Cleaning magazines-- how often

[Jim1392]

New Shield owner here with a question. I really have been a revolver guy all my life so I was wondering how often do you clean Shield magazines?? Is it a round count, every range trip, or every couple of months etc?

 

[Muss Muggins]

Never cleaned magazines . . . Not sure how you'd do it.

 

[Bob O]

The bottom plate should be removable, though I've never bothered the clean mine.........bought the pistol new in December.

In my police career, I only ever cleaned mags once or twice. When I did, they weren't even "dirty". Though I do wipe the followers clean. Keep an eye on that area, if it looks like carbon or gunk is building up where you can't wipe it off, then cleaning should be done.

 

[Old cop]

I've never cleaned the mags on my Gen II Glock 23 and never had a problem. I was told to clean the mags on my M&P .380 often so those get done after each range trip.

 

[MichiganScott]

I wipe the follower and feed lips off everytime I clean the gun (which isn't that often). The only time I ever pull the base plate and give them a good cleaning is before they are used the first time.

 

[Jakpro]

It largely depends on how you treat your magazines. If you throw them down in loose dirt, mud, sand, etc., then you need to clean them often.

You only need to clean them when they are dirty!

 

[Watchdog]

Never cleaned magazines . . . Not sure how you'd do it.

I've never cleaned a magazine for any pistol in my whole life, either.

 

[Grail Knight]

I wipe off the follower after shooting but only break down the magazine once a year to clean and very lightly oil the spring.

If I buy used magazines I tear them down and do a through cleaning.

 

[AGoyette]

I clean them when I start having feeding issues.

 

[kbm6893]

I clean them after every range visit. Takes about 40 seconds per mag. Don't see a downside.

 

[Muss Muggins]

I clean them after every range visit. Takes about 40 seconds per mag. Don't see a downside.

Just curious. Describe the process . . .

 

[69248]

Just curious. Describe the process . . .

Stumbled across this video several months ago and saved it, but never got around to doing it. I just can't imagine the importance of cleaning a magazine unless you play in the mud alot.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXDgEh-PTK4[/ame]

 

[RobzGuns]

I clean them after every range visit. Takes about 40 seconds per mag. Don't see a downside.

How in the world can you disassemble them, clean 'em inside & out (including the spring) and reassemble them in 40 secs?
Isn't that what we're talking about, as far as 'cleaning'?

 

[kbm6893]

Push the pin on the baseplate in and remove it. Pull follower and spring. Wipe inside of mag with Hoppes dipped patch. Wipe follower down Follow up with 2 or 3 dry patches. Quick spritz of Dry lube to spring. Reassemble.

Less than a minute every time.

 

[hkcavalier]

Blowback firearms (especially .22s) should have their mags cleaned from time to time. I recently did this chore with my 10/22 mags. Stuff gets in there.

Manually operated, gas, or recoil operated guns should pretty much not need cleaning unless used in nasty conditions. I've never seen a reason to clean my Glock or Shield mags except to wipe off grime from the top of the follower.

 

[Muss Muggins]

Push the pin on the baseplate in and remove it. Pull follower and spring. Wipe inside of mag with Hoppes dipped patch. Wipe follower down Follow up with 2 or 3 dry patches. Quick spritz of Dry lube to spring. Reassemble.

Less than a minute every time.

Thank you for supporting my position. There is not a manufacturer on the planet that supports any chemical of any type inside a magazine, and there is not reason on the planet to lube a magazine. Too much chance for seepage of the lube around the primers of ammunition in loaded mags.

 

[kbm6893]

Thank you for supporting my position. There is not a manufacturer on the planet that supports any chemical of any type inside a magazine, and there is not reason on the planet to lube a magazine. Too much chance for seepage of the lube around the primers of ammunition in loaded mags.

Never gonna happen. The mag well is wiped clean and dry and I don't even put them back together for a day or so. They are bone dry when they are reassembled. And Remington dry lube has been used on mag springs for a while. AR mags especially.

Been shooting for over 25 years. I know what I'm doing.

And read the manual for Ruger 10/22's. Manual says to clean mag with solvent. I don't do that without taking them apart though. What makes a magazine different from a firearm? Are there not springs in your gun?

 

[Muss Muggins]

Never gonna happen. The mag well is wiped clean and dry and I don't even put them back together for a day or so. They are bone dry when they are reassembled. And Remington dry lube has been used on mag springs for a while. AR mags especially.

Been shooting for over 25 years. I know what I'm doing.

You wrote earlier that you reassembled in less than 40 seconds. No matter. You run your way, I'll run mine.

 

[Muss Muggins]

And read the manual for Ruger 10/22's. Manual says to clean mag with solvent. I don't do that without taking them apart though. What makes a magazine different from a firearm? Are there not springs in your gun?

A .22 rimfire round doesn't have a primer hole. No chance for solvent seepage . . .

 

[kbm6893]

You wrote earlier that you reassembled in less than 40 seconds. No matter. You run your way, I'll run mine.

It takes less than a minute to clean them. I could put them back together but I generally don't. No rush so let sit for a day or so. But I have put them back together right after a cleaning. I use a 12 gauge shotgun patch to clean and wipe them. Dry as a bone and clean as a whistle.