How Often Do You Clean Your Gun? - The Firearms Forum

user_error · 01-02-2006, 06:55 PM

EDIT: To elaborate... how often do you deep clean/field strip your gun?

Every single time you shoot, even one shot
After a good 100+ rounds
When it starts sticking and jamming
When my hands turn black just picking it up.

Me, mostly just after around a hundred rounds.

cec · 01-02-2006, 07:04 PM

I am in the "every time you shoot" category. I never know how long the gun will set before I shoot again. It is also easier to clean when it is fresh. Finally, I do it as a safety measure.

lead · 01-02-2006, 07:34 PM

I just leave mine on the front seat of my car and roll the windows down when i go through the car wash.

polishshooter · 01-02-2006, 07:49 PM

Wow, a long time ago I got into a BIG argument over this topic!

But even though I STILL believe most people clean WAY too often and most guns are worn out or buggered up by too much CLEANING and detail stripping than from FIRING, and from my IPSC days I learned that at least most 1911's and clones malfunction more when CLEAN than (a little) dirty, I have to confess that most of my shooting now involves commie bloc surplus that I'm SURE is corrosive, I at least run some WWII bore cleaner down the bore and wipe off the bolt face every time I fire my milsurp...

...plus my ML rifles get cleaned even if I shoot once...

BUT my shotguns, pistols and newer (post 1898

) get cleaned about once/year or 1000 rounds whichever comes first!

My IPSC days were a routine...shoot 300 practice rounds Monday, Wednesday, Friday, disassemble/clean/inspect/reassemble Friday night, shoot 2-300 rounds Saturday, with at least 50 rounds selected at random from the "match" ammo, and shoot the match (50-150 rounds) on Sunday, and do it all again the next week. "Shoot it DIRTY" was the gospel at least back then (mid-80s)with a .45 on match day....

I mean, do you change your oil on your car EVERY day?

Do you clean your air filter EVERY day?

Do you wash your car EVERY day?etc., etc.,etc.

Shooting is what that piece of machinery called a gun was DESIGNED for, if it can't handle a little dirt and gunpowder residue, it's too tight for me!

user_error · 01-02-2006, 07:58 PM

Hehe. I was at the range last week, and there was a guy with a semi-auto assault rifle that was so dirty it fired 2-4 shot bursts--he finally wouldn't shoot it for fear of LEO's hearing the fire.... he hadn't cleaned it for years!

22WRF · 01-02-2006, 08:03 PM

Every time it's shot....However cleaning may only be a dry patch and a little Hoppes in the bore depends on the # rounds and the last time it had a complete cleaning.
Autoloaders get the most attention Marlin 60's WIn 190 M1 Carbine
get more attention

polishshooter · 01-02-2006, 08:05 PM

Way to go, User....

Now every hilljack with a $75 SKS is never going to clean it again just to see if that happens to THEM.

user_error · 01-02-2006, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polishshooter

Shooting is what that piece of machinery called a gun was DESIGNED for, if it can't handle a little dirt and gunpowder residue, it's too tight for me!

I hear ya. If it's military issue, and I can't drag it through the mud then piss down the barrel in the middle of a firefight and jack a round every time, I dunwanit.

user_error · 01-02-2006, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polishshooter

Way to go, User....

Now every hilljack with a $75 SKS is never going to clean it again just to see if that happens to THEM.

USER_ERROR! CONTRIBUTING TO THE DELINQUENCY OF CORNPONE MORONS SINCE 1981!

polishshooter · 01-02-2006, 08:23 PM

User, I hear you!

I remember when I shot an assault course during an IPSC sectional match about 1985 or 6, and about a half hour before my time for that part, it POURED like a monsoon...

There was a little tunnel you had to crawl through at the end, and everyone was trying to figure out whether to holster, or keep it out and crab through it on "3."

The few shooters before me went through OK on 3, got a little muddy, but came through OK. so my turn comes, and I'm more worried about jumping this low wall in the mud, but that works OK, so I'm running toward the tunnel, coolly reloading at the same time making sure I'm on safe, I hit the tunnel, diving down to catch myself with my left hand...and that hand goes skidding out and I'm plopped face down in about 6-8"" of mud with my right hand and .45 COMPLETELY in the mud.

The last three targets had to be engaged prone UNDER a wall at 10 yds, about 10 feet past the tunnel, so I come out of the mud and tunnel like a beached walrus on all 4, plop on the mat and... I HAVE NO SIGHTS, just a glob of mud from the rear sight all the way to the muzzle!

I just point it in a good "Rollover Weaver" and blamblam-blamblam-blamblam. Mud was flying EVERYWHERE, mostly over my face and glasses,

The good thing is after the first round the front sight cleared itself

but by then my glasses had all the mud! After the RO cleared me, he said those were my best targets I shot in the whole course X-A X-A X-X! He said I should patent it as "Sight Brown!"

You gotta love JMB, even after I get done chopping up his GREAT design, the darn thing goes boom even AFTER I bury it in mud!

user_error · 01-02-2006, 08:25 PM

Heh heh... great story

cec · 01-02-2006, 08:57 PM

Very interesting point polishshooter. I agree that a gun should be able to function with a normal amount of dirt/grime, but to elaborate on these points:

I mean, do you change your oil on your car EVERY day?

Do you clean your air filter EVERY day?

Do you wash your car EVERY day?etc., etc.,etc.
------

I may not do those things everyday, but then again my car is very unlikely to fail to function when I need it to if I do not do those things (except the oil part, even then I check once a week).

However if I decide to not clean my pistol on a regular basis, then it is more likely to fail when I need it. I have used pistols that haven't been cleaned in so long that the slide can hardly travel enough to load the next round. Once cleaned, there was no failure.

Cleaning after every firing gets me into the habit of cleaning on a regular basis, otherwise I will forget to do so until the next time I use the gun. I am a forgetful sort

Like 22WRF said, the cleaning may just be a quick bore wipe if only a few rounds have been fired, if a few hundred have been fired (typical day at the range for me) then I will do more in depth cleaning.

I consider cleaning part of my maintenance routine for my guns, much like having an oil change is part of my maintenance routine for my cars.

A few minutes cleaning and making sure that the pistol is lightly oiled is small price to pay for a functional gun.

Kimber Man · 01-02-2006, 09:13 PM

I clean mine every time I come back from the range............within two (2) days.

polishshooter · 01-02-2006, 09:20 PM

Yeah, cec, I guess I do that too...

The problem is really the definition. I don't consider running a patch down (up?) the bore and wiping it down "cleaning."

To me "cleaning" involves either field or detail stripping. I guess I've seen too many guns "bubba'd" by guys who shouldn't be allowed near a screwdriver.

Or else how many .45s have YOU seen with the little circular scratch on the frame that shows the numbnut who owned it didn't even know the proper way to reinstall the slide-stop after field stripping?

I guess I agree, wiping it down, adding a little oil, running a patch or swab down the barrel, SHOULD probably be an every use thing.

But I still maintain STRIPPING it after 50-100 rounds is a waste of time, and a good way to wear it out or damage it!

Just my ever humble opinion...

Gabob · 01-02-2006, 09:50 PM

I clean centerfire firearms after every shooting session. I do not clean the bores of .22 rimfires. Just wipe down the outside and oil action lightly

pickenup · 01-02-2006, 10:02 PM

Your supposed to clean em???

Since we are kind of on the same subject.
How often do you clean your MAGAZINES?

user_error · 01-02-2006, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pickenup

Your supposed to clean em???

Since we are kind of on the same subject.
How often do you clean your MAGAZINES?

Huh. Never ??

Pistolenschutze · 01-03-2006, 12:48 AM

I must admit to being a hard nose on this issue. The only reliable weapon is a clean one. I'm sure you all remember (or at least have read about) the trouble with the M-16 that so many had in Viet Nam. I NEVER had my weapon jam on me. The reason was simple: I kept it clean even when it meant I didn't have time to eat or sleep.

blackhawkkid308 · 01-03-2006, 04:12 AM

i agree with the clean after shooting every time. i used to shoot a military match at our range and i found out if i zeroed my rifles in on sat and left them dirty overnight i did better at the match on sun. but i lost sleep that night just thinking about my expensive rifles being dirty. i guess i was taught at an early age to clean if you shoot it once and i will do that as long as i'm able. i actually fuss at people i know for leaving their guns dirty. just ask kimberman

blackhawkkid223

358 winchester · 01-03-2006, 04:25 AM

I was under the impression that that is what the word "WIFE" meant "GUN CLEANER" now if it don't meant that please don't tell Carla she thinks it is her job

Ron

Deputy Dawg · 01-03-2006, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 358 winchester

I was under the impression that that is what the word "WIFE" meant "GUN CLEANER" now if it don't meant that please don't tell Carla she thinks it is her job

Ron

MRMIKE08075 · 01-03-2006, 01:22 PM

i a gun i own goes to the range and gets fired (even once) it will recieve a detailed cleaning...

field stripped but not detail stripped...

best regards, mike.

flopshot · 01-03-2006, 03:05 PM

don't know about you but in the south the word "wife" has nothing to do with cleaning guns. is is however the primary source of the "need" to clean guns. i took my wife and my neice out sunday and expanded their horizons. i'll be spending more time cleaning the garand from now on. anyone know where i can get some cheap 30.06 ?

KyBlaster · 01-03-2006, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gabob

I clean centerfire firearms after every shooting session. I do not clean the bores of .22 rimfires. Just wipe down the outside and oil action lightly

Same hear, GaBob.

cec · 01-03-2006, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polishshooter

The problem is really the definition. I don't consider running a patch down (up?) the bore and wiping it down "cleaning."

To me "cleaning" involves either field or detail stripping. I guess I've seen too many guns "bubba'd" by guys who shouldn't be allowed near a screwdriver.

But I still maintain STRIPPING it after 50-100 rounds is a waste of time, and a good way to wear it out or damage it!

Just my ever humble opinion...

polishshooter: I hear you about the definition of cleaning. I don't do a full teardown if only a few rounds have been fired, just wipe it down inside and out, couple drops of oil if needed. After the 100 round mark, then it is time to really get into the gun and clean as much as I can. At the 5000 mark, I usually give it to my friendly neighborhood Gunsmith for that "magic" touch.

On a side note: It is also good to be on a forum where a minor difference of opinion doesn't lead to a lengthy "your stupid battle"

I currently have a .45 I am helping recover after a brush with "bubba" (no offence to anyone who happens to named bubba). I don't think it was ever cleaned or oiled, the trigger was swapped for a plastic one, and there was a huge blob of white paint (off center) on the front sight. After 30 minutes of work, I had everything but the tigger taken care of. I use the original condition of the gun as an example of how not to take care of one. But give it some time after the Range and it will work for years.

To use the classic car analogy: For every hour you drive it, expect to spend an hour under the hood and two hours underneath the car.

And to answer the cleaning the magazine question. I know I should but I don'
t, does this mean I am going to Hell?

01-02-2006, 06:55 PM	#1
user_error V.I.P. Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 130	How Often Do You Clean Your Gun? EDIT: To elaborate... how often do you deep clean/field strip your gun? Every single time you shoot, even one shot After a good 100+ rounds When it starts sticking and jamming When my hands turn black just picking it up. Me, mostly just after around a hundred rounds. --> Last edited by user_error; 01-02-2006 at 09:33 PM..

01-02-2006, 07:04 PM	#2
cec Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 501	Re: How Often Do You Clean Your Gun? I am in the "every time you shoot" category. I never know how long the gun will set before I shoot again. It is also easier to clean when it is fresh. Finally, I do it as a safety measure.

01-02-2006, 07:34 PM	#3
lead Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,522	Re: How Often Do You Clean Your Gun? I just leave mine on the front seat of my car and roll the windows down when i go through the car wash. __________________ The best things in life, are not things.

01-02-2006, 07:49 PM	#4
polishshooter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Indiana Contributor Posts: 7,879	Re: How Often Do You Clean Your Gun? Wow, a long time ago I got into a BIG argument over this topic! But even though I STILL believe most people clean WAY too often and most guns are worn out or buggered up by too much CLEANING and detail stripping than from FIRING, and from my IPSC days I learned that at least most 1911's and clones malfunction more when CLEAN than (a little) dirty, I have to confess that most of my shooting now involves commie bloc surplus that I'm SURE is corrosive, I at least run some WWII bore cleaner down the bore and wipe off the bolt face every time I fire my milsurp... ...plus my ML rifles get cleaned even if I shoot once... BUT my shotguns, pistols and newer (post 1898 ) get cleaned about once/year or 1000 rounds whichever comes first! My IPSC days were a routine...shoot 300 practice rounds Monday, Wednesday, Friday, disassemble/clean/inspect/reassemble Friday night, shoot 2-300 rounds Saturday, with at least 50 rounds selected at random from the "match" ammo, and shoot the match (50-150 rounds) on Sunday, and do it all again the next week. "Shoot it DIRTY" was the gospel at least back then (mid-80s)with a .45 on match day.... I mean, do you change your oil on your car EVERY day? Do you clean your air filter EVERY day? Do you wash your car EVERY day?etc., etc.,etc. Shooting is what that piece of machinery called a gun was DESIGNED for, if it can't handle a little dirt and gunpowder residue, it's too tight for me! __________________ The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living.

01-02-2006, 07:58 PM	#5
user_error V.I.P. Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 130	Re: How Often Do You Clean Your Gun? Hehe. I was at the range last week, and there was a guy with a semi-auto assault rifle that was so dirty it fired 2-4 shot bursts--he finally wouldn't shoot it for fear of LEO's hearing the fire.... he hadn't cleaned it for years!

View Poll Results: How often do you clean your gun?
Every single time you shoot, even one shot	55	59.14%
After a good 100+ rounds	30	32.26%
When it starts sticking and jamming	3	3.23%
When my hands turn black just picking it up.	5	5.38%
Voters: 93. You may not vote on this poll

01-02-2006, 08:03 PM	#6
22WRF Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pea Ridge, FL Contributor Posts: 4,271	Re: How Often Do You Clean Your Gun? Every time it's shot....However cleaning may only be a dry patch and a little Hoppes in the bore depends on the # rounds and the last time it had a complete cleaning. Autoloaders get the most attention Marlin 60's WIn 190 M1 Carbine get more attention __________________ NRA GOA CCRKBA Happiness is a warm barrel Last edited by 22WRF; 01-02-2006 at 08:06 PM..

01-02-2006, 08:05 PM	#7
polishshooter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Indiana Contributor Posts: 7,879	Re: How Often Do You Clean Your Gun? Way to go, User.... Now every hilljack with a $75 SKS is never going to clean it again just to see if that happens to THEM. __________________ The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living.

01-02-2006, 08:23 PM	#10
polishshooter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Indiana Contributor Posts: 7,879	Re: How Often Do You Clean Your Gun? User, I hear you! I remember when I shot an assault course during an IPSC sectional match about 1985 or 6, and about a half hour before my time for that part, it POURED like a monsoon... There was a little tunnel you had to crawl through at the end, and everyone was trying to figure out whether to holster, or keep it out and crab through it on "3." The few shooters before me went through OK on 3, got a little muddy, but came through OK. so my turn comes, and I'm more worried about jumping this low wall in the mud, but that works OK, so I'm running toward the tunnel, coolly reloading at the same time making sure I'm on safe, I hit the tunnel, diving down to catch myself with my left hand...and that hand goes skidding out and I'm plopped face down in about 6-8"" of mud with my right hand and .45 COMPLETELY in the mud. The last three targets had to be engaged prone UNDER a wall at 10 yds, about 10 feet past the tunnel, so I come out of the mud and tunnel like a beached walrus on all 4, plop on the mat and... I HAVE NO SIGHTS, just a glob of mud from the rear sight all the way to the muzzle! I just point it in a good "Rollover Weaver" and blamblam-blamblam-blamblam. Mud was flying EVERYWHERE, mostly over my face and glasses, The good thing is after the first round the front sight cleared itself but by then my glasses had all the mud! After the RO cleared me, he said those were my best targets I shot in the whole course X-A X-A X-X! He said I should patent it as "Sight Brown!" You gotta love JMB, even after I get done chopping up his GREAT design, the darn thing goes boom even AFTER I bury it in mud! __________________ The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living.

01-02-2006, 08:25 PM	#11
user_error V.I.P. Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 130	Re: How Often Do You Clean Your Gun? Heh heh... great story

01-02-2006, 08:57 PM	#12
cec Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 501	Re: How Often Do You Clean Your Gun? Very interesting point polishshooter. I agree that a gun should be able to function with a normal amount of dirt/grime, but to elaborate on these points: I mean, do you change your oil on your car EVERY day? Do you clean your air filter EVERY day? Do you wash your car EVERY day?etc., etc.,etc. ------ I may not do those things everyday, but then again my car is very unlikely to fail to function when I need it to if I do not do those things (except the oil part, even then I check once a week). However if I decide to not clean my pistol on a regular basis, then it is more likely to fail when I need it. I have used pistols that haven't been cleaned in so long that the slide can hardly travel enough to load the next round. Once cleaned, there was no failure. Cleaning after every firing gets me into the habit of cleaning on a regular basis, otherwise I will forget to do so until the next time I use the gun. I am a forgetful sort Like 22WRF said, the cleaning may just be a quick bore wipe if only a few rounds have been fired, if a few hundred have been fired (typical day at the range for me) then I will do more in depth cleaning. I consider cleaning part of my maintenance routine for my guns, much like having an oil change is part of my maintenance routine for my cars. A few minutes cleaning and making sure that the pistol is lightly oiled is small price to pay for a functional gun.

01-02-2006, 09:13 PM	#13
Kimber Man Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 811	Re: How Often Do You Clean Your Gun? I clean mine every time I come back from the range............within two (2) days.

01-02-2006, 09:20 PM	#14
polishshooter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Indiana Contributor Posts: 7,879	Re: How Often Do You Clean Your Gun? Yeah, cec, I guess I do that too... The problem is really the definition. I don't consider running a patch down (up?) the bore and wiping it down "cleaning." To me "cleaning" involves either field or detail stripping. I guess I've seen too many guns "bubba'd" by guys who shouldn't be allowed near a screwdriver. Or else how many .45s have YOU seen with the little circular scratch on the frame that shows the numbnut who owned it didn't even know the proper way to reinstall the slide-stop after field stripping? I guess I agree, wiping it down, adding a little oil, running a patch or swab down the barrel, SHOULD probably be an every use thing. But I still maintain STRIPPING it after 50-100 rounds is a waste of time, and a good way to wear it out or damage it! Just my ever humble opinion... __________________ The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living.

01-02-2006, 09:50 PM	#15
Gabob Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: SW GA CSA Posts: 1,162	Re: How Often Do You Clean Your Gun? I clean centerfire firearms after every shooting session. I do not clean the bores of .22 rimfires. Just wipe down the outside and oil action lightly __________________ NRA Endowment Member Keep Your Powder Dry

01-02-2006, 10:02 PM	#16
pickenup Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains Posts: 6,841	Re: How Often Do You Clean Your Gun? Your supposed to clean em??? Since we are kind of on the same subject. How often do you clean your MAGAZINES? __________________ The gene pool needs chlorine

01-03-2006, 12:48 AM	#18
Pistolenschutze Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 13,094	Re: How Often Do You Clean Your Gun? I must admit to being a hard nose on this issue. The only reliable weapon is a clean one. I'm sure you all remember (or at least have read about) the trouble with the M-16 that so many had in Viet Nam. I NEVER had my weapon jam on me. The reason was simple: I kept it clean even when it meant I didn't have time to eat or sleep. __________________ --Pistolenschutze (Pistol Shooter)

01-03-2006, 04:12 AM	#19
blackhawkkid308 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: pensacola florida Posts: 871	Re: How Often Do You Clean Your Gun? i agree with the clean after shooting every time. i used to shoot a military match at our range and i found out if i zeroed my rifles in on sat and left them dirty overnight i did better at the match on sun. but i lost sleep that night just thinking about my expensive rifles being dirty. i guess i was taught at an early age to clean if you shoot it once and i will do that as long as i'm able. i actually fuss at people i know for leaving their guns dirty. just ask kimberman blackhawkkid223 __________________ 9-11-01 lest we forget AMEN

01-03-2006, 04:25 AM	#20
358 winchester TFF Admin Staff Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Pensacola Fl. area Posts: 7,335	Re: How Often Do You Clean Your Gun? I was under the impression that that is what the word "WIFE" meant "GUN CLEANER" now if it don't meant that please don't tell Carla she thinks it is her job Ron __________________ Administrator & Owner RangeDay.com Proud, White, Heterosexual, Gun Owning, Southern American, Christian. Any question about where I stand?

01-03-2006, 01:22 PM	#22
MRMIKE08075 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 384	Re: How Often Do You Clean Your Gun? i a gun i own goes to the range and gets fired (even once) it will recieve a detailed cleaning... field stripped but not detail stripped... best regards, mike.

01-03-2006, 03:05 PM	#23
flopshot V.I.P. Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 294	Re: How Often Do You Clean Your Gun? don't know about you but in the south the word "wife" has nothing to do with cleaning guns. is is however the primary source of the "need" to clean guns. i took my wife and my neice out sunday and expanded their horizons. i'll be spending more time cleaning the garand from now on. anyone know where i can get some cheap 30.06 ? __________________ take a kid shooting... they are the next vote