How often do you clean your firearms? I tend to clean my pistols after each use but I'm not as prompt with my long guns. I actually enjoy doing it too so that helps.
How often do you clean your firearms?
- Thread starter NYGuns
- Start date
I don't really have any set amounts. Sometimes it's after a range outing of 500 rounds, other times it's after 50 rounds. Other times it's never. It all depends on how lazy I am, how much time I have, and how much I need to "get away" and get some time in the garage.
Cleck
.308 Win
Usually after every time I go shooting. Two pistols and a rifle to clean, it gives me time to relax and make sure it's still nice and oily. I finally got some actual ramrodz for my pistols, I still need a better kit for cleaning out the AR barrel
Religiously. Lol
Doc8404
.450/400 Nitro Ex
pretty much it....I think it has to do with being forced to when serving next to Marines....then again, most of my armorers took care of me.
TMC
.40 S&W
I clean all firearms after every range day and run a wipe with some rem oil once ever two months on the ones that don't get used during the winter then clean at the start of spring.Its it a real chore when the son goes out he takes my AR 20" and the 16" before qualify time at Drum he averages about 500 rounds at a sitting ,good thing he supplies his own ammo. I don't have him clean them because when he came back from boot on the Island he stripped them down to a pile of parts and laughed at me told me to assemble them my self. Now that he is older and out of the Corps he joined the Guards and just doesn't have the same gumption for maintenance. I don't mind though at least we get to spend some time together and share some stories
Jaywmustang
.308 Win
I wipe my firearm down after every use.
camper4lyfe
.308 Win
I rarely shoot, so each time I use them is a good time to go through them.
carpediem
.338 Win Mag
After every use and if they are infrequently used, they get oiled and wiped down at least once a year, though twice is usual.
Kinda depends on the gun. Carry gun gets a thorough wipe down & bore brush-out before leaving the range. I never carry a dirty carry gun. Don't want to explain why the gun is dirty if I didn't fire it for its intended use.
Competition guns depend on how long the day was. If I'm not tired I will clean it. Otherwise it might wait a day or two. But always before it goes back out. This is just a field strip cleaning. Detail strip is maybe couple times a year.
Long guns I am not so particular about. I'll clean them when I'm in the mood.
Competition guns depend on how long the day was. If I'm not tired I will clean it. Otherwise it might wait a day or two. But always before it goes back out. This is just a field strip cleaning. Detail strip is maybe couple times a year.
Long guns I am not so particular about. I'll clean them when I'm in the mood.
Deplorable Me
.700 Nitro Express
I have my important guns which I keep go-ready and my range blasters which I clean often but not every time.
When I take new shooters to the range they only get the range blasters. My range box is capable of cleaning everything I own.
When I take new shooters to the range they only get the range blasters. My range box is capable of cleaning everything I own.
After each and every day at the range I will clean my guns. If it was a long day, I will do a quick wipe down and oil.
I save the deep cleaning for days that I am bored and need something to do.
I save the deep cleaning for days that I am bored and need something to do.
I clean them less than I should. I have 6 rifles and 4 pistols to clean right now and I am not really interested in doing it right now.
Greywolf224
6.5 Creedmoor
Cant stand cleaning guns. I still have my original 1/2 bottle of HOPPS #9 that I bought in Jamesway. Old glass bottle with a rusted screw on cap. Paid a $1.99
I believe Jamesway closed its doors in March of 1996
I believe Jamesway closed its doors in March of 1996
Phazer
.450/400 Nitro Ex
I am thrilled to hear this. I HATE cleaning guns. Some say, "I love it...it's therapeutic." BS! Cleaning my car's floor mats isn't therapeutic (unless you're an obsessive-compulsive). Neither is cleaning carbon residue from pieces of oily metal.
I keep boresnakes for each caliber I own in my range bag. Each boresnake has a bunch of Seal-1 rubbed into the part just before the brushes. When I get back, and I'm about to put things into the safe, I pull a boresnake through each barrel before locking them away. When I've shot a decent number of rounds (oh...a few hundred), I give in and break things down for a wipe down.
Few if any of these items are to be relied on for self defense. I don't spend a lot of time cleaning my shovels and screwdrivers. So, I don't spend to much time "intensively" cleaning my louder tools.
BTW - You wanna know how my wife cleans her guns? She hands them to me! Dammit!
minderasr
6.5 Creedmoor
Usually after every use. I don't shoot as often as I'd like, so I never know when the next excursion might occur.
Aimtite
.40 S&W
AK user: oh, you have to clean your firearms?
I guess this is arbitrary and relative to what firearms.
Some firearms run better dirty.
Over cleaning can also harm firearms.
I guess this is arbitrary and relative to what firearms.
Some firearms run better dirty.
Over cleaning can also harm firearms.
BDinPutnam
.475 A&M Magnum
AR9, religiously after using but it's an HD gun and 9mm is filthy in a rifle.
The .22's, only when necessary. The semi more often than the bolt.
The shotguns, occasionally but we don't shoot them much anyway.
I am preparing to break in a .223 so time will tell on that one.
The .22's, only when necessary. The semi more often than the bolt.
The shotguns, occasionally but we don't shoot them much anyway.
I am preparing to break in a .223 so time will tell on that one.
After every range trip. Well almost every range trip, sometimes I get lazy. I'll pull something out that hasn't been out for awhile to check for rust and a quick lube.
Catskillkid
.450/400 Nitro Ex
Pretty much my philosophy as well. Pistols generally get cleaned more the than the rifles. Depends on if I have the time or not. Ideally, I'd do it after every range trip but that doesn't always happen. I'm one of those people who finds cleaning the guns to be somewhat therapeutic so I don't mind it that much. Everything gets cleaned once a year whether it needs it or not. Learned that lesson after seeing what happened to my dad's .22 Caliber Ruger Mark II pistol that NEVER got cleaned in like 25 years (basically the outside of it is covered in rust now...though for what it's worth I shot it the other other day and it still works just fine).
Toecutter
.308 Win
Rifles after each use . Clean and lube carry guns once a month. I enjoy dismantling and cleaning my guns.
Magnus
6.5 Creedmoor
My EDC gets cleaned when the lint starts to pile up. I don't like doing it but I guess it's clean it or die.
TMC
.40 S&W
As long as we are on the subject of cleaning is there any suggestions about storage? My long range Remingtons have been stored in drag bags for several years.They are regularly cleaned and oiled as I have always done but I don't shoot as much as I use to sometimes up to a year or more.I had used silica gel bags stored in the bags but they are getting worn out now and I was wondering if there were any alternatives or should I just go by new silica gel. Incase you didn't know good silica bags can be renewed by heating in an oven at approx 150 degrees for 6 hours to remove the absorbed moisture
Lockdown Silica Gel 450g, Bag
Not really expensive but have always worked not having a vault I have always used my bags
BLACKHAWK! Tactical Long Gun Drag Bag
suggestions?
Lockdown Silica Gel 450g, Bag
Not really expensive but have always worked not having a vault I have always used my bags
BLACKHAWK! Tactical Long Gun Drag Bag
suggestions?
xcentrk
22lr
The two guns I carry get cleaned after each range session. My other range only type guns.... maybe every 2-3 sessions of use.
I picked this thing up for my safe and it works very well. I plug it in every 3-4 months overnight to "recharge" it https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000H0XFD2/
Eddie Gunks
.338 Win Mag
Fwiw silica bags actually hold moisture, so be careful on how you use them. Be sure to keep em dry.
6 hrs in an oven? Save the electricity and buy new ones..,..
Clean guns? Never heard about that? Is that something new?
When i used my colt 1911 (since the late 80s) i was forced to clean it moatly after each use, or it would not run. 2 years ago i got a glock 9mm (for the extra capacity when competing in america), if it needs to be cleaned i will sell it and buy another....
Seriously, i have over 10,000 rounds on the glock, and i have never cleaned it......to be fair i had my buddy go through it twice.
My ar gets the bolt oiled (slip 2000 ewl) when it looks like it needs it. Maybe once a year i go through it. I run 7,000 rounds per year through it.
My scar16 does not need to be cleaned. 23,000+ rounds on it. I have cleaned the it 3-6 times. Now i am running a suppressor, so i will keep an eye on it to see what happens.
6 hrs in an oven? Save the electricity and buy new ones..,..
Clean guns? Never heard about that? Is that something new?
When i used my colt 1911 (since the late 80s) i was forced to clean it moatly after each use, or it would not run. 2 years ago i got a glock 9mm (for the extra capacity when competing in america), if it needs to be cleaned i will sell it and buy another....
Seriously, i have over 10,000 rounds on the glock, and i have never cleaned it......to be fair i had my buddy go through it twice.
My ar gets the bolt oiled (slip 2000 ewl) when it looks like it needs it. Maybe once a year i go through it. I run 7,000 rounds per year through it.
My scar16 does not need to be cleaned. 23,000+ rounds on it. I have cleaned the it 3-6 times. Now i am running a suppressor, so i will keep an eye on it to see what happens.
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Checkers
9mm
Similarly, I HATE cleaning weapons because it reminds me of basic, sitting there in silence, knowing it won't be good enough for the DS, and then getting smoked. It's been..... almost 4 years since I was at basic, and I still hate cleaning, especially my AR