How often do you clean?

[ArtP]

With my accyrate centerfire rifles, I clean about once every 50 rounds. Just a brush/patch down the barrel a few times. With plinking guns like 22's I have gone as far as 500 rounds between cleanings. There are times I will even put them away dirty and leave them that way for a week or two. I figure with non-corrosive ammo, it's not a big deal. With pistols, I usually clean when they will be put away for some time.

How often do you clean? do you ever put away dirty? Do you ever do an abrasive cleaning with something like JB compound every several hundred rounds? There must be a point where cleaning too frequently is causing more wear than it's worth.

 

[menacingsquirrel]

I clean after each range session, no matter how little I shot. Never use any abrasives. Nylon brush at most.

 

[taliv]

usually once or twice/yr

 

[USSR]

Let's see, I last cleaned my FN SPR sometime in 2008. Won several matches with it last year, and see no reason to change anything. More bores are ruined by excessive and/or improper cleaning than by being shot out.

Don

 

[Flash!]

You mean we are really supposed to clean our guns?


I clean when they malfunction or when I have spare time or if I just want to fondle that particular gun for a while..... except for my carry guns..... those are cleaned after every trip to the range.

 

[RP88]

between never and after every range trip. It all depends.

Milsurps shooting mercuric berdan primers? Sometimes I'll quick-clean them right after a box despite still shooting.

AKs, ARs, SKS's, etc.? Maybe once every couple of months if I'm bored or if they really need it. The AR gets re-lubed every trip, though.

My .22s? Have had two for three years and haven't cleaned either, and they still shoot fine and accurate. I also can't remember the last time I cleaned my shotgun...

 

[SGW42]

After every range trip, regardless of centerfire or rimfire, pistol or rifle.

They all get the standard Hoppes No. 9, then a wipe down, then a light oil.

Always.

 

[DIM]

I clean right now, got back from range, but if you are going hunting you should visit your range before and site your gun and don't clean after it, so you don't have to do follow up shot... when I hunt there are no follow up shots for me

 

[Geno]

Me?! I take a bath every year ifin' I need it or not! Oooooh! That's not what cha meant?! Hmmm. Too much information weren't it?!

Well I clean my centerfire rifles every 15 to 20 rounds. I clean the rimfires when accuracy decreases.

Geno

 

[DIM]

its not just how often, its more like how, like after every visit to the the range I'll get carbon and copper fouling out of the barrel, but once - twice a year I would polish my barrel, polishing to often will reduce barrel life...

 

[MikePaiN]

I "soft" clean the barrel, chamber, extractor, breach face, wipe any soot and lightly lube my guns any time they are shot

 

[jmr40]

I keep the action clean and wipe down the exterior, but clean the barrel only when my groups begin to open up, or if it gets wet from hunting in the rain. Most barrels shoot more accurately fouled than clean.

 

[OhioChief]

Everytime I shoot. I enjoy cleaning them. I think it's all part of the process and I personally can't imagine putting a guy away dirty. My wife wishes I felt that way about my car.

I want them to be in perfect condition everytime I pick them up.

 

[Welding Rod]

Pistol - I usually clean after every shooting session because they are so easy to clean.

For long guns I run a couple oiled patches down the bore after every shooting session and then usually clean like so:

Bolt gun - After many shooting sessions.

M1A - After 2-4 shooting sessions.

ARs - Every two shooting sessions.

 

[HGUNHNTR]

Regularly, and I have never worn out a gun from cleaning it, but I'm sure I have extended the life of many.

 

[philpost]

I like to throw a Boresnake w/Hoppes down the barrel when I get back from the range.

 

[PCCUSNRET]

I clean my guns with Hoppes when I get home from the range and whenever I come in from the woods after a day of hunting (especially if it has been raining or snowing while hunting). My hunting guns are sighted in with the first shot 1" above dead center coming from a clean but slightly lubricated barrel (I do run a dry patch down the barrel after applying lubrication and before entering the woods). I have been cleaning my guns like this for over 40 years and have yet needed to replace a barrel.