I'm thinking of not cleaning my 686+ for awhile and I wanted some feedback from members here. Is there any downside to not cleaning a revolver for 100s and 100s of rounds?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Has anyone NOT cleaned their revolver for 1000 rounds?
- Thread starter ImDrRich
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AJ
US Veteran
Depends on what type of ammo you are shooting. Lead or jacketed. Lead may cause a built up , while I don't think jacketed will as bad. If you have a problem it will be in the cylinder area. Most people do not take the side plate off and clean in there ever.
I have never done this with a revolver. Have done it with my personal M1911 while in the Corps. It finally got gummed up and ceased to function at about 2500 rounds.
twodog max
Member
Nope I will always clean after shooting at the range. Now my work guns that are carried a lot and shot little may get mighty grungy but not from shooting residue. These get a thorough cleaning a couple times a year. Sideplates off the whole thing.
Birdhunter6
Member
AJs post is right on. I don't run exposed lead bullets anymore. I went to plated bullets for moderate velocity target loads long ago. Now I clean far less often. (Can't say I've ever run a revolver 1000 rounds without cleaning though.) Plated bullets are more expensive then hard cast lead but cheaper than jacketed they shoot as clean as jacketed.
Even my ARs have proven that they will run dirty as long as they are lubricated regularly.
Even my ARs have proven that they will run dirty as long as they are lubricated regularly.
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KLYDE
Member
One of the gun gurus said...."never let the sun set on a dirty gun". Might have been Skeeter.
I'm in that camp.
Klyde
I'm in that camp.
Klyde
I am certain there are several firearms (revolvers, autos, SMGs, & rifles) that were more than 1, 000 between cleanings
With some of the SMGs that was all in a single day
When I was shooting 6 days a week, I only cleaned the gun on the off day
One of the old LTs would fire three rounds out of his firearm imeadeatly after cleaning it. He used to say that a clean gun was one that you had not recently tested
With some of the SMGs that was all in a single day
When I was shooting 6 days a week, I only cleaned the gun on the off day
One of the old LTs would fire three rounds out of his firearm imeadeatly after cleaning it. He used to say that a clean gun was one that you had not recently tested
hyena
Member
That's me. I can't stand to even let it sit overnight. Gotta clean it the same day. The only exception....I live on five acres. That means occasionally having to shoot something. I don't clean after a single shot.
I field stripped a Glock 48 during a factory sponsored demo day. Slide was caked with powder residue, as in "Wow, they probably have never cleaned this thing even with a gazillion rounds through it." Functioned perfectly when I shot it.
I've gotten quite lax about cleaning guns, except my Mosin and that's because of corrosive ammo. I've never taken the sideplate off a revolver.
jag312
Member
I know a police officer that was lax in cleaning his sidearm. I don't know how it passed his previous re-qualification. A few months later he had to use it for real. The sidearm was so dirty and gummed up that it didn't work. Lucky for him there were other police officers present. If he had been alone, he wouldn't be here today.
How would you like to be in a life or death shoot out holding an inoperable gun in your hand?
How would you like to be in a life or death shoot out holding an inoperable gun in your hand?
I tend to clean my autos and centerfire revolvers after about 100-150 rounds. My 22's after every shooting session, but often that is 100-200 rounds. I bought a J-36 a few years ago that probably had never been cleaned. Took a lot of soaking and a lot of patches over many hours to get it working. My J's get cleaned every session - after five rounds even.
75Vette
Member
I guess I don't listen too well. I've run this 629-4 PowerPort entire seasons of IHMSA competition including two range trips a week easily tossing more than a thousand rounds before cleaning. This has been with lead and powdercoated bullets. The only area that got sticky was at the gas ring on the cylinder. I'm pretty much a neat freak in every other aspect of my life but when I started shooting so much I couldn't justify cleaning just to dirty it up in a couple of days. The rest of my shooters I let go a few hundred rounds before a thorough cleaning.
KLYDE
Member
I'll agree on the lax cleaning for the competition guys. It is impractical to expect to clean the firearm after every shoot. Heck some guys are shooting several times a week.
Myself....a particular gun that gets shot may not see another range trip for months. Just can't leave them sitting dirty.
Carry guns and service weapons are an entirely different ball of wax.
Klyde
Myself....a particular gun that gets shot may not see another range trip for months. Just can't leave them sitting dirty.
Carry guns and service weapons are an entirely different ball of wax.
Klyde
rjm6120
Member
I get a bit lax as well after shooting my guns. It's usually a handful of weeks before I get around to cleaning a gun I take to the range, but it gets cleaned.
double-dipper
Member
The question is why wouldn't you clean it? Only takes about 10-15 minuts or so.
I clean after every use.
I clean after every use.
luvsmiths
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I don't wash my car after every time I drive it, either.
Horse,Gun, Rider.
Right?
Right?
AManWearingAHat
Member
It's unnecessary and I have better things to do. If the firearm is functioning properly and shooting like it is supposed to I see no reason to clean it. Different story if its a carry or HD gun. If its a range queen, it's when performance degrades or I get around to it.
Now I'm not saying put it away wet or leave it in such a condition that it is apt to be damaged or rust. That is a different issue that requires immediate attention. Otherwise, quick wipe with an oiled towel and back in the safe until next time.
GypsmJim
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Dad and I used to go home and clean our guns on his work bench after every outing.
Then, I got married and moved out and I still gave it the college try, but sometimes I forgot.
Then, we bought our own camp and I built a covered rifle range and a covered pistol, range right next to the cabin. Dad came often and we would clean the guns at the end of shooting, before he went back home.
After Dad passed I kinda got lazy. But then I got some initiative.
Now I keep a log book of my shooting....i.e., what did I shoot this weekend. Now, religiously, over the Winter, on snowy days, I clean guns.
Once a year...that's it.
However, if I have an issue with a semi at camp. I'll clean and oil it on the spot. But truly, that's a rare occurrence.
Having said all that, if I shoot a milsurp rifle with surplus corrosive ammo, I clean it on the spot. Maybe a patch with GI Bore Cleaner, but Hpppes #9 for sure. Haven't rusted a barrel yet....
Then, I got married and moved out and I still gave it the college try, but sometimes I forgot.
Then, we bought our own camp and I built a covered rifle range and a covered pistol, range right next to the cabin. Dad came often and we would clean the guns at the end of shooting, before he went back home.
After Dad passed I kinda got lazy. But then I got some initiative.
Now I keep a log book of my shooting....i.e., what did I shoot this weekend. Now, religiously, over the Winter, on snowy days, I clean guns.
Once a year...that's it.
However, if I have an issue with a semi at camp. I'll clean and oil it on the spot. But truly, that's a rare occurrence.
Having said all that, if I shoot a milsurp rifle with surplus corrosive ammo, I clean it on the spot. Maybe a patch with GI Bore Cleaner, but Hpppes #9 for sure. Haven't rusted a barrel yet....
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).
