Why do people consider gun cleaning to be a chore?

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misANTHrope

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This is something I've never really understood. I hear lots of people talk about shooting, and then refer to the "chore" of cleaning the guns once they get home, like it's some kind of unpleasant couterpart to the fun of shooting. Now I certainly don't get as much enjoyment out of cleaning as pulling the trigger, but I find cleaning to be at worst relaxing.

I shot my XD this evening, about 200 rounds worth, got home and gave it a decent cleaning. That "chore" took me all of about fifteen minutes. So it's not some great time investment. I suppose that it does help that as a student engineer, disassembling anything is enjoyable, since I get to see the inner workings of this fascinating piece of machinery.

So what's your opinion on cleaning? Tedious chore? Not tons of fun, but no big trouble? Or some "get to know you" quiet time with your boomstick?
 
I shoot a lot and a lot of different guns.
I usually have one to three guns in the shop waiting to be cleaned.
I get tired of cleaning them but it's got to be done.
 
The older I get - the less time I seem to have for all the things I like - shooting is the best bit - cleaning is a ''necessary chore''.

I never relinquish what I feel is ''needed'' re cleaning - only a certain minimum is acceptable but - no way these days can I spend the time I used to - perhaps cleaning guns for 25 and more years makes me quicker - in fact I know it does but - beyond a certain point is gets to ''chore'' status.

I guess too - if I did not take so many darned guns on a range session - as I all too often do - there'd be less cleaning anyways! :rolleyes:

Anyone has to do what they feel necessary for the gun's sake - but sometimes enough is enough! :p
 
That "chore" took me all of about fifteen minutes. So it's not some great time investment.
Click to expand...

There's cleaning and cleaning. When I give a revolver a thorough cleaning, it's typically a two- to two and a half-hour task. When I clean a semi-automatic pistol, I typically spend an hour and a quarter to two hours at it.
 
They are kind of like cars - one isn't so hard to take care of, but three gets a bit much; keeping them clean, oil changed, routine maintenance, tires, etc. When I had just one or two guns and only shot once every month or two, cleaning was more enjoyable. Now I always take at least half a dozen to the range with me, including revos, autos, and black powder. It becomes more of a chore. I too usually have 2 or 3 waiting to be cleaned at any given time (except the black powder revos - they can't wait!).
 
I only have 2 guns to clean and they're easy guns to clean so I don't think it's a chore for me.

It can be a chance to relax. I can turn on the TV and listen to the baseball game while I clean my guns. :D
 
Having been trained in the Military to shoot, and clean weapons, I find it to be a chore. Probably, because someitmes we would spend 10 hours cleaning just our M16's, and upon inspection, they could still find carbon, or a speck of dust in the bore. Under these conditions, I'm sure you could see how I find this task to be chore.

I still usually spend at least an hour on each weapon after shooting, I dont' hate it, but I do find it to be a chore.
 
I'd rather be shooting - than cleaning. :D

I ran 2k rds through my P-11 in two days recently. Needed to come down from a Final...and get ready for more fun stuff like more exams and Finals. Ugh. Ick.

Well - not much to "clean" on a P-11- did give this time a more thorough inpection and all.

Now I had just run my SX1 and two 870s in "giving lessons" :p - I took my time and enjoyed the company of folks I was with, cranked up some old tunes, re- hashed some old sentimental times.

One of the kids of whom I am an "adopted Uncle" sent me some cleaning stuff for my 50th B-day. I had to use it. See the kid gets to a "bad word" - in this case it is not. Running Joke with us.

Ox-Yoke makes " Best Dam Solvent" and "Best Dam Gun Oil". :D

With the Rolling Stones and Allman Bros Albums fired up...we had to clean a Model 10, Model 19, and a Model 36...

Gotta be honest with the kid when I tell him his "adopted Uncle" has in fact used his gift now haven't I ?

Whew! Taken a whiff of GI Bore Cleaner lately? Had to play with a OLD Gov't 1911...we had forgotten what that stuff smelled like - we will remember for awhile now... :D
 
Why do people consider gun cleaning to be a chore?
Click to expand...
Because it is a chore. What is this, a trick question?? :D

Actually, I don't mind the cleaning so much. What I hate is looking for the cleaning supplies, at least one crucial component of which has almost invariably walked off somewhere since the last time I cleaned the guns. The rest of the family emphatically disavows knowledge of this untoward behavior on the part of my supplies, which leaves only one possible culprit. But how could it be? If I'd taken it, I'd remember where I put it.

pax

Have a place for everything, and keep the thing somewhere else. This is not advice; it is merely custom. -- Mark Twain
 
pssst...pax check under the Fridge for the cleaning rod.
Amazing how them Fridge " get under and behind" cleaning rods work for bores...someone was smart for designing them that way.

My rawhide pull thru dealie doubles for boot laces...I wear "patches" disguised as T shirts first...I have a new "utility " brush - been meaning to get a new toothbrush...

If they ever quit making Pipe cleaners...I'm in a heap of hurt...

My cleaning kit is a shoe polish tin with a pc of rawhide, some oil, pipe cleaners, and rubber band holding a toothbrush...The Cigar box holds the OX-Yoke stuff.

In storage ( somewhere) is supposed to be Otis kit and some other stuff. I mess up other folks' kitchens and use their stuff most times...

My favorite way to clean is to hand my gun buddy my gun - and go shoot the ones he just built/ or tuned and run 'em while he checks and cleans mine.

"Ya got anymore 9x23 ammo for this here Caspian????" :D

Like I said -I'd rather shoot....
 
Scraping crud is scraping crud, whether its behind the fridge or in the extractor of a pistol. Granted, its more fun to clean guns than household appliances, but I can think of a lot of things that are more fun than cleaning guns.

Could be because I always have 3-4 at a time to do. So it takes an hour or so.

Or maybe I just have a bad attitude?
 
It is a chore only because it needs to be done. I used to clean immediately after every range session, but now I am backing down to after every two or threes sessions.
 
It depends on what I'm cleaning. If I'm just field stripping and swabbing out a 1911 after shooting practice, no biggie. If I'm whashing a cap-n-ball down to the last screw, that's a little more involved. If I'm having difficulty getting the :cuss: lead fouling out of a SA army clone barrel, then, yeah, that's a chore.
 
It's a chore because I barely have time to shoot, much less clean, my guns. I've backed off my cleaning schedule a bit because of it. I only clean my shotguns once a year or so unless they've been camping with me. I clean my revolvers only if I've been shooting lead or shot more than 100rnds (doesn't include wiping the exterior, that happens every time I shoot them). My semis get cleaned each and every time.

I hate dirty guns with powder residue in all of the nooks and crannies.

Chris
 
I've never understood this either ... I actually enjoy cleaning my firearms ... and the lingering scent of Hoppe's #9 in the garage later in the evening as I enjoy my post-cleaning beverage helps me revisit the time spent on the range as well as serving to remind me how lucky I am to be able to own a collection of fine guns ...
 
Gun cleaning is relaxing to me also.

On the other hand, if your like WhoknowsWho and brings out 50 guns to a shoot, it can be one hell of a chore. ;)
 
maybe working in a chem lab for a while has made me more aware of these things... but man alive the stuff they put in those cleaning solvents is nasty! Talk about your carcinogens, I feel like I'm bathing in a toxic waste bath every time I clean my rifle. Spilling Hoppes #9 on your skin is about as bad as licking the burned fat off your BBQ. Perhaps ignorance is bliss, because if you're going to clean your guns often, you don't want to know the health effects of those solvents. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that several gun guys develop massive problems with their kidneys and liver. Whenever I clean my guns I do it with a gas mask (with cannister filters designed for organics) and nitrile gloves. So yeah... I think cleaning my guns is a chore.
 
I hear ya blackrazor...

...I always use black latex gloves when using any cleaning solvents. Even if not harmful, I don't want my hands to smell like that for hours. :scrutiny:
 
I enjoy it. I sit in front of the tv, lay the weapon out on a designated blanket and clean away. Usually done after the kids and wife go to bed as they don't like the smell of the CLP.

I clean everything in my safe every 6 months, shot or not, BTW.
 
:p

Larry forgot already how I cleaned his new 870 in the hotel room. Stick from Popeye's corn on the cob, bottle of oil, pipe cleaner and paper towel.

I like Simple. I also like handing them to someone else, and shooting their guns.

FWIW Keltec P-11s and Glock 26's scoot across the grass from when you use the garden hose- 1911 styles don't. I didn't have a creek handy...usually what I use when I get 'em all muddy.

You folks have the wrong platforms. Takes me about 90 seconds tops to clean a single shot .22 rifle, or single shot shotgun. Patch chamber, "maybe" a brush, wife off exterior - done. :)
 
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