clean the entire gun real well. I don't have any semi-autos at the moment though so I'm not too worried about a jam or anything along those lines.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I clean my guns as often as I shoot them, as well as twice a year for those that haven't been shot, and I give my carry guns a once over lightly every Sunday evening after I finish paying bills.

All that's probably unnecessary, but better too clean, I'd say, than not clean enough.

 

[JPM70535]

Whenever I go to the range and shoot my carry piece, it gets thoroughly cleaned and lubed when I get back home. If I have shot any of my other weapons they get cleaned within a week. All my firearms get wiped down with a lightly oiled rag monthly when not being used, and even the safe queens get completely taken down and cleaned once a year.

Keeps the cleaning product guys in business.

 

[Dave R]

I did a poll in the Rifles forum. About 40% said they cleaned after EVERY use. Another 40% said they clean lightly after each use, or may skip if its only a few rounds and know they'll be shooting again soon. (That's me--I do what Redhead does). Other 20% said "when accuracy degrades, or less.

 

[OF]

You have to clean these things?!!


Seriously, I keep my in-use guns (carry, HD) clean, which means every few hundred rounds or so. The other ones I only clean when there's so much crud in there I can watch the slide cycle. Keeeer-chuuunk. Keeeer-chuuunk.



- Gabe

 

[Yohan]

I drag them in with me whenever I take a shower- so that's about once or twice a month? hehe

 

[Kahr carrier]

I clean and oil after every use.