gun cleaning thread

[bp231986]

I keep it simple for my self and clean after every outing. I dont see cleaning as a job. When i clean ill put in a good movie or two, get a cold coke or hot coffee, relax and clean at a slow relaxing pace and enjoy my self. At times i might walk away after spraying down the barrel with hoppes and let the solvent do its thing for a bit while i do something else. To me cleaning is fun and i like the peace of mind of having all guns clean and ready to go

 

[H Richard]

Cleaning a gun is a part of shooting it. I have several S&W where the cylinders are tight enough that if not cleaned every 100 rounds or so they will begin to bind from the residue build up on the cylinder front. I like reliable guns, I clean them after every use.

 

[Franklin]

Have you ever been at a range where they rent guns? Take a look at what the guns look like. You could probally start with a puddy knife on the outside, and every one of them go bang when you pull the trigger!

 

[timn8er]

really?? I wouldn't want to see your underwear

thewelshm

So does this mean you'd want to see them if they were clean?

I Keed, I Keed!

A bit closer to topic though, I clean mine after every range trip. I too, find it to be good therapy. I do have a question for the OP & everyone here:how often do you use a brass bore brush? Is there a round count you go by? I would like to know.

 

[P&R Fan]

It's worth it just to fill the house with the smell of Hoppes #9.

24 posts and I was the first one to mention that.
What's up with that?
Jim

 

[kamloops67]

I suppose if the cleaner doesn't have a clue. some people shouldn't change their own oil in their car either. some guns and bullets/powder types require more care than others. my 45acp get's black and sooty fast. my 617 22lr has tight tolerances and needs to be brushed out frequently to keep the cylinder from locking up. you can bet long range benchrest and competition shooters keep them well maintained.

funny you mention that group, those are the guys(some not all) im thinking about when i speak of prematurely worn barrels from fanatical scrubbing.
im not saying guns dont need to be cleaned ,just not after every outting ,unless its a b.p. piece then yes soon as possible after firing or your bore will look like a 40 yr old sewer pipe.
a clean bore can be inconsistant as well, dont a lot of shooters take fouling shots?

 

[THEWELSHM]

So does this mean you'd want to see them if they were clean?

I Keed, I Keed!

A bit closer to topic though, I clean mine after every range trip. I too, find it to be good therapy. I do have a question for the OP & everyone here:how often do you use a brass bore brush? Is there a round count you go by? I would like to know.

I actually never use a brass brush although I have them. I use a Winchester kit with the rags and solvent, and some good old fashioned elbow grease, I Use a bore snake and brush. I oil all blued guns religiously down her in FL

thewelshm

 

[rwsmith]

This thread has affected me.....

I will still clean my guns after every outing, but I may change the way I clean them.

 

[Rastoff]

Not from a lazy person but rather a gunsmith who has worked in the trade for decades and has seen it firsthand.
And has replaced a few more barrels than you.

Just how many barrels have I replaced? How does the smith know what the owner's cleaning habits are? How did he determine that it was cleaning and not shooting that required the barrel to be replaced?

I would never take my gun to a gunsmith that told me not cleaning was better than cleaning.

I have helped to repair hundreds of guns. The vast majority of them were fixed by a simple cleaning.

Have you ever been at a range where they rent guns? Take a look at what the guns look like. You could probally start with a puddy knife on the outside, and every one of them go bang when you pull the trigger!

Yes, I've been to ranges that rented guns. The range that had clean guns had guns that worked all the time. The range that had dirty guns had guns that didn't work and I had to swap them out several times.

While at a USPSA match I was talking to one shooter about cleaning. Another shooter barged in and said, "That's why I bought a Glock. It never needs to be cleaned."(The Glock manual says it needs to be cleaned. I'm betting he's never read it.) His gun malfunctioned on the next attempted shot. He continued to have trouble throughout the day. He claimed it was the ammo. I'll bet he still doesn't clean his gun and still claims it never had a malfunction.


Look, like I said before, they're your guns, do what you want with them. I'm not saying that guns need to be cleaned after only a few shots, but they should be cleaned after a trip to the field or 500 rounds or so. Also, there's more to cleaning than running a brush through the bore.

 

[hangnoose]

"GUNSMITH"?

A smith that recommends not to clean guns, contrary to every owners manual sounds like a guy drumming up his own business. wish I had a dollar for every person claiming to be a "smith" at a used gun sale or gun show. that and 35 year old Vietnam Vets.

 

[Tranquility]

Good evening,
Newbie in CT here. My wife, the shooter, and I have three S&W 38spl revolvers that we really enjoy. A few months ago I started reloading and the only bullets I could get were lead semi-wadcutters which are loaded over light loads of HP38. After returning from the range today and starting our post range cleaning drill I took a hard look at the barrels and found evidence of what I thought was pretty significant leading at the cone and for a half inch or so into the barrels.

I soaked the barrels and chambers with Hoppes #9 except for the nickel model 10 where I used Rem oil. After about 20 minutes I used a brass bore brush to dislodge the lead. This seems to work fairly well but not perfectly and I worry about using so much brush.

What do the you pro's use to keep ahead of lead fouling?

Thanks in advance for your help.

tranquility30
Model 10-5 four inch
Model 36 no dash 3 inch
Centennial 642 with 1-7/8 barrel

 

[Rastoff]

What do the you pro's use to keep ahead of lead fouling?

I'm not a pro and won't claim to be. Neither copper nor brass will damage your bore.

Cut off a chunk of this:

It pushes the lead right out.

 

[Tranquility]

Thanks Rastoff,
I'll find this and try it out later in the week.
I appreciate your help

Bill
Tranquility30

 

[hangnoose]

LEAD REMOVAL

Hoppes makes a solvent specifically for lead.

 

[ErnieDeBord]

I shoot "Benchrest" both Center&Rimfire. I am VERY anal about keeping my Firearms & Equipment highly maintained and spotless. I use boreguides and the best rods that can be had. I dont harm my bores with Proper cleaning. To me maintaining my stuff is just as much enjoyment as shooting.........I also dont have a lot of money so I maintain what little of all that I have. As an Auto-Tech (mechanic) I learned fast many years ago that cleanliness means its all. Regards Ernie

 

[Old TexMex]

I love shooting my model 48s.
Anyone who shoots them knows how often they need cleanin'. Sometimes halfway through a session.
I Love it.
.
.

 

[chud333]

Just how many barrels have I replaced? How does the smith know what the owner's cleaning habits are? How did he determine that it was cleaning and not shooting that required the barrel to be replaced?

To answer your questions
1. I do not know, but not as many as Mr. Roy Knight
Master Gunsmith, Connorsville IN. R.I.P.
2. and 3. By having a conversation with owner and by a thing called a bore-scope. These barrels have what is called "rifling" inside.
By looking at the "rifling" under magnification thru a good bore-sope, or cutting the bad barrel after removed, a gunsmith can tell the difference between cleaning rod scars, over zealous brushing, and FOULING/WEAR.
Before you make a dumb remark about a so called "myth" perpetuated by "lazy people" at least have some idea what you are talking about.
Good day.

Chuck

 

[chud333]

I'm not a pro and won't claim to be. Neither copper nor brass will damage your bore.

Cut off a chunk of this:

It pushes the lead right out.

Copper will not damage your bore ?????
Learn something new every day.........
Wrong.

Chuck

 

[rwsmith]

What about the Lewis lead remover

The Lewis remover is a piece of bronze screen over a jag-like piece pushed through the barrel. People say they really do a good job of removing lead. Are they harmful to your bore if used properly?

 

[Rule3]

They "sell" lots of "cleaners" none of them will remove lead. Only manual elbow grease will such as the chore boy or Lewis lead remover.
Only 2 actually remove copper

The not cleaning guns probably came from the same ones that say never clean a 22 LR. Lets see, they use powder, primers and lead or copper. Guess they are magic.

Take a spotless clean handgun barrel and fire one dummy centerfire round with just a a primer, no bullet or powder. Put a patch with solvent through it and see how much color is on the patch.

Guns are tools, I clean them also after each use. Take them out of the safe they are ready to go. Synthetic oils do not evaporate.