I doubt this is meant to be a literal statement.
Gun Cleaning: How Clean is Clean Enough?
- Thread starter baxtersmith
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I doubt this is meant to be a literal statement.
Loy Loyola
Member
"less is more" for me.
My barrels are probably never "Too Clean". But, I shoot long range rifle, (Prairie Dogs), and my barrels are clean enough to connect with "Dogs" out past 500 yards. I try to not shoot too fast, as Hot barrels tend to foul up faster than cold barrels. I try to not shoot more than 50 rounds without basic cleaning and resting for awhile.
In the field I soak a patch and run through the barrel and let it soak in for 20-30 minutes, then wipe out and run a bore snake through it. At the end of the day, I will fill the bore with bore foam copper cleaner, and let soak for at least 30 minutes, then clean out with shooters choice and several clean patch's. After several thousand rounds, rifles will still hold 1/4" to 1/2" at 100 yards.
Handguns are cleaned after every shooting. .22 RF will have one wet patch (on a plastic pull through) then 2 or 3 dry patch's. And the chamber area wiped out or with revolver the cylinder cleaned just like the barrel and the extractor, forcing cone, inside the frame, etc all wiped out. Since I predominately shoot lead, I have to use a brush with C&S "wool" on it to remove any lead deposits, after soaking in solvent (Hoppe's) for 10-15 minutes. Then follow with several dry patch's.
If I still have a line or two of gray on the patch's I don't worry about it.
In the field I soak a patch and run through the barrel and let it soak in for 20-30 minutes, then wipe out and run a bore snake through it. At the end of the day, I will fill the bore with bore foam copper cleaner, and let soak for at least 30 minutes, then clean out with shooters choice and several clean patch's. After several thousand rounds, rifles will still hold 1/4" to 1/2" at 100 yards.
Handguns are cleaned after every shooting. .22 RF will have one wet patch (on a plastic pull through) then 2 or 3 dry patch's. And the chamber area wiped out or with revolver the cylinder cleaned just like the barrel and the extractor, forcing cone, inside the frame, etc all wiped out. Since I predominately shoot lead, I have to use a brush with C&S "wool" on it to remove any lead deposits, after soaking in solvent (Hoppe's) for 10-15 minutes. Then follow with several dry patch's.
If I still have a line or two of gray on the patch's I don't worry about it.
stevieboy
Member
I clean after every trip to the range, whether I fire 10 rounds or 100. It takes me about 45 minutes to clean a revolver, perhaps 1/2 hour with a semi. I clean a bore by putting a patch saturated with J & B Bore compound through it, followed by brushing with a solvent-soaked bronze brush, followed by solvent soaked patches (usually 2 or 3) followed by dry patches until they come out clean. I use the same procedure with the chambers of a revolver. Lately, I've been wiping down the exterior surfaces of my revolvers with a gun cleaning cloth. I'm careful to use only cloths that are marked safe for blued guns with my blued revolvers.
I use every cleaning session as an opportunity to thoroughly inspect each handgun. Every exterior screw gets checked for tightness, I check the cylinder to make sure it hasn't developed excessive play, the extractor and extractor rod get checked, and I make sure that the rear sight on my adjustable revolvers hasn't come loose (that has happened to me a time or two). I sometimes also check the tension on the strain spring. Finally, I shine a flashlight down the bore to look for lead or copper fouling and, if I find any, I take care of it. I finish every cleaning session by gently polishing the gun with a clean, soft, cotton cloth, and dry firing it for a few rounds, just to make certain.
Sounds pretty anal but, as I've said, the whole process takes about 45 minutes. I've also found and addressed some problems with my guns which were taken care of before they became acute. I've mentioned the loosened rear sights, but I've also had strain screws back out and extractor rods come loose and I've discovered these problems long before they became serious.
I use every cleaning session as an opportunity to thoroughly inspect each handgun. Every exterior screw gets checked for tightness, I check the cylinder to make sure it hasn't developed excessive play, the extractor and extractor rod get checked, and I make sure that the rear sight on my adjustable revolvers hasn't come loose (that has happened to me a time or two). I sometimes also check the tension on the strain spring. Finally, I shine a flashlight down the bore to look for lead or copper fouling and, if I find any, I take care of it. I finish every cleaning session by gently polishing the gun with a clean, soft, cotton cloth, and dry firing it for a few rounds, just to make certain.
Sounds pretty anal but, as I've said, the whole process takes about 45 minutes. I've also found and addressed some problems with my guns which were taken care of before they became acute. I've mentioned the loosened rear sights, but I've also had strain screws back out and extractor rods come loose and I've discovered these problems long before they became serious.
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all the input is appreciated
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Archimedes 3.141592653...
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Archimedes 3.141592653...
I sort of clean mine, every once in a while. A couple of patches with Hoppes, a few dry ones, spray with Break Free, WD-40, whatever happens to be handy, wipe the crud off, a drop or two of oil here and there.
I can't see any difference from doing that than from when I used to worry about it.
I can't see any difference from doing that than from when I used to worry about it.
kscardsfan: FYI, it is a tradition among we Marines, past and present, to always use an upper case "M" in typing the word, irrespective of grammatical rules to the contrary.
Among us bonified grammar police, we know that your tradition serves you better than the wannabe grammar police. Most of y'all on this board who are referring to marines are referring to past or present members of the USMC, not just any old bunch of marines from some nondescript country. Since you are referring specifically to Uncle Sam's Misguided Children, "Marines" should definitely be capitalized.
mtime7
Member
my cleaning is very quick. I run a bronze brush dipped in #9 through the cylanders and bore, then spray brake cleaner down bore and cylanders, run oiled patch down barrel and wipe down whole gun with oil.. done in 5 minutes
JohnnieB
US Veteran
At the range, while still warm.
Pull through brush.
Squirt of Aerokroil in barrel & cylinder followed by pull through brush.
Let sit, barrel angled downward, while I dampen Bore Snake with Kroil.
Pull Bore Snake through barrel & cylinders.
Wipe down with slightly oiled rag.
If a significant amount of powder residue still exists, I might clean it better when I get home. Otherwise, that's it. (Unless it's going to pose for a picture.)
I tend to shoot correctly sized, Alox lubed lead, with an appropriate BHN for the velocity, so leading is seldom a problem with my 15-3, 19-3 and 686.
John
Pull through brush.
Squirt of Aerokroil in barrel & cylinder followed by pull through brush.
Let sit, barrel angled downward, while I dampen Bore Snake with Kroil.
Pull Bore Snake through barrel & cylinders.
Wipe down with slightly oiled rag.
If a significant amount of powder residue still exists, I might clean it better when I get home. Otherwise, that's it. (Unless it's going to pose for a picture.
)I tend to shoot correctly sized, Alox lubed lead, with an appropriate BHN for the velocity, so leading is seldom a problem with my 15-3, 19-3 and 686.
John
rck281
Member
Every thread needs someone who presents the other perspective, so here it is. I am an ex benchrest shooter and know that nothing destroys accuracy more than a build up of copper. If you used a borescope you would be surprised how rough most factory barrels are and how they retain copper fouling. It's just that less accuracy is not very noticeable in handgun shooting, but it is there nevertheless. I think it is important to remove the fouling.
However, since revolvers have to be cleaned from the muzzle, one has to be very careful with the cleaning rod to not rub one side. Cleaning rod damage to the lands at the muzzle end will be much more harmful than copper fouling.
So keep it clean but be careful.
However, since revolvers have to be cleaned from the muzzle, one has to be very careful with the cleaning rod to not rub one side. Cleaning rod damage to the lands at the muzzle end will be much more harmful than copper fouling.
So keep it clean but be careful.
I fully agree with Dick King's post, except that I would add that copper fouling probably affects most handguns less even than the less stringent accuracy requirements (compared to bench rest) would indicate. First, because the lower velocities probably result in less fouling, but, second, because even the same amount of fouling is going to have much less effect on a .36 caliber bullet weighing, say, 158 grains, or a .43 caliber bullet weighing 240 grains, than on a .24 caliber bullet weighing, say, 80 grains.
rburg
Member
There are a lot of lazy people who just don't want to bother cleaning their guns. At least its what I've concluded.
You don't need to look over your shoulder to see if the DI is watching. He's there, even if just in spirit. Remember, he's kind and gentle and will remind you of your failures.
In all fairness, many of us overclean our guns. And we over lubricate them. And it does no harm. On the other hand, under cleaning and under lubrication will certainly do significant harm. So we mostly err on the side of compulsive cleaning. Its a good thing. Even if you don't over clean every time, doing it once in a while is good.
I have a son who has never cleaned a gun. Ever. And he probably shoots more than me and the other son combined. Pretty scary stuff. But I've worn out one set of lips preaching, so I'm done. If he wants nasty gritty handguns, its OK with me. I guess. I just don't want him to inherit any of my treasures when I die. There are people who should own and shoot Glocks, he's one of them.
You don't need to look over your shoulder to see if the DI is watching. He's there, even if just in spirit. Remember, he's kind and gentle and will remind you of your failures.
In all fairness, many of us overclean our guns. And we over lubricate them. And it does no harm. On the other hand, under cleaning and under lubrication will certainly do significant harm. So we mostly err on the side of compulsive cleaning. Its a good thing. Even if you don't over clean every time, doing it once in a while is good.
I have a son who has never cleaned a gun. Ever. And he probably shoots more than me and the other son combined. Pretty scary stuff. But I've worn out one set of lips preaching, so I'm done. If he wants nasty gritty handguns, its OK with me. I guess. I just don't want him to inherit any of my treasures when I die. There are people who should own and shoot Glocks, he's one of them.
There are a lot of lazy people who just don't want to bother cleaning their guns. At least its what I've concluded.
You don't need to look over your shoulder to see if the DI is watching. He's there, even if just in spirit. Remember, he's kind and gentle and will remind you of your failures.
In all fairness, many of us overclean our guns. And we over lubricate them. And it does no harm. On the other hand, under cleaning and under lubrication will certainly do significant harm. So we mostly err on the side of compulsive cleaning. Its a good thing. Even if you don't over clean every time, doing it once in a while is good.
I have a son who has never cleaned a gun. Ever. And he probably shoots more than me and the other son combined. Pretty scary stuff. But I've worn out one set of lips preaching, so I'm done. If he wants nasty gritty handguns, its OK with me. I guess. I just don't want him to inherit any of my treasures when I die. There are people who should own and shoot Glocks, he's one of them.
Dick, if you put me in the will I promise to keep them as clean as the driven snow.
Harrison
US Veteran
There was a reason for Marine Clean, or in my case Army Clean (circa 1963): A clean and properly lubricated weapon is an accurate weapon, is less apt to malfunction, and during the process of getting it throughly clean, you are more likely to spot any broken or extremely worn parts. Your weapon is your best friend, and if you depend on it to save your life, than that means a very through cleaning everytime you shoot it. The only excuse for a good cleaning and lubrication after shooting is pure cussed lazyness (per my DI).
stantheman86
US Veteran
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There is a point of "saturation" when it comes to cleaning........you don't need to pop the sideplate off, detail strip and scrub the daylights out of every part. In fact overcleaning can do more harm than good.
I bought 2 revolvers, a S&W and a Ruger, from a guy who had OCD (for real) and the cylinder face on the S&W has been scrubbed of all the blue, the chambers look like the guy scrubbed them until he was sweating blood, and the sideplate looks to have been removed 1,000 times. He even said he removed every part of the gun each time he fired it......luckily he doesn't seem to have done any real damage. He had to torque each sideplate screw to a certain degree so the slots lined up, and he probably did unseen damage to the bore trying to sterilize it with a bronze brush, it is mirror bright which might not be a good thing....he was probably in there with metal polish and a Dremel for all I know....THIS is going too far with it......
I bought 2 revolvers, a S&W and a Ruger, from a guy who had OCD (for real) and the cylinder face on the S&W has been scrubbed of all the blue, the chambers look like the guy scrubbed them until he was sweating blood, and the sideplate looks to have been removed 1,000 times. He even said he removed every part of the gun each time he fired it......luckily he doesn't seem to have done any real damage. He had to torque each sideplate screw to a certain degree so the slots lined up, and he probably did unseen damage to the bore trying to sterilize it with a bronze brush, it is mirror bright which might not be a good thing....he was probably in there with metal polish and a Dremel for all I know....THIS is going too far with it......
