My Reason For Cleaning My Guns

[spclpatrolgroup]

The air is humid, especially in the summer, if I dont strip and inspect things from time to time how do I know they are not rusting. I never let the sun set on a dirty barrel, and probably 3 times a year I will clean everything reguardless if they need it or not, mainly to inspect eveything, and reapply rust preventitive, whcih does run off over time.

 

[CraigC]

I used to be that way, then I wised up and realized that unless I'm shooting blackpowder or corrosive primers (never done that) it was a waste of time and resources. It's an outdated practice and this ain't the military. I usually wipe them off with an oil-damp rag after shooting but I only clean my guns when they need it. Contrary to popular belief, they will not corrode in to a rusty brown mess over night. Not a spec of rust or a corroded bore in my $50,000 collection.

 

[jhnrckr]

how much powder residue gets trapped under the copper buildup?

 

[Cop Bob]

I think what we a speaking of here is basically leaving the residue of a "Fouling Shot".

Our SWAT snipers do it, I do it with one or two of my precision bolts that may come out for a varmint shot...

I will clean well after use, BEFORE I leave the range... then I will put one round down range, wipe the gun down and case it with a pack of moisture absorbant..

The zero on an absolutely spotless barrel will shift, or your 1st shot will be a bit of a flyer... the one fouling shot will solve that...

 

[olav_a]

I like to clean my guns just to refresh my memory on how to take them apart and reassemble them.

 

[Byrd666]

Whether one round or a thousand rounds, that weapon gets cleaned. My father instilled that in me at a very young age and was only reinforced in the military. Albeit both of those are quite a while gone by it still holds true.

Shoot it, clean it. Period

 

[MyGreenGuns]

I have a few reasons

I've always found it relaxing to shoot guns. Part of my mellowing process is to clean them afterwords. Usually just a field strip, but sometimes more intensive. Once a year they'll each get a full teardown, checked for damage and or rust, cleaned and oiled. I tend to over-oil my stored weapons and do a wipedown before I go shooting.

My grandpa always had the 'clean it before the sun goes down' attitude. I've been trained to do the same. I got to help clean the guns long before I got to shoot them. I remember being young and thinking "dry fire" was using a gun that was not properly lubed. LOL

My carry pieces tend to get dust and lint in strange places, that bothers my perfectionist nature. I tend to wipe them down frequently, meaning every day or two. I have a dry rag and a light oil rag.

My Ret. USMC uncle lectures me about having a spotless gun. I'll take it with a grain of salt, however. I wear a gun 12-20 hrs a day, I've never seen him wear one. Its easy to keep your gun clean if it never leaves the safe.

I never thought about the 'fouled bore' idea til I read this post. Since I don't (yet) go hunting, Im not too concerned with this. I will keep it in mind next time we're out shooting rifles.

Another reason to clean is: The purchase of a cosmoline packed WWII weapon. (Who's had THAT fun?)

 

[R.W.Dale]

I used to be an obsessive compulsive cleaner. Till I got into shooting for accuracy and discovered that a rifle may need 15 or 20 rds downrange and not just a single fouling shot before accuracy really starts to settle back in.

That and my safe is filling up with lots of nice shiny Stainless Steel.

Rifle cleaning to me is like changing the oil in my Jeep. If I do something bad like a water crossing or shooting corrosive ammo it gets changed/cleaned. Otherwise it gets it when the seasons change


Tapatalk post via IPhone.

 

[vellocet]

Most guns are steel. Most environments have inside or outside moisture. Moisture rusts steel. Oil,ect stops rust. Unless you live in Death Valley you have to clean or at least hose down your guns with something soon after shooting. Simple. As far as copper fouling and accuracy and cleaning during hunting season, that is best left to the individual's experience and needs.

 

[VT Deer Hunter]

I'm crazy about cleaning my guns, some times i just go and clean them.

 

[Oathkeeper1775]

The process

For me, cleaning them after use serves three purposes; the inspection, the care and the therapy.

Especially choke tubes during duck season, Ive had one blow up and several split over the years. The one that blew up was an old full choke tube when I was shooting tungsten. The ones that split or were cracked were just because.

The care; of the many reasons I own firearms, passing them down to my children/grandchildren is atop of my short list. Handing a daughter or a grandson a well cared-for firearm (along with a lecture of responsibility) means a lot to me. Here in Oregon, the rain and hemlock needles get into everything...I really mean everything. Care of ammo means a lot here too; anyone that may have doubts about water affecting ammunition, consider this; if I was to try and sell ammunition that got wet, would you buy it?

Therapy, I actually try to emulate professional gunsmiths with the work I do on my firearms. Now that I have the time; doing a task correctly or better than I did in the past means a lot to me.

I believe in the fouling rounds on rifles so I usually go out a day or two before "opening day" and put a couple through the bore to confirm a zero for my environment; but I've never shot at a big game animal farther away than 200 yards, so I don't fret it if I can't.

Is it more like the reason many people wear clean undergarments?
"Just in case there is an accident" and other people will see them?

 

[Jason_G]

Is it more like the reason many people wear clean undergarments?
"Just in case there is an accident" and other people will see them?

I always wondered about that. If you're in that bad of an accident, where it's necessary for them to be undressing you, what are the odds your drawers stayed clean anyway?

 

[CZguy]

I always wondered about that. If you're in that bad of an accident, where it's necessary for them to be undressing you, what are the odds your drawers stayed clean anyway?

Well, it's sort of like cleaning your house before company comes over. You may not really live that way.......but some of us try to keep up with appearances.

I treat my firearms the same way. I may not give them a through cleaning each time they are shot, but I always wipe them down with an oily rag.