How often to clean your firearm

[triaxle]

I give a quick clean up to a new one and lube job ,then maybe clean after 200 rounds or so . I never have problems with a new gun rather Smith ,Glock HK or anything.

 

[mgriffin]

I clean it before shooting it the first time and then clean every time I go to the range. Like others, I usually only shoot a couple of guns and cleaning is no big deal.

 

[fdw]

When I first got into shooting I would clean my guns after every session. Was pretty anal. But now, not so much. I rarely clean after a session or two or three.

I clean when the mood strikes, rainy day, etc.

PS- sometimes I clean a new gun before shooting, sometimes not. no problems...

 

[HDP]

Because I shoot cheap Russian ammo at the range, I make it a habit to clean my guns after each trip. I have read too many articles citing corrosion from this type of ammo.

 

[Pondoro]

Two stories of new Smith M&P's - a girl I coach bought a brand new M&P and showed up to our steel practice. Gun had not been cleaned and it jammed like crazy. Oiled the slide and it functioned perfectly. My M&P shot perfectly right out of the box. So go figure.

 

[Mahalo_.32]

As a former 1911 owner I learned to clean mine often ESPECIALLY after a day at the range. Most times a good field strip cleaning is adequate. I clean my GLOCKS after every outing and generally 2x per week to get the dust bunnies out and now with my M&P I give the same care...
Still a 1911 lover btw...

 

[Jim1392]

When I buy a new gun I strip it and clean it before I take it to the range. Also no matter what gun I take to the range I clean it after every trip. Some might say over kill cleaning it after each trip but the last thing I want to do is drive to the range and have a problem with a gun I want to shoot.

 

[murphydog]

As part of your training, and for peace of mind and safety, your instructor should show you how to disassemble your Shield to the major components ("field strip"), basically the lower frame and slide assembly. Taking the barrel out of the slide is easy from there.

The barrel should be clean, the slide and the metal inserts on which it travels should be clean, and the magazine should be clean (and all should be lightly oiled). Whether you do this after every range trip is personal preference...how often do you clean your car or house? That is probably a good indication of how often you'll clean your pistol .

Personally, it is after every shooting session for me, but at least after every 1-200 rounds would be my maximum. Enjoy!

 

[Arik]

If you paid for private instruction, why aren't you following his advice? Don't you trust them? If not, why are you taking instruction from them?

Sometimes you don't know what you don't know. Without experience you don't know which instructors are good and which are full of .....

 

[Ranger17]

i tend to clean mine after each range trip; which can include 1-200 rounds thru one of the 9's and from 150-300 thru my .22(s).
As the MP's are easy to break down and clean, i dont view it as a chore. My Buckmark, which doesnt 'field strip', takes a little more time to try to clean it well enough. I have noticed the fmj ammo i use in my 9's isnt that dirty; same for some of the hp .22 rounds. The LRN .22 I have (some brands worse than others) does get dirtier quicker.
I'll admit at times i either get lazy or just dont have the time after the range to sit and do a good job; those instances i at least wipe them down & run the boresnake thru before putting back in the safe.

 

[Arik]

I only clean when I think it needs to. No specific round count and certainly not after each range trip. I have never detail striped a gun prior to first time shooting it. Just open the slide and look inside. If there is nothing out of the ordinary there should be no reason the gun wouldn't shoot

 

[tcon]

Depends. I'm sort of lazy. And it's not just how often but how deep I go.

If I know the gun I just fired is going to be stored for an undetermined period of time, it gets a 100% treatment. If I know I might have another gun that will need cleaning in a couple of days, I'll wait until there's two or three that need it.

Often I might just do a partial job depending on the gun. If I have an extended day with an AR and I know I'm going out again the next day or the next week, I'll do the hotspots: quick 100% on the bolt carrier & chamber, w/ barrel inspection. A mini 14 or 30 with good ammo, I might not touch if I know I'm going out again with it soon.

New guns.
The thin oils on new guns can have more preservative than lubrication qualities. So in regard to new guns (or new to me), it's always a 100% inspection, cleaning and putting on good lube. If you have it apart, might as well clean and lube.

Reminds me of buying my SKS in the 90's. I went to the pickup door at Centerfire Systems in Versailles, KY. They were having a SKS sale - $79 for regulars, $99 for paratroopers. I went back in the warehouse with the guy and he said, "Pick one". They were in a crate, each one wrapped in greasy paper and peeling back the paper, the rifle was totally caked in cosmoline. There was no "picking one" heh... you just pointed to the top one and he bagged it up.

Now THAT was a mandatory "new" gun cleaning I had to do. I used almost a whole can of brake cleaner!

 

[DD357]

I field strip and clean before firing and then after each range trip, even if only one mag. or cylinder.

Same here.

 

[kmanick]

my FS .40? every 2-300 rounds or so. My M&P fS .40 is a bull, never a jam , FTE FTF....nada, excellent piece of work I've got there.
My shield 9mm I clean at most every 200 rounds as it's my EDC so I want it fully functional etc. If my .40 jams it's jamming on the range. If my shield jams I may be in a scenario where I could get killed.

 

[jp1]

I pretend to complain about it, but I enjoy cleaning them after everytime they're fired. The lone exception is my .22 Glenfield, which may see a few rounds between cleanings, or if I fire a handful out of my CCW and know it's going to be fired a good bit before the week is over, I might let that slide.

Yes Marlin, what a pain to detail strip. I dread every time I do it.

 

[Bkreutz]

I read the S&W recommendations in my owners manual. But then when I talked to the dealer they gave conflicting information. The manual says the oils are for shipping; that you should clean your firearm before firing. They said not necessary. then my private instructor says I should clean it after every time I shoot. I am confused.

There are probably as many differing opinions as there are companies that make firearms. Here's my take on cleaning from a thread I started a while back. It may give you some more options (just what you need ) http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-m-p-pistols/400655-m-p-cleaning-101-a.html

 

[Bozz10mm]

I read the S&W recommendations in my owners manual. But then when I talked to the dealer they gave conflicting information. The manual says the oils are for shipping; that you should clean your firearm before firing. They said not necessary. then my private instructor says I should clean it after every time I shoot. I am confused.

Many firearm salesmen don't know what they are talking about. Follow the manual and your instructor.

It's always good to clean a new firearm before shooting it. You don't know what's left inside from the manufacturing process, or what kind of lube/preservative they have applied. Disassembling and cleaning also helps to familiarize yourself with the gun.

 

[Keesesp]

Wife goes to the range every Thursday(Today), shoots 75 rounds. Goes to lunch and shopping. I receive it the same day; Ballisol the tip of the boresnake, drag it through 3 times, then clean the mag chamber, firing chamber until there is no sign of carbon on a clean cloth. After a MAX of 370 / one month since the last cleaning, I disassemble the gun, to get to every craves with my big fat fingers. Every part is certified clean with a clean white cleaning cloth, then reassembled with oil / grease pertaining to the part. once assembled totally wiped down with a clean white cloth.

This is how I was shown and it was inspected by my elders, from 8yrs old till I was 17. I am now 62yrs old and it has worked for me.

 

[moonpup]

I clean after every time I shoot, or once a month at a minimum if a gun is not shot.

 

[Chdezjr]

After purchase, I always disassemble the firearm and wipe off any oil/grease put on by the manufacturer. Then I clean it well with CLP or Hornady One Shot. After that I lightly oil and grease where needed.

I repeat this process after every visit to the range, or if not used at the range, at least once a month. This way I know it will be 100% when I need it the most.