S&W isn't "OCD" with cleanliness.

[carl3989]

I don't know about you, but after every shooting session I have to immediately clean my gun. I can't leave it for the next day without feeling guilty. Yet S&W seems not to be bothered about leaving a little residue in its guns after test firing as these photos of my new 325PC Thunder Ranch can attest. So maybe we who need to clean our guns have an obsessive compulsive disorder about cleanliness. Eh?

[moxie]

It's not unusual for the manufacturer to leave the gun dirty after test firing, maybe giving it a wipe-down. Nothing to worry about.
For the rest of us, the rule should be: "Never let the sun set on a dirty gun." I learned that from my first weapons instructor and it doesn't sound obsessive to me. Just prudent.

[Kavinsky]

Actually I've figured out a way to cut down on the work involved in cleaning a gun after a shooting sesion of about a 100 rounds.

wipe some of the stuff off the finish with solvents, wipe that off with a clean soft rag and then put a wet patch of the stuff down all of the clyinders and the barrel and then wipe the excess of that off of the finish and let it sit for about 6 hours

once you come back the powder should be clumped together (I'm using hoppies no 9 solvent by the way) then put a clean patch down the bore to remove the powder and then rinse and repeat two more times.

and maybe use the brush if you feel it necessary along with the typical way to clean the gun.

[khclark]

They used to clean guns after they test-fired them, but customers complained that the guns were not test-fired (how could they be - they weren't dirty), so now they leave them dirty. It's "good dirt" - proves it's been test-fired.

[M1Lover]

I've got a 625 that I've shot in at least 20 action pistol matches and have yet to clean it. I shoot a lot of 200 grain SWC bullets, then use jacketed bullets towards the end of the match. Wipe down and occasional light lube. Functions fine. I use Hodgdens Clays, pretty clean shooting powder. That said, I keep my AR15 DCM rifle spotless. To prove a point, Derek Martin of Accuracy Speaks didn't clean his AR15 Service Rifle for an entire year - many, many matches and hundreds of rounds - without a single malfunction. If you use clean burning powder, you're not using corrosive primers and don't live in high humidity parts of the country you can get away with it. I wish the Army hadn't "cleaned" the M1 rifles so often - with steel cleaning rods - They'd have been MUCH better off left dirty..... H.

[Miami_JBT]

Well no it's not OCD. I clean all my firearms after shooting. Everything from my lowly Ruger 10/22 to my holy grail, my 1896 Krag Carbine and everything in between those two.

I like my guns to be clean to the point that I don't want to shoot some of them (my stainless steel gun) because I don't want to make 'em all dirty.

Only thing I have not cleaned yet is my Gemtech Outback II suppressor. It's going to be sent off to Gemtech to be upgraded to a take apart model.

[JCS&W]

I alot time to go to the range and to clean my Smiths. If I do not have enough time to go to the range and to clean, I do not go to the range. However, I have yet to miss any time at the range. I agree with what others have said, "don't let the sun go down on a dirty weapon".

[PA Reb]

Originally Posted by moxie

It's not unusual for the manufacturer to leave the gun dirty after test firing, maybe giving it a wipe-down. Nothing to worry about.
For the rest of us, the rule should be: "Never let the sun set on a dirty gun." I learned that from my first weapons instructor and it doesn't sound obsessive to me. Just prudent.

I believe I couldn't disagree more. I just bought a new model 629 and really couldn't believe how dirty it was left from the factory. I used a clean cloth as soon as I got it home because I really wanted to see what they left behind - filth! I believe out of courtesy for the customer coupled with the prices we are paying, S&W (and all other manufactures for that matter) should clean them alot better than a quick "wipe down". Would anyone want a new vehicle sitting in a showroom covered in dirt? Some might say "well, that's a vehicle and they're expected to be clean". I say, pound for pound, the gun product is way more expensive than the vehicle product and we deserve better!

Post Update ~ After I made the post directly above, I got a call from my FFL dealer that a gun I had on order was in. This is a Cimarron Model "P" in .45 caliber, 4 3/4" barrel. The pictures below are what it looked like straight out of the box - all I did was take the cylinder out and wipe off the excess oil. The gun, as all of you know, is foreign made and its obvious the company takes great pride in how they ship their product. In my humble opinion, I still believe S&W and many other makers could do a better job and might take a lesson or two from manufacturers like this.

[Sevenshooter]

I don't think there is a solution for a new gun left "dirty".

If the manufacturer test fired it and then shined her all up inside and out, you would probably see posts with people claiming the gun was never test fired.

Also, the price would probably go up to cover the cost of the detail job at the end of the assy. line.

I will admit, there should be a closer look for imperfections before they go out the door. That goes for whatever make gun it is.

I personally would never take one out of the box and shoot without giving it a good goin' over, patching the barrel and cyl.s and lubing everything that spins or slides.

So far, that has worked best for me.

I kind of like cleaning up a gun after a day at the range... But, I will never learn to only bring one or two so there isn't as many to clean when I get home. I never know when my/our (family) next chance to get out and shoot will be, so I grab a bunch, and we shoot a bunch, and I'm up 'till 3 in the morning cleaning 'em all up before putting them away for next time. I can't leave them nasty... I gotta clean them after each range trip. I can't help it.

Ss

[Butchbird]

I used to clean my guns every time I shot them -- Now I just clean them when I get around to it -- I've never had a rust problem and some of mine get cleaned every 5-600 rounds -- no staying up untill 3 am -- they keep just fine for me

[ajpelz]

Originally Posted by jessegpresley

I used to be pretty OCD about gun cleaning. Now less so. Seems that more guns get ruined by over cleaning than under cleaning.

This for me also. I use to clean every outing, but as my gun collection has grown, some guns only get a cylinder or mag full before moving on to the next. (mostly just using up old ammo) When you figure that, I was putting more passes through the barrel cleaning it than shooting it.

[vytoland]

Originally Posted by Butchbird

I used to clean my guns every time I shot them -- Now I just clean them when I get around to it -- I've never had a rust problem and some of mine get cleaned every 5-600 rounds -- no staying up untill 3 am -- they keep just fine for me

sounds good to me

[FloridaFlier]

I have a hard time putting away a dirty gun, but I will admit to the compromise solution. Wipe off the obvious crud, and run a wet brush down the barrel. Then let the solvent soak and do it's thing. It will penetrate, that's what it was designed to do. Come back in half an hour or half a day and the job will be nearly done. From that point, you're down to a quick cleanup.

[PA Reb]

Alrighty then, everyone has their own methods of cleaning a revolver for sure. But what do y'all think about the original intent / statement in this thread about S&W allowing their guns to leave the factory really dirty !?

[M1Lover]

I think, for the prices, S&W ought to detail them before they go out the door. As stated, you wouldn't buy a new car (or toaster, rack of wrenches, ceiling fan, etc. etc.) that came new and dirty in the box. S&W ought to run a patch down 'em before they drop them in the box. I've bought new Colts and Rugers that came from the factory clean....

[Titegroups]

I think cleaning a gun all the time either comes from military service and the need for absolute reliability or from the black powder days when it was a must. Of coarse some take it to the other extreme like trying to sell a gun without cleaning it. Modern day laziness. I won't buy one that someone hasn't cleaned before trying to sell it. I'll let the factory slide though with just a few rounds.

[617X10]

If you shoot black powder or use corrosive primers, then you should clean the gun as soon as you get back from the range. With the advent of stainless steel and chemically resistant finishes, I wouldn't worry too much about cleaning after shooting modern ammunition. However, if I had a gun with a deep-blue finish that I wanted to keep looking nice I'd definitely clean it as soon as possible.

[haggis]

If it's a low-round-count gun that gets only rare use, it gets cleaned the day I shoot it. I may not see it again for a year.

Different story for the competition guns. The 625 gets a wipedown after a match (about 125 rounds), external cleaning including chambers and barrel every month, and a detail strip-to-individual-parts cleaning once a year.

The Wilson CQB goes 500 rounds between normal disassembly and cleaning, and a year between detail strip cleaning.

Both of them still look and function fine.

Buck

[Shooting4life]

I hardly ever clean my smiths besides rimfire. Make sure it is oiled properly and clean the cylinders once and awhile. Most of the smiths I own have been cleaned only once since I have owned them and that is when I first get them and detail strip/clean. Have never bought a s&w brand new.

[Farmboy]

Yep, its OCD. When I was shooting USPSA we used to shoot several thousand rounds a week. We found that the 1911's that everyone used at that time would actually be more reliable dirty than clean. More malfunctions from a clean gun at the start of a match than any other cause. If it bothers you to see a fired gun in your safe then clean it. Unless there is a rust issue, its a waste of time until the grime really builds up. I like to wipe the powder residue off my revolvers when I put them away but thats it.

BR

[feralmerril]

I certainly havent anything against you guys who think you have to clean your guns immediately. I DONT! Well, unless I am feeling unusualy ambitious. I do wipe them down with a oily rag without fail and that does the job and ease`s my conscience. I have owned guns for 60 years and still have one to get rust by my neglect. Of course there are factors like moisture, rain or snow, black powder, old primers etc. where I clean them immediately or if someone else handles them. I live in a dry climate, dont sweat much, but some people can just stand next to them and they will rust!
I never was in the service and wasnt screamed at by a sargent to form your opinion forever, but think about it. I suppose many times you never use the same gun twice, someone a couple hours after you trains with the same gun you did. Of course the only sane answer then is to have everyone clean what they just used! We are all gonna suite ourselves.

[Rodentman]

Agree may not be *necessary* but I clean all my guns after shooting. It's fun, actually, and I enjoy doing it.