SW-Nation,

Finally had a chance to shoot my M&P Sport...first time out. I gave it a good cleaning before taking it to the range and put ~ 100-120 rounds through it, not a hiccup. It was great, much more accurate than I am. I plan on shooting it again later this week. Would you clean it now or would you wait until you had put another 100-200 rounds through it.

Thanks for your help!

Doesn't matter. Won't hurt to clean and won't hurt if you don't​

Some people clean even after one round, others clean after a few thousand.

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I usually just pull a "CLP of my choice" through the barrel on the front end of a boresnake if I'm taking it back out soon.

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Loving retirement!

I'm new to the AR and was reading where some shoot 1000's of rounds before cleaning .. some clean once a year when they get bored in the winter .. most just run a bore snake thru it and add some lube .. and clean only occasionally ..

I've always been taught to keep a weapon clean in good running condition .. so not sure how often a complete cleaning is needed ..

The Marine in me says 'Clean!' Stripping and reassembling the rifle will also help you become more familiar with the internals.

Just don't spend hours every week 'cleaning' to simply kill time...Marines and other veterans know about this --that ridiculous overcleaning is a very real source of wear on military weapons.

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Registration? NEVER!

I'd pull it apart and clean it. You can inspect the chamber, barrel, bcg, etc for any funky wear or funky marks. It also helps to keep it lubed up pretty good at first.

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Still carrying my S&W 642

If it were mine I would clean it. I clean mine just to clean them, sometimes. I paid for them, so, I can do with them as I please.

As has been said the military and Nam pounded keep it clean into my brain but I think it would be a good idea to clean and lubricate an almost new gun just to inspect for anything out of the ordinary.

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Hue 68 noli me tangere

That's pretty much me unless I'm taking a class

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The one thing you do want to do is know the difference between functionally clean and white glove inspection clean. You do the latter if you're going to put the piece into long term storage-but lube it appropriately for that purpose.

If it's ground hog season, the rifle may be several shots dirty before I feel guilty enough to clean. The one time this may not be a good idea is if someone accuses you of firing a shot when you didn't. A couple shots dirty is not going to help you in that case.

I wouldn't worry about it. I clean guns not after any particular round count... just when I have some time and feel like it.

I've only cleaned my M&P 15-22 one time...

I clean after every shooting. That's what Dad taught me to do at age 7, and I still continue to do it. If I have a malfunction I know it's not because my gun is dirty.

Brand new rifle... field strip, clean and inspect, lube and go shoot it. As far as cleaning after shooting for the first time, about the only thing I've read that I thought might be of value was when I purchased my first AR from Bushmaster about 25 years ago... that's when Bushmaster was Bushmaster. Anyway... they suggested to not clean the chrome lined barrel for 200-300rds. Reason being is that it required that many rounds to polish out the bore, and cleaning would prolong the process.

Bottom line... I don't believe there's a need to overthink it. Enjoy your new rifle.

I clean after every range trip. Especially my EDC. In case of inspection during "an event", mine should be white glove clean unless I was directly involved.

I would have cleaned it when buying it, just like you did. Then I would shoot it for a couple weeks and then clean it before I got bored with it and wanted a new gun.

I cleaned mine before ever shooting it for the first time..

Then after that first time, I cleaned it again, not because I felt it really NEEDED cleaning again, but more of an inspection thing, after it had actually seen action..

just wanted to take a peek at things etc..

You know they can tell a difference if a guns' been recently shot even two filthy guns

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IMHO, you've already over cleaned it.
It's got a warranty, shoot the out of it!


Today is all we have, live it to the fullest!

I clean my guns after every trip to the range. Since my visits to the range coincide with visiting family, a "trip to the range" may last several days.

If I was a sniper and my life depending on the next shot being "dead" accurate, then I would NOT clean it. Otherwise, at the very least I run a snake and spray some CLP on the bolt before it goes back in the cabinet.

There are different levels of cleaning. I personally have three.

The first cleaning I do is getting all the major dirt/carbon out of the action and off the bolt. This only takes a few minutes and I do this after every outing regardless of how much I shot.

The second level is a little deeper. This involves cleaning as above and the bore with a brush and patches. I only do this every few hundred rounds or so. It takes about 15 to 30 minutes.

The third level is a detail clean. This involves taking it apart as far as it will go without removing pressed in pins. I'll even remove the fire control group and clean the pocket. This level of cleaning usually takes a while and is only done every now and then.


If I were you, Miles2014, I'd do a level one clean now. Then a level 2 after your second outing.

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Freedom isn't free.

I always clean after shooting. One round or a thousand rounds makes no difference.

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

Six of one, half doze the other for the total amount of work.

Either clean more often but do less work each session...

Or clean at longer intervals but as more buildup has accumulated, do a lot more work getting it out.

And, the longer you let it go, the more chance there is for a malfunction. If the gun is being used in any way for defense, police work, or competition, it needs to be 100% every time.

Like many of the members I was thoroughly indoctrinated by the Marine Corps into their philosophy of spotless and dust free weapons at all times. Now I clean maybe two or three times a year and have not experienced any malfunction attributable to a lack of cleaning.

I do periodically wipe down the contents of the safe when looking for rust.

I clean after every outing. How many rounds shot will determine how detailed I clean.
I must have said this over a hundred times: I have never had anyone tell me their firearm Failed to Fire because it was clean.
I have heard Failures from not cleaning a firearm.

From this thread and from what I have been reading on line .. the major
consensus is "clean when ever " .. Many clean after several thousand rounds but do inspect and lube some between cleanings .. only a few clean after every use .. I've even read a few comments that the person believed running it a bit dirty actually made it group tighter ..

I won't wait till I've shot 1000's of rounds but several 100's on different outings between detailed cleanings .. The keep your weapon clean instilled in me over the years won't let me go much more then 500 to 750 rounds down range before cleaning .. probably less ..

Being retired it will be something to do on a rainy day when other things can't be done !!

That is correct, but not my point. Mine is that a clean gun carries no question to have to be looked at. Having to do a test or further exam drags you further into a situation that you don't need to be in.

I have lived for so many years in an environment where leaving the house for what should be an afternoon turns into weeks, or a week turns into months ...

I want to be sure an unexpected prolonged absence ring me back to a rust ball (yes, it has happened).

Yes but a cop on scene isn't going to be the one making that call. Your gun is going to a lab.

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