Wipe it down after handling?

[TnShooter83]

Do you wipe down you firearm after handling it?
Not after shooting it, but lets say you pick it up, and
touch any of the metal surfaces. Do you wipe off the places you touched?
Just asking, as I personally do wipe mine down after touching any of the metal surfaces. I guess I just don't want to take any chance of them rusting.
If you do wipe it, do you use oil, or just a clean rag to remove any handling marks?


Normally I have mine in a good coat of CLP.

 

[Marcus L.]

If it isn't stainless, and it is and older gun finish like traditional blueing, then it would be a good idea to keep it protected. It all depends on what your firearm is.

 

[johnle]

I usually just dont bother wiping it down since Breakfree + Eezox have very long lasting corrosion protection ability.

 

[Claude Clay]

i keep silicon cloths in baggies in my safes/range bags and shop area. one bag has even been opened. honest.
bore snake & wipe it down. if the item wont be used for a while i may even clean it.

 

[Quoheleth]

I do; I have extremely acidic perspiration.

A friend bought a brand new Browning A-Bolt in .308 while we were in high school. He showed it to me one afternoon, asking me to handle it, work the action, etc., and comment on how beautiful it was.

I did so and then warned him to immediately wipe it down - his RemOil can was right there. "Naaahhh...I'll do it later." He put it away.

Couple days later he cornered me, as cheesed off as a wet cat, calling me every name under the book because my thumb-print was now nicely rusted on the barrel. I calmly reminded him I told him to wipe it down and he refused. His fault, not mine.

So, yes - I wipe down my steel guns after touching them. Two exceptions: my SP101 and MP9 - both stainless. Sadly, the MP's Novak sites are NOT stainless (see http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=394520&highlight=surprise+ike)

Q

 

[gwnorth]

Blued carbon steel, yes - my 6" GP100 gets wiped down with a silicon rag and then stored in a Ruger pistol rug with Intercept corrosion inhibitor lining.

Stainless, not necessarily. My nightstand gun is a 4" ss Ruger GP100, and it sits in its holster and gets oiled/wiped down with Ballistol about once a week. My ss PT1911 and my SIG P226 get the Ballistol treatment once a week or so too (one thing I like about the SIG is even though it's Nitron coated, that's overtop of ss, and the frame is anodized alloy, so the externals are pretty corrosion resistant).

 

[SwampWolf]

Always, even "stainless". Perspiration=salt. Salt=rust.

 

[wep45]

Yep, every time a handle my S&W 686-4PP. I keep a clean cloth with my gun case and wipe off what ever my hands may have left on the revolver.

Takes only a matter of seconds, then I don't have to be remorseful later.

 

[The Bushmaster]

I keep a gun oil dampened cloth in my Reloading/Gun Room just for that very thing. Yes... If I handle one of my firearms, even if it is stainless, I wipe it down...(Stainless rusts. Believe it or not)

 

[KBintheSLC]

Silicone cloth after handling for the most part. Except for the carry piece... it gets handled every day, but I only wipe it off every week or so.

 

[ZeSpectre]

yup, every time.
I'm a redhead (which often means a "rusting" body chemistry) and I rust almost anything so I'm pretty darned careful about handling metal.

 

[gwnorth]

I'm a redhead (which often means a "rusting" body chemistry)...

So, wait. A redhead has red hair because their brains are rusting? Is that what you mean?

I may have to rethink all those old dumb blond jokes.

 

[gidaeon]

Yes, but I'm sorta obsessive... I bought a new blued ruger mkIII last year and within a month or so the rear of the frame where my palm grips was rusted I was dissapointed. Arg.. Its really embarrassing how quickly I go through gun oil!

I guess my concern was well founded. Now I have one reason for appreciating polymers even it its they're not nearly as pretty. I for one will learn towards at least stainless over blued in the future.

 

[easyrider604]

If blued, yes. With a rag and whatever oil I have handy.

If stainless. No.

 

[CajunBass]

Once in a while.

 

[bluetopper]

Every time I handle a gun?..........No

If I know I won't be handling it for a good long while.........yes.

 

[19-3Ben]

yes. every time, unless it is my M&P's with the melonite finish. that doesn't get wiped down.

 

[Lonestar49]

Leave nothing to chance

...

Especially if metal comes in contact with flesh..

And, as mentioned, all my guns are routinely, updated, with applications of EEZOX as the first/bottom layer, in a line of protection.. *directions on can for useage and applications.. A little goes a long ways.

No rust, all movements smooth, they all work, with simple, consistent, care.


Ls

 

[BADUNAME37]

My stainless pistols, very rarily. Even my blued guns, not very often, even after shooting and touching, yet there is no rust. I live in a VERY dry home.

 

[Walkalong]

I always give them at least a quick rub down with an oily rag. Detailed if it was hot and I was sweaty. Sweat will rust a blue gun in a heart beat.

 

[novaDAK]

If the gun isn't melonite treated or stainless, yes, I wipe them down. The other exception is if I did the Johnson Paste wax coating on the gun. Then I don't wipe it everytime.