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How often to clean

5363 Views 107 Replies 56 Participants Last post by  cavelly, 
H
Some times I only shoot a dozen rounds to check for safety, I am excessive compulsive person by heart/ I have no idea where that came from just dealt with it all my life/ Question how often should I clean my gun? I don,t want to clean it to death by wear and tear of brass/bronze bristles, maybe a few swipes of gun oil? Ron.
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10-22
You pretty much only need to make sure it is properly lubricated.
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rmichael63
I clean after every 2-3 range sessions, it also depends on how much is shot.

I'm sure someone will disagree, but do you honestly think you'd wear the barrel out with a bronze or brass brush? I think the mini explosions that happen every time you pull the trigger do a million more times the damage ...
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bearcatter
If I've shot more than two mags or cylinders, I clean. Even those get a few swipes up the bore (and cylinder, if one) with a brush, dry patches, and a final oiled one.
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H
rmichael63 said:
I clean after every 2-3 range sessions, it also depends on how much is shot.

I'm sure someone will disagree, but do you honestly think you'd wear the barrel out with a bronze or brass brush? I think the mini explosions that happen every time you pull the trigger do a million more times the damage ...
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rmichael63 said:
I clean after every 2-3 range sessions, it also depends on how much is shot.

I'm sure someone will disagree, but do you honestly think you'd wear the barrel out with a bronze or brass brush? I think the mini explosions that happen every time you pull the trigger do a million more times the damage ...
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Blaa Blaa Blaa I sorta agree with you, no offence meant , I have bin reloading for almost 30yrs with a break inbetween and have heard so much about cleaning to much, I like my firearms to work so that means clean, Thanks for input and I will do what I have bin doing, What the Fu#k it,s a Ruger Security Six, I,m 65 and my daughter will love it when I leave, Ron.
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Nam Vet
I clean my guns after every range trip. Went to the range last week. I cleaned my 1911 45 after 150 rounds, my Uberti Cattleman & Outlaw 100 rounds each ,SR22 100 rounds. My Interarms Virginian Dragoon 100 rounds which has over 60,000 rounds through it. All handloads and still working on loads from 2018. I am old school, a clean gun last longer and shoots better than a dirty one. But it's JMHO.
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maddmatter1970
That can only be answered correctly by keeping good records and monitering your ammunition, performance, and expected longevity.
Case in point, some ammo, in some guns, in certain atmospheric conditions may be more corrosive than others. And that's 3 variables with at least 25 possible entries a piece! General rule of thumb, unless you want to foul your barrel intentionally for accuracy, cleaning after every use is a good way to enforce inspection detail. Just my humble opinion
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Redhawk100
Nam Vet said:
I clean my guns after every range trip. Went to the range last week. I cleaned my 1911 45 after 150 rounds, my Uberti Cattleman & Outlaw 100 rounds each ,SR22 100 rounds. My Interarms Virginian Dragoon 100 rounds which has over 60,000 rounds through it. All handloads and still working on loads from 2018. I am old school, a clean gun last longer and shoots better than a dirty one. But it's JMHO.
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That's pretty much what I'd write. Heck, I'll even clean a gun if I fire a single round through it. I always figure that any carbon, even in a well-lubed weapon, increases wear on the parts. Keeping that cleaned off makes for a longer service life.
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Corndog
These threads are like Groundhog Day. I think I just posted similar.

I clean annually between the end of hunting season and spring Crappie season (mid January to mid March). During the shooting season, I don’t clean my guns unless they quit running.

I don’t shoot corrosive ammunition and most of my guns are either stainless steel or chrome lined chamber/barrel.
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tronicst1
Hole maker said:
Some times I only shoot a dozen rounds to check for safety, I am excessive compulsive person by heart/ I have no idea where that came from just dealt with it all my life/ Question how often should I clean my gun? I don,t want to clean it to death by wear and tear of brass/bronze bristles, maybe a few swipes of gun oil? Ron.
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Compulsive behavior, that would be me. I don't know where I got the cleaning bug either because Mom constantly yelled at me to clean my room, back to the subject. I clean my guns every time I
shoot them, no if and's or buts about it.
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bearcatter
People don't realize, the ammo may be non-corrosive, but powder residue picks up moisture. It's also slightly abrasive to any parts it rubs. Clean your guns.
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fixitagain
Guns only need to be cleaned when they need it or actually right before they need it. Improper cleaning and even proper cleaning to a lesser extent does cause wear. Minute amounts that may not be noticeable but wear nonetheless. Dirty guns with grit and crud can cause wear also so it's a balance.

Gun ownership can be a hobby and is for many of us. Part of that hobby is fondling your gun for fun and stripping it to play with it or get the dirty girl clean.

I would be interested in knowing how many car hobbyist wash their cars if they take it around the block or just for fun or change the oil after a few runs to the market. Also would like to know how you feel about your dishes, clothes or your teeth. Maybe your shoes, is it kiwi's best friend or your knives do they get cleaned after each use?

It's probably more philosophical and based on opinion. I clean my guns when I get a round to it but put more effort in if I feel they really need it every few range trips or so depending on round count (estimated).

My carry gun gets cleaned more often but I also take it to the range and empty the magazine to check function every once in a while. I know how to field strip or disassemble my guns and reassemble but can I be 100% sure everything is right. I know there will be a whole lot of you that say yea, absolutely I do. I know at least once I pulled the trigger and NOTHING. It wasn't a tap rack drill but turned into an impromptu one a tap and rack got me going again. I put a lot of thought into that since then. I now check my chamber regularly and smack my mag probably more often then I should. There's the theory of cracked primers but that's a whole 'nother story for another time.
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nmrugerdude
I clean every time I shoot it. Once a month it gets wiped down and re-lubed if I don't fire it.
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svahadean
Depending which gun gets the duty call, I will typically shoot 24 rounds .38 Special or .357 Magnum (Security Six), 100 rounds 9mm (Security 9C), 100 rounds .22LR (SR22) per visit. During the Summer, pre-surgery, I was at the Range about twice a week.

I clean and lube after every Range visit BUT if I don't for some reason, I don't fret, I just do it after the next (second) visit, so double those numbers above for round counts. I've never noticed a problem.
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Redhawk100
nmrugerdude said:
Once a month it gets wiped down and re-lubed if I don't fire it.
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My safe is a pain in the butt to unload and reload with the long guns in the back rows. I usually just wipe down and relube the safe queens every year or two, and that's a few hours, in and of itself. I should probably program times to do a few at a time.
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Corndog
2
We are not shooting black powder guns nor corrosive military ammunition. I need a better reason than internet lore, to bother cleaning my gun every time I shoot it.

As I posted on another thread, a rifle with several fouling shots settles down and shoots better than a clean bore shot.

Believe it or not, I can see light at the end of my barrels.

Audio equipment Wood Gas Auto part Optical instrument

So, how many rounds? When was it cleaned?
Air gun Trigger Wood Revolver Gun barrel

Both photos taken a few minutes ago.
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Pull-1
I wipe them down every time I bring them in. I take them apart when I think they need it.
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dweis
Nam Vet said:
I clean my guns after every range trip. Went to the range last week. I cleaned my 1911 45 after 150 rounds, my Uberti Cattleman & Outlaw 100 rounds each ,SR22 100 rounds. My Interarms Virginian Dragoon 100 rounds which has over 60,000 rounds through it. All handloads and still working on loads from 2018. I am old school, a clean gun last longer and shoots better than a dirty one. But it's JMHO.
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I agree. During my near decade in the Corps I learned the routine I’d clean your weapon after it has been in the field or fired. Did not matter whether you did a 2 hour or 2 day patrol. Didn’t matter whether you shot one or 100 rounds. You cleaned it as soo as you were able. The idea was an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure. The weapon can be stripped and cleaned in minutes. A failure could cost you a lifetime.
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R
I clean them when I think they need it. Simple. So sometimes that could mean months or the same day. If gun is going back into storage knowing it might be next season or a few years, then I clean before it does. Also don't run a brush all the time when I do. Most times a wet patch and couple dry is all it takes to clean the barrel(s) and cylinder(s) sufficiently. Sometimes I'll just wipe down the outside a bit. Only time I 'always' completely clean after each session is shooting black powder. But then that at is obvious :) .

Oh, one other thing, when I first get a revolver, it gets cleaned as you normally would. Then after the first session, I will (most times) break it down to it's individual parts and completelyclean and oil it, maybe a little stoning if necessary. Also, really check the barrel to see if we have a 'leading' situation and so forth. So, you do need to know you gun, in relation to how often you need to clean it. Simple.
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Redhawk100
Corndog said:
I need a better reason than internet lore, to bother cleaning my gun every time I shoot it.
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That predates the internet. But it isn't my GP100. Anyone can treat his own guns how he sees fit. But...
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Jaw Gesture Tie Flash photography Movie
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