How often should I clean my M&P 40

VCata.40

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I am very new to gun care because this is my first gun I don't want to be obsessive compulsive and clean every time I shoot so I was just wondering how often I clean and lube it. Thanking everyone in advance for your help.

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I asked the same question about my M&P Shield and everyone said, "You shoot it, you clean it..." :)
 
I am very new to gun care because this is my first gun I don't want to be obsessive compulsive and clean every time I shoot so I was just wondering how often I clean and lube it. Thanking everyone in advance for your help.

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Congrats on the new pistol. I also have the 40 full size that replaced my Beretta PX4 storm 40. The M&P is way better in my opinion. Back on point though I clean after every range trip. Usually shoot at least 100 rounds occasionally 200 when I can. I wouldn't go crazy with a bronze brush every time at least run patches through the barrel with your cleaner of choice until patches come out clean and make sure to lube after re-assembly.
 
If that's how you define obsessive compulsive then be obsessive compulsive. [emoji4]
 
For me, part of owning and shooting is to clean and lube firearms after each use, no matter if it's been used to fire hundreds of rounds over a long afternoon or a single round at a varmint bent on mischief.
 
Clean it as often as you like. You won't hurt it just by cleaning it. Assuming you don't over do the lube.

That said, less frequent cleaning is unlikely to hurt things either.

Since you're new to shooting and (presumably) gun handling, cleaning frequently will give you more experience handling your pistol, which is all to the good.

I've put many hundreds of rounds through Colt 1911's, Ruger Mark I, prewar Colt Woodsman and High Standard model B between cleaning without problem.

I do wipe these pistols with a very lightly oiled rag after handling or shooting, but they are all steel.

I'm probably much more casual about cleaning than most, but my way works well for me.

Many enjoy the ritual of cleaning after shooting.
 
If it is a carry gun, it should be clean before you wear it for real. Otherwise, unless you drop it in sea water or a mud hole, it can go hundreds, if not a thousand or more rounds without much more than wiping the gunk off the breach face and making sure the extractor is not gunked up, and with lube on recommended lube points.
 
I clean my competition pistol(s) once a week, so that's about every 1200 rounds. I shoot them every day. I clean my carry gun after I use it once a month in an IDPA match.
 
I can see no reason why your pistol should not go at least 1000 rounds between cleanings, as long as you use decent quality ammo and appropriate lube. If you are going to store it a while for some reason, put it away clean. If you are shooting regularly, like 100 rounds a week on a weekend, you could do it monthly with no problems.

I probably clean my handguns too often, pretty much every time I shoot one, but if I could overcome that, I would at least run a wet patch or two down the bore and follow up with a dry one or two, wipe off the outside of the barrel and re-lube. I prefer SLIP products for cleaning and lube, as they are non-toxic and can be used inside without the risk that other cleaners and lubes bring. I use medical gloves when cleaning to keep the worst of the crud from being absorbed through my skin.
 
I haven't cleaned my .40 in a while. I'm not going to clean it for a while more. I would like to let it go until I get a failure, but I expect that will be a long time. It's already been more than 800 rounds. Of course, now I have to start over because I sent it in for a repair and S&W cleaned it. Shucks, I have to shoot some more. :) They didn't actually repair anything in the gun. They just put a new follower in the magazine.
 
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All of the advise was great and that's why I joined this forum. For the sake of getting to know guns more and have a better understanding of them I will be cleaning it obsessively lol. Like everyone told naviwilliams, "you shoot it, you clean it." Now that leads me to my next question, what cleaning products and lube product will be the best for my gun to look as amazing as it did the first day I bought it (yesterday)

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Hoppe's Hoppe's Hoppe's what I got, good to know that sales man didn't lead me stray.

-We The People
 
I find that I just like to clean it, I def over clean all of my guns, but I tend to just take them out and clean them whenever im relaxing and the kids aren't around... they get dirty just sitting around..
 
It is up to you how often you clean it, I mostly clean mine each time I go shooting. But if I plan on going again in a day or two sometimes I'll wait till the second trip is done.
 
Realistically, you can go several hundred rounds or more between cleanings. I used to clean after every range visit, but that gets old. Now I do it every couple hundred rounds.

I went thru 400 rounds in a class earlier this year and the gun ran fine without any issues despite not stopping to clean every time there was a break.

I kind of look at cleaning my firearms like I do washing the car. When I don't like the appearance of my car, I wash it. The same holds true for my firearms.


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Every gun I own gets cleaned when I return home from using it. The trap shotgun, rifles, handguns, it doesn't matter. I never put away a dirty gun. If they're easy to do a complete cleaning on, I do it. It only takes a few minutes and that way, its always fresh in my mind how to tear them down and put them back together. Some aren't that easy to remember!
 
If I shoot it I clean it. But thats the way I was taught. As it has been said already...your gun is your gun,how you treat it is 100% on you.
 
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