Has anyone NOT cleaned their revolver for 1000 rounds?
- Thread starter ImDrRich
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I clean my revolvers after about every 3 range sessions. That's maybe 500 rds. tops. I generally remove the cylinder and clean it separately. 1000 rds may be a tad too many but it isn't my revolver.
SLT223
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My local indoor range has a 686-6 4” with at least 10,000 rounds on it and they claim they never cleaned it…or any of the other rentals. Don’t know if that’s entirely true, but it looks like it has not been cleaned in several thousand rounds. They do not sell lead ammo for rental, only jacketed. Simply picking up that 686 made my hands filthy. I will say the action on that gun is unbelievable.
To answer the OP’s question, no I have never gone 1000 rounds without cleaning. 
I clean most center fire handguns after going to the range, not necessarily the same day, but before I go the next time. 22rf maybe every 300-400 rounds.
I like clean guns, I don’t mind cleaning them.
I clean most center fire handguns after going to the range, not necessarily the same day, but before I go the next time. 22rf maybe every 300-400 rounds.
I like clean guns, I don’t mind cleaning them.
AJ
US Veteran
You don't have enough guns!
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Cleaning a firearm every time you use it is a hangover from the old days of corrosive primers. The practice was necessary then to prevent damage.
We do it because that is what dad or some other mentor taught us because that is what they were taught and the person before them was taught.
We do it because that is what dad or some other mentor taught us because that is what they were taught and the person before them was taught.
I am of the opinion that more bores are ruined with cleaning rods than ammo. I have a model 18-4 that has become an experiment. It has well over 1000 rounds since last cleaning and works fine.
I clean them when they get wet, gummy or filthy. Some burned modern powder isn't going to hurt anything. The days of black powder and corrosive primers is gone. If I cleaned my guns every 30 days if I had shot them or not and it took 15 minutes apiece I would spend 40 hours a month just cleaning clean guns.
The I don't wash my car every time I drive it is a good analogy,.
Flame away
I clean them when they get wet, gummy or filthy. Some burned modern powder isn't going to hurt anything. The days of black powder and corrosive primers is gone. If I cleaned my guns every 30 days if I had shot them or not and it took 15 minutes apiece I would spend 40 hours a month just cleaning clean guns.
The I don't wash my car every time I drive it is a good analogy,.
Flame away
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geekeye
Member
i have tended to clean my guns every time i shoot them. i'm trying to convince myself that it is ok to only clean the action when it gets gummy and only clean the bore when it gets deposits on it. myself is not ok with this, and we fight about it.
AJ
US Veteran
I am of the opinion that more bores are ruined with cleaning rods than ammo. I have a model 18-4 that has become an experiment. It has well over 1000 rounds since last cleaning and works fine.
I clean them when they get wet, gummy or filthy. Some burned modern powder isn't going to hurt anything. The days of black powder and corrosive primers is gone. If I cleaned my guns every 30 days if I had shot them or not and it took 15 minutes apiece I would spend 40 hours a month just cleaning clean guns.
The I don't wash my car every time I drive it is a good analogy,.
Flame away
Not real enthused about cleaning .22's. With Heavy barreled target rifles we do not clean them until we notice the accuracy falling off. This usually at about 600 or so rounds (your mileage may vary).
I quite enjoy cleaning my guns after a day at the range or out in the woods hunting for varmints. Justa habit on my part and it gets me more familiar with them. Having said that, back in the day, 25 years ago or so I put probably 1000 rounds through my Model 29 and Model 10 without EVER cleaning them, guess I didn't know any better, yet they still went bang just fine. Not recommended that's for sure.
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Do any of you guys use woodworking handtools: chisels, planes, etc.?
It would be unthinkable to just keep using them without sharpening, honing or dressing the cutting edges.
They get dull, they cut less efficiently, they take more effort....next thing you know, you have an accident!
Why would I let a nice revolver get gummed up? The lockwork parts have to work harder, and eventually you'll break something, jam something, or wear something out.
It would be unthinkable to just keep using them without sharpening, honing or dressing the cutting edges.
They get dull, they cut less efficiently, they take more effort....next thing you know, you have an accident!
Why would I let a nice revolver get gummed up? The lockwork parts have to work harder, and eventually you'll break something, jam something, or wear something out.
WheelGunMagic
Member
Nope, have never shot 1,000 rds without cleaning. The most I've gone is 350 rds, but that was at a one day class. I clean mine after every range trip, usually the next day. That has a side benefit of forcing me to closely examine them for any lurking or potential mechanical problems that need tending to.
It can also depend on the type of ammo used. Our NYC range used commercially reloaded WCs and revolvers would be FILTHY after a range session. When I was between gov't jobs, I worked in a storefront office and befriended some NYPD street cops. I wound up cleaning several service revolvers for them after they had qualified at Rodman's Neck. I can attest to the fact that NYPD range ammo was extremely clean burning: all surfaces, bore and chambers were easy to clean. The guns would have functioned well w/o cleaning and I know that many of them did!
I just MIGHT get a bit lax re bore and chambers but will always run a clean patch through them. Also, I always clean the ratchet and hand areas of a revolver so the gun is more likely to function properly.
Kaaskop49
Shield #5103
I've found that the GP100 Ruger needs at least a little brushing under the ejector with a wire toothbrush, at least the .327 for some reason. It gets gunked up with powder residue after maybe 75 (1 1/2 box) rounds and gets picky about letting the cylinder go back in place after loading. No big deal; takes a couple seconds.
I have watched Jerry Miculek say he doesn't clean his guns till the accuracy degrades. And the first few rounds out of a clean gun can be more irratic then later ones. As for my self I run a bore snake through the barrel and cylinders and that is all for many years and there is no fouling.
I'm another IHMSA shooter who doesn't clean until needed. Running "lead bullets" in all the revolvers. The .44s get cleaned as needed. Plus a little oil added as required. I can't remember when the 629s got cleaned. One of the 29s had a little trigger glitch this year, so the sideplate came off. Bore still "as shot". Thousands and thousands of rounds. (Not so much this year for the .44s- saving powder and all that.)
The woods guns get cleaned much more often as they get wet not infrequently! And full of gritty dust, debris, etc. Sometimes they get cleaned twice without a shot having been fired.
Do as you find what works. If you don't know what is required to keep things running at top form, cleaning more than less often is probably better. Unless you do more damage than good....
The woods guns get cleaned much more often as they get wet not infrequently! And full of gritty dust, debris, etc. Sometimes they get cleaned twice without a shot having been fired.
Do as you find what works. If you don't know what is required to keep things running at top form, cleaning more than less often is probably better. Unless you do more damage than good....
StrawHat
Member
I competed in PPC for about a decade. I was also an assistant Range Officer with my Dept. I was at the range constantly. Between competition, practice and training duties, probably 5 days a week. I would compete on weekends, one or two matches and the rest of the week probably 3-5 practice matches. Instructing was easier for me as I rarely shot more than a demonstration course, unless I needed to repair or test an Officers revolver. I also reloaded my practice and competition ammunition. I did not have time to clean my revolvers. Maybe twice a year I would clear my schedule for that purpose. My competition guns, duty and off duty guns all ran fine. I did brush under the extractor and wipe off the outside every trip to the range but that was it.
As for the idea the revolver is like a chisel or an axe? Not really. A dull chisel won’t cut. A dirty revolver will fire.
Kevin
As for the idea the revolver is like a chisel or an axe? Not really. A dull chisel won’t cut. A dirty revolver will fire.
Kevin
OLDSTER
Member
I clean my revolvers every couple hundred rounds, and semi-autos less often-probably 500 rounds. However, my favorite pistols to shoot ( Rugers MKII and MKIII ), probably 1000 rounds on the average.
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