hey guys im looking for some gun cleaning advice from the gurus. I've had a few throw away pieces back in the day, but this is my first real ownership of one so I want to take good care of it. Just looking for advice on what cleaners to use (and NOT to use), lube, cleaning kits, etc. I just put 200 rounds through my new sd40ve and now she is ready for a good field strip and cleaning/lubing. Not looking to break the bank with top notch stuff, but I also don't want to buy garbage product and hurt my gun, so please if you guys have advice for some good middle-tier cleaning kits and products that would be great and much appreciated.

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S&W SD40 VE
Glock 23 Gen 4

I would recommed going to the nearest Walmart or Kmart and buying a cheap pistol cleaning kit. All you need is a cleaning rod, bore brush, patch holder, patches, gun oil and cleaning solvent.

I just run a patch with some cleaning solvent throught the barrel then use the brush back n forth. I like using Brake Cleaner to spray and look to see if it is clean. Once the barrel is clean then I spray the frame down and use a rag or maybe a nylon brush to clean the carbon off the frame. Once clean I then lube the gun and assembly it together.

You could send hours or minutes cleaning your pistol it all depends on how clean you wish it to be. Some people just use a bore snake and call it good.

Thank you for your advice. I saw walmart is selling a Hoppes gun cleaning kit. I've heard from people they make one of the better solutions and lubes. I included a pic, does it look like it has all I need?

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S&W SD40 VE
Glock 23 Gen 4

I would not buy a cleaning kit for your gun cleaning needs. Most of the parts are plastic and the rods are aluminum and not the best cleaning rod. Since you are an U.S. vet (Air Force), you must have heard of MPro-7 cleaning system. I have been using it for years and recommend it to my students. Most of the items can be purchased on line from Brownells or Midway. Look for a Clad rod, Dewey brand about 12 inches long, which contains ball bearings that rotate when you insert the rod through the barrel. They are not cheap but will last you for years. Also, purchase jags, not slotted tips and cleaning patches to wrap around the jag so it completely cleans 360 degrees. Use Bore Gel, MPro-7, on the patch and insert it into the barrel and look at the color of the patch when it comes out the muzzle. It will tell you if you have powder or copper residue. If it is copper, run a copper brush three times through the barrel and let it set for about three minutes. Then run a dry patch and see what color it is for additional cleaning. If it is green or blue, run a patch of copper solvent, Mpro-7, the same way and then use a nylon brush three times and let it set for about three minutes. Than run a clean patch and again it will tell you what solvent to use. Also purchase their gun cleaning solvent and LPXC gun oil. Also, I would look into the Mpro-7 site and they have a brochure that explains the procedure for cleaning rifles, pistols and other firearms. A great many Police Departments and Military use their products. When I shoot my guns at the range, it takes me no time at all to clean them and the barrels are clean, white patches, just like it came out of the factory. You can be a nit picker when it comes to cleaning but that is me and every one of my guns are like show room clean. This is just a few quick tips and you can learn more by reading and trying their methods and see what works best for you.

Nick

I use CLP or Hoppes, some patches and a rod that has a rotating handle that i bought years ago. Thats pretty much it. Run a brush, wet patch, brush, dry patch. Repeat as needed. My barrels are not "brand new, just made" condition but they are clean. I use the same method on corrosive ammo and never had any problems

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In 41 years of shooting I've accumulated a host kits. Which do I use the most? A piece of twine I sewed a loop in to hold patches. I use KG products now but like CLP as well. I've been gunsmithing for several yeas of that time and just closed my business due to the recession. It doesn't take expensive products to clean a firearm. PM me and I'll send you a cleaning rod from an old smith auto back when they included them.

Well I hate to sponser an anti gun site but I buy the Otis Military issue cleaning system from *bay wait for the cheap ones then add what you need. I have paid as little as $20 with shipping. logic is clean your gun the way the bullet comes out breach to muzzle but every one has their own idea of that. you can also clean without breaking down some firearms. They are smallish and easy to carry tho not in your pocket and most come with everything you need plus they are good for multi caliber. Just my .02

thanks everyone for your help and advice. Cant wait to get this baby cleaned and ready to rock through some more rounds.

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S&W SD40 VE
Glock 23 Gen 4

I bought an Outers gun cleaning kit that I could afford at the time and it has gotten me through some cleaning for a good while but I have started to look for better equipment. I especially don't like the plastic jags that are supposed to put a patch very tightly through the bore. I've bent a couple of the plastic patch loops by not being extremely careful when I inserted it into the bore. Now things aren't threading very well into the rod. One of these kits will get you off the ground, but if you can afford it, get better stuff. You can see what you need and how it's used on youtube.

I'm a Ballistol fan. I use a Hoppes bore snake, Qtips and a soft rag.

If you watch Hickok45's youtube vids on cleaning Glocks, I pretty much do what he does, except he cleans his barrels with a patch on a brush instead of the snake.