How often do you clean your revolver?
- Thread starter ImDrRich
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gmiller0737
Member
After each range visit.
cmj8591
Member
Most people put ten times more wear and tear on their guns cleaning them than they ever will shooting them. If the gun I'm shooting is going to be carried, it gets cleaned after it gets shot. That also allows me to give the gun a good inspection before it goes in its holster. Range guns get cleaned when I get sick of looking at them or on a rainy day when I'm looking for something to do. Most gun require very little maintenance. I once put 1000 rounds through a 4006 over a one week period without cleaning it. At the end of the session, it worked every bit as well as it did at the beginning. I've seen military weapons put 5 times that through them without cleaning and they were still ticking away. I guess it all boils down to how anal retentive you are more than what is required to keep the gun running.
lunger
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After each use for me as well.Not complete tear down on revolvers
but swab bore and wipe down.
My father was military . When I was a kid and used one of his guns he would give it the drill Sargent inspection before it went into the gun cabinet.
That's probably what influenced my routine .Use it clean it. Maybe he is still watching.
but swab bore and wipe down.
My father was military . When I was a kid and used one of his guns he would give it the drill Sargent inspection before it went into the gun cabinet.
That's probably what influenced my routine .Use it clean it. Maybe he is still watching.
cadmike
Member
Cleaning guns is way overrated IMO. Sure if you're gonna store it for a while and it makes you feel better to swab out the bore and cylinder first, it certainly doesn't hurt.
But it is not absolutely necessary.
But it is not absolutely necessary.
If it has been shot with jacketed ammo, I will just wipe it dowm before putting it away. Shooting with Bayou bullets in my 38s, I can generally wipe the exterior. Now when using cast or swaged 38s with Bullseye powder a brush out of the bore and cylinder is required. If I don't use Hoppe's on the exterior of the cylinder and clean each relief, the fired powder/lead will accumulate into a baked on mess. So it depends what I've shot.
Kenneth07ex
Member
I clean my guns every time they're shot. Been doing it that way for fifty years, and never wore out a single gun. Can't understand how anyone could think that cleaning could cause enough wear to be a problem. I certainly hope that the non cleaning crowd isn't using this routine for a SD weapon.
joeintexas
US Veteran
I'm with the clean after every shooting crowd. I shoot a lot of lead and it does build up if not cleaned out. If nothing else a quick wet wipe down and a bore mop and an oily patch keeps things running smooth. Don't understand how that can possibly wear out a firearm, course I've only been doing it that way for over 50 years, haven't ruined one by cleaning it yet.
This kinda mirrors my thoughts. I like cleaning them almost as much as shooting them!
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uncleted327
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Clean all my guns after every range trip and give my carry guns a monthly cleaning even if unfired.
mg357
Absent Comrade
I clean my revolvers after every range session i believe in the phrase a clean gun is a happy gun.
Old Corp
Member
Like most here, I clean after every shooting event.
Was raised by a Depression-era Dad who taught me that a man looks after his stuff, especially if you have any pride of ownership whatsoever.
It's a popular topic in classes for new shooters, usually people getting their CC. I'll usually respond with another question back - 'Consider what you are asking of this little machine. You're depending on it to help protect your life and that of your loved ones. Why would you NOT want to clean it?'
That usually helps put the topic in perspective.
Was raised by a Depression-era Dad who taught me that a man looks after his stuff, especially if you have any pride of ownership whatsoever.
It's a popular topic in classes for new shooters, usually people getting their CC. I'll usually respond with another question back - 'Consider what you are asking of this little machine. You're depending on it to help protect your life and that of your loved ones. Why would you NOT want to clean it?'
That usually helps put the topic in perspective.
sousana
Member
I clean my weapons twice after each range session. If it's not in use, it's cleaned, inspected, oiled and vacuum sealed for storage. If it has been stored for 6 months or more it's removed and inspected then resealed.
If I shoot it, I clean it shortlythereafter.
That was my Dad's rule and I'm still doing it 60 years later. And as a retired LEO, the "tools of the trade" were given an once over daily.
Every new purchase, used or new, gets a thurogh cleaning/inspection.
I get great satisfaction and relaxation from doing so.
That was my Dad's rule and I'm still doing it 60 years later. And as a retired LEO, the "tools of the trade" were given an once over daily.
Every new purchase, used or new, gets a thurogh cleaning/inspection.
I get great satisfaction and relaxation from doing so.
Ray1970
Member
I'm pretty much on board with most people here. Clean after each use.
I do make a couple of exceptions.
If I hit the range during the week and put a couple of hundred rounds through one of my competition guns and I have a match coming up that weekend I will likely wait until after the match to clean it.
My carry gun usually gets a wipe down and looked over once a week and typically gets a good cleaning about once every month or two mostly to get any lint or dust off of it and to get it relubricated as needed.
I do make a couple of exceptions.
If I hit the range during the week and put a couple of hundred rounds through one of my competition guns and I have a match coming up that weekend I will likely wait until after the match to clean it.
My carry gun usually gets a wipe down and looked over once a week and typically gets a good cleaning about once every month or two mostly to get any lint or dust off of it and to get it relubricated as needed.
dubshooter
Member
I clean all my guns after they're shot. Shoot in the morning, clean early afternoon with some coffee. To me it's just a part of the day.
My duty gun and BUG (off duty as well) get cleaned every Wednesday as it's the first day of my shift. Wipe down, function check, make sure they're in the condition they should be. It's my routine and I feel off if I don't do it. Flashlights charged every two weeks and I check the cuffs and oil them as needed as well. All the equipment is checked on a regular basis so something doesn't go wrong when it's needed.
My duty gun and BUG (off duty as well) get cleaned every Wednesday as it's the first day of my shift. Wipe down, function check, make sure they're in the condition they should be. It's my routine and I feel off if I don't do it. Flashlights charged every two weeks and I check the cuffs and oil them as needed as well. All the equipment is checked on a regular basis so something doesn't go wrong when it's needed.
MCorps0311
US Veteran
Which ever revolver I shoot at the range,I clean it after I shoot it,that goes for any weapon I shoot that day.
I typically clean (especially blued) revolvers quicker and more consistently after shooting them, then any other guns. Stuff like AK's and SKS's, I'm not usually in a big hurry to get to,especially if I expect to shoot them again soon (though probably more often than not, I still clean them after shooting,as well).
If I havn't fired the revolvers in a while, I try to go over them with an oily cloth every few weeks or so.
If I havn't fired the revolvers in a while, I try to go over them with an oily cloth every few weeks or so.
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Grayfox
US Veteran
I generally take between 4 and 6 guns each range trip and stay quite a while. Usually the next day or occasionally within a few days at least, I'll sit down and give them all a good cleaning.
As others have mentioned, if there's one I'm currently working with and plan to shoot again soon, I just might let that one slide until I'm finished with it.
Carry guns do get cleaned as soon as I get home. The others can wait a day or two.
I do not take side plates off revolvers and only occasionally remove the stocks. As I feel its un-necessary and probably the source of the wear from over cleaning mentioned earlier comes from.
New to me, used guns get completely disassembled, inspected and thoroughly cleaned before firing the first time.
As others have mentioned, if there's one I'm currently working with and plan to shoot again soon, I just might let that one slide until I'm finished with it.
Carry guns do get cleaned as soon as I get home. The others can wait a day or two.
I do not take side plates off revolvers and only occasionally remove the stocks. As I feel its un-necessary and probably the source of the wear from over cleaning mentioned earlier comes from.
New to me, used guns get completely disassembled, inspected and thoroughly cleaned before firing the first time.
FloridaFlier
Member
If I shot it, I will clean it, that same day. Actually, it's not a chore that I hate, just part of the 'gun day' experience. I'm in the garage anyway because I will tumble and sort the cases I brought home too (yes, I'm a reloader).
I will admit to getting a bit lazier on the stainless revolvers, though. Used to be, I wouldn't stop until the burn rings on front of the cylinder were gone. Now, I won't tolerate carbon or any powder sediment, but I don't worry so much about the burn rings.
I will admit to getting a bit lazier on the stainless revolvers, though. Used to be, I wouldn't stop until the burn rings on front of the cylinder were gone. Now, I won't tolerate carbon or any powder sediment, but I don't worry so much about the burn rings.
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