Does Anyone Clean Firearms Anymore

[Doug627]

I have read the rants about gun shows on the forum. All legitimate complaints. I have also read the complaints about buying online. Again, legitimate complaints. What I cannot understand is every firearm I buy used takes me a day (or longer) to clean the barrel after I get it. Doesn't anyone clean firearms anymore? I was taught to clean them after every use. Use has different meanings. It may mean after deer season or a couple days of range use, but they need cleaned soon after using them. So far, the barrels have been in excellent condition after cleaning them but what's up with this lack of care?

 

[fordson]

Basic philosophy……. You shoot it, you clean it….. simple.

 

[WardenRoss]

Yep. That's what I find too.

"You gotta be kiddin me!" I generally say upon inspecting the barrel.

Like you, I've had good luck. Don't know how. It's always a slight gamble when the barrel is filthy.

I thought it was just me being used to the white-glove inspections from long ago.


,

 

[fiasconva]

Maybe it's the old " I'm getting rid of it anyway so why clean it?" philosophy.

 

[lkabug]

I believe that every used shooter that I have acquired needed to be cleaned.
Not just wiped down, but elbow deep clean.
I clean my guns after shooting without fail. I go through my safe(s) at least twice a year to inspect, and maintain as necessary. Perhaps it's excessive. But that's the way I was taught, I taught my kids to do the same.

 

[GnarlsR2]

I clean, inspect, and lubricate my firearms after EVERY use. It may take me a day or two to get to them.

Other than specific analytical component testing, I find it more than a little strange by the Youtubers that brag about taking a new handgun out of the box and start firing it. I’m sure they must know something about firearms that I do not.

I also question why the guys who brag about putting 5,000 or 10,000 rounds through their firearm without cleaning it. WHY?

Like that deserves some kind of blue ribbon or trophy.

Why would you want to deliberately potentially stress the components of CC defense gun?

What firearm manufacturer states in the User’s Manual “Don’t clean and lube your new gun before using it.”
“Put 5,000 rounds through it before cleaning and lubricating it.”

My CC defense pistol is going to be in the best possible condition of the highest performance… ALWAYS. It will not have more than 2500 rounds through it.

Yeah… I’m anal about wanting my defense gun to fire when I pull the trigger if I have to save my life.

 

[grover99]

My carry guns tend to get dirty even if I have not shot them. Pocket lint gets stuck in the lube and makes a mess. So all of my carry guns get cleaned at least once a month if I haven't shot them and always get cleaned right after shooting.

 

[Ματθιας]

I'm a firm believer in maintenance - I take care of my stuff.

What other folks do...that's on them.

I've bought some police trades that have been nasty dirty. So dirty that it was obvious that it had been dirty for a very long time - hand grease and who knows what. Those ones usually clean up nice!

 

[TST]

I've purchased about 20 used guns in the last 30 years; almost every one was dirty.

 

[yaktamer]

Sitting here taking solace in the fact that my guns can't post on this forum.

 

[Kevin G]

I asked one of the managers at a local well-known gun store about cleaning they used guns before putting them in the case. His reply was the cost of labor.
Kevin G


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Onomea]

...I also question why the guys who brag about putting 5,000 or 10,000 rounds through their firearm without cleaning it. WHY? ....

I've noticed this, too, in training classes. I recall a Glock shooter telling us he'd gone 1600 rounds without cleaning. (After he had an FTF.) I took another class with a fairly well known instructor who talked about sending his gun back to the mfr after he'd fired it 5,000 times without cleaning it and it began to have performance issues.

I think at least part of why people do this is to show how robust their guns are. (Makes you wonder about their cars, huh?)

I clean after every outing.

 

[GypsmJim]

I used to shoot every Tuesday night at the Club, and every other weekend at my mountain cabin. My regimen was to clean them all once a year, usually during Christmas time when I was on vacation.

Now retired I clean them after each use.

I don't see any difference.

I used to see leading when I used store-bought bullets. Now, my home cast boolets provide NO leading.

Some people complain about the problems reassembling Ruger Mark pistols. I never had a problem. Regardless, I haven't cleaned one in about 30 years and I don't think I need to.

 

[rockquarry]

I've noticed this, too, in training classes. I recall a Glock shooter telling us he'd gone 1600 rounds without cleaning. (After he had an FTF.) I took another class with a fairly well know instructor who talked about sending his gun back to the mfr after he'd fired it 5,000 times without cleaning it and it began to have performance issues.

I think at least part of why people do this is to show how robust their guns are. (Makes you wonder about their cars, huh?)

I clean after every outing.

I think you'll find many Glock shooters and other striker-fired gun folks really aren't gun people. They've had little or no experience with other types of handguns. Their interest is in concealed carry/defensive -type shooting only. Cleaning may not be a priority to them. That's their business.

 

[dmn57]

I've sold a bunch of guns over the years and I would never have dreamed of selling any of them soiled. Guess that mindset is antiquated. Can't say that all that I've purchased didn't need a good scouring but most cleaned up ok.

 

[TJm15.38]

Guess I'm a nerd, but I can't stand to let a firearm sit for several days without cleaning it. Frankly, I probably overdue it, but I don't use real agressive amonia-based solvents (Hoppes #9 is my go to) and I don't bother about minor amounts of copper fouling as long as it's not affecting accuracy. I shoot a lot of old military bolt rifles with corrosive ammunition. I take water-based cleaning solution to the range and swab the bore to get rid of corrosive salts. I follow up at home with Hoppes and light lubrication. All my rifles in in great shape because of it.

 

[robvious]

I like the smell of Hoppes No 9 too much to NOT clean my guns after a range day... it really doesn't take long if you do it every time...

 

[alwslate]

My experience is that people who sell guns on GB do not waste their time in cleaning them. A bit disgusting to receive a gun that hasn't even been wiped down an oily rag before shipping. Just the way it is I guess. When I have sold guns on GB I clean them before shipping. One of the dirtiest guns that I have ever bought was in a face to face deal with another forum member several years ago. A near mint S&W revolver he brought to my house that was filthy. I was amazed that he had the gall to do that but I just paid him and kept my mouth shut.

 

[LVSteve]

As a milsurp collector I've seen it all. I had the state mining commission saying I needed a permit I was getting so much copper out of some of them.

 

[besshoudini]

A happy gun is a clean gun.