How soon do you clean your guns after you shoot?

[Owen Sparks]

oldbear said:

I was taught to never let the sun set on a dirty firearm. So I clean my guns within 1 -2 hours of shooting.

I knew somebody would quote this old saying. Like many old sayings, It has a basis in something that used to be true but no longer is. Back in the days of black powder and fulminate of mercury primers a gun could literally start to rust over night if not cleaned. Residue left in the barrel from modern ammunition is virtually harmless unless you are in a very humid environment as heavy fouling can hold moisture and that will cause rust.

 

[WardenWolf]

My rifles, I typically at least clean them before I take them out again. A boresnake with solvent, 2-4 passes with solvent reapplied, depending on how much I shot it the previous time. I have a few AK's, though. While I clean their barrels, I leave their gas tubes alone until they really need it. They get FILTHY and it's a waste of cleaning supplies and time to keep doing it. The Galil is easy. The gas tube is exactly 20 gauge, so a 20 gauge boresnake takes care of the problem.

The Saiga shotgun gets its gas system cleaned every time I take it to the range, but its barrel is cleaned when I feel like it. It's a chrome-lined smoothbore barrel. Like it's going to care if it's a bit dirty.

I live in Arizona. My guns don't rust unless I shoot corrosive ammo. There's that to be thankful for.

 

[kk0g]

Couple months to a year or more.

 

[jim in Anchorage]

Interesting I haven't looked at THR all day and this is the first thread I see. I just, not a hour ago cleaned my Rem 700 .300 WBY for the first time since 2002. That was the last time I fired it and it was never cleaned. 1 patch with Hoppe's #9, 10 trips with a wet brush, 2 dry patch's. The bore looked absolutely new.

 

[ball3006]

I always clean my guns right after getting home. I shoot corrosive ammo alot so a good cleaning is required or you ruin a nice rifle by allowing the bore to rust. The only gun I don't clean after shooting is a 22.....chris3

 

[4thPointOfContact]

I always try to keep it within a year's timeframe. I don't strip down my car's engine after every drive either, and it operates at 6250rpm a couple times every trip.

 

[txhoghunter]

I guess you could say I'm OCD.....

Pretty much as soon as I get a chance after a range session or dove shoot; unless I get my 15 bird limit with 15 shots (hasn't happened yet but a guy can dream right?? )

Or for the carry guns when out on the farm I will clean it once or twice a week even if it isn't fired to get the dirt and everything out of them

 

[Charleo0192]

Within a day or so of shooting the gun. although on occassion it has been a week or two before I got around to it.

 

[fiat128]

I didn't fire my MAK-90 for 12 years and was pretty horrified to realize I hadn't cleaned it the last time I used it. Fortunately for me, it cleaned right up and looks great.

After that experience, I think you should clean it after you use it to make sure you "get around to it".

 

[XM855]

I clean as soon as I get a chance. Usually just a few hours after.

 

[DougW]

I always clean the weapons first, then myself (after a match for example).

 

[lucky-gunner]

Corrosive ammo gets cleaned when I get home. I'll normally have the soap and bucket or windex out and ready.

For non corrosive ammo I used to be a lot better about it but I've noticed that I'm getting quite a bit worse about getting them cleaned right away. I think part of that has to do with having a son now. As much as I enjoying cleaning firearms (it's zen to me); I end up just hanging out with my son and saying I'll get it next time.

My EDC always gets cleaned that night before I go out for the day.

 

[Sport45]

Usually within a year, but I don't remember the last time I cleaned my .22lr rifle.

 

[Pete D.]

Cleaning

Unless I'm shooting corrosive ammunition, I get to cleaning when I get to it. When I do clean my guns, it's usually just a matter of wiping them down and running a bore snake through. I'm not a benchrest shooter and don't have much use for guns that must be spotless to run right.

That pretty much says it.
The answer also depends on what one means by "cleaning". I will pull a bore snake through the barrel when I am done shooting. Is that cleaning?

My BP guns get cleaned as soon as I get home.
My 1911 gets stripped and cleaned after every match series (six matches per series, six weeks) or before a long match like a 2700.
I'll wipe down the stock on a rifle or a shotgun with a silicon cloth or some automatic transmission fluid - if the gun has gotten wet or dusty.
Pete

 

[Bruchador]

Immediately...

 

[Prion]

Eventually I actually want to clean my guns. I wait until that odd impulse comes along. Every few weeks usually. Certainly not every range trip.

 

[ZeSpectre]

I have EXTREMELY corrosive skin (oils, sweat, whatever) so my plain blued guns get at least a wipe down immediately after handling or shooting. Actual cleaning is usually that same evening.

 

[mhphoto]

So how soon do you all clean your guns after you shoot?

Whenever I get bored. I don't get to the range super often, but when I do I clean them anywhere from that day to a week after the next range session. My carry gun gets preferential treatment, but I'm not too concerned about my range guns getting too dirty. They're tools, not art, but that's just me.

 

[mhphoto]

If it's a handgun, I clean it right away. Not because I'm worried about copper fouling becomeing a problem or damaging anything. I claen my handguns because if something were to happen while I'm out and about I would want my firearm to come under suspision of having been used in a shooting. The city I live in has shootings all the time, probably daily to be honest. I developed this approach after my firearm was taken off me at my front door as I opened it, by LE minutes after a shooting in my neighborhood to which a neighbor told LE that, it sounded like the shots came from my house. My next door neighbor has the mentality that it has to be the guy who wears a gun 24/7. After a quick look at my firearm the officers were certain it wasn't my firearm that was responsible for the shooting. First and foremost, it was clean. Secondly, it had not been recently cleaned thus didn't have that distinctive odor of cleaning solvent. Other than being very upset with LE for their over powering and unconstitutional approach at my front door, after climbing over my locked gate, they appologized and handed me my firearm back with a few minutes of first contact with me. It could have been a totally different scene if they would have thrown me to the ground or other wise gotten physical with me, lawyers and such.
Now to anser your question with regard to my rifles and shotguns, yes and no. I don't get too worried if they go a few days without cleaning. But generally speaking, I clean them with 2 or 3 days and it's always a maticulous job.

Don't police have little swabs that tell them instantly if there's gunpowder on your hands? That'd clear your name fast, unless you'd just come from the range

 

[will919]

I am soooo anal about clean firearms. I clean them immediately if not sooner...maybe it was the military.

 

[Ignition Override]

When you guys "wipe down", many of you do not describe whether you use a thin layer of oil, or something else.

Does this mean all metal on the outside, or just the chamber and bore?

 

[Jonah71]

I'm trying to get out of the habit if cleaning them so much. I've even been know to clean them at the range on really nice days before leaving. I was taught as a very young age to clean all firearms after every use. Hard habit to break, although I no longer think that most handguns made today require it.

 

[quatin]

When you guys "wipe down", many of you do not describe whether you use a thin layer of oil, or something else.

Does this mean all metal on the outside, or just the chamber and bore?

I wipe down the entire gun, inside, outside and an oil patch down the bore. However, don't put oil in the barrel in a gun you're going to use.

I clean my guns as soon as possible. I've also noticed that cleaning while the gun is warm gets a lot more gunk out than when the gun is cold. If for some reason I let the gun get cold, then I would get to it in a day or so.

 

[Babarsac]

Usually that evening or within a day or two. Got home from the range on a Friday and was about to clean em but then my girlfriend showed up with hockey tickets so they had to wait. Of course I sprayed some Windex down the bore of my Mosin before heading out.

 

[rogertc1]

I have a piss load of guns. A lot i have never shot i don't clean. The ones i carry i wipe off with oil and a paper towel every once and a while. I have had lots of guns for over 30 years i have not cleaned. (havnt shot them either) if i shoot them a little i just wipe down, never really clean.
WIPE DOWN FOR ME IS A PAPER TOWEL AND OIL DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN EVEN ROLL UP THE TOWEL AND PUSH IT DOWN THE BARREL?