How often to clean your firearm

[harleygeorge]

Cleaning

The Military brain washed me. Shoot/clean. I don't inspect with a white glove though.

 

[Deadeye Dick]

I wish I had as much time on my hands as some of you folks. Every new gun I get (new or used) gets stripped, cleaned, inspected & lubed prior to it's first range trip. If it's going to have any failures I want to be sure it is mechanical in nature and not just gunk or improper lubrication.

After that I clean range/hunting/plinking guns after several hundred to a thousand rounds. I do wipe down the exterior metal surfaces as well as detachable magazines with a silicone cloth after each range session.

My EDC gets the most attention for obvious reasons. It gets field stripped, cleaned, relubed and inspected every other week even if it has not been fired. I carry 12-14 hours a day 7 days a week and you would not believe the amount of dust bunnies that can accumulate in that period of time.

 

[GUNs and JEEPS]

Well it seems we are all over the place....best "advice" I have seen is to see what works for you. Suggestion take "pics" with your phone of the mags before and after shooting. I was surprised how much "dirtier" some ammo is over another. We all have phones that can save multiple pictures and easily compare. Than YOU decide.
I EDC my Shield. Because of that, I clean it the way I was "taught" since I was young and the Military reinforced. Every time it is fired it gets cleaned one shot or 1000......FWIW I have ran as many as 200 rounds in one trip to the range. AND no issues. Could I clean it less and be "okay"? Probably.....but I won't take that chance.

Good Luck on your choice.

 

[CherStew]

Good question

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?

I trusted the advice of my instructor. I guess I should re-phrase the question. Why is the dealer telling me opposite information from what the manufacturer is advising? Not really asking the question to the forum; just thinking out loud. It's the dealer I don't trust. Having a good selection doesn't necessarily make one good at everything I guess. I will promise to keep my firearm well cleaned. Thanks for the input.

 

[hoc9sw]

I go to several gun shops. There are some where I know I can trust the employees to have good info, and others I would not trust to give directions to the toilet. When you are paid on commission, you'll stoop pretty low to get a sale.

You'll learn with time, and go to the right people.

 

[CherStew]

Good point Bozz

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.

I think too the more I do it the more familiar and comfortable I will become with the task.

 

[CherStew]

well look at like this

I change the oil in my car every 5000 miles; so why wouldn't you clean your firearm with the same care. I don't want my car to break down, but I darn sure don't want my firearm to break down! Those little cleaning kits have some much stuff in them to use; it's overwhelming. I guess it's off to cleaning class next.

 

[timjake]

I clean my weapons after every trip to the range.

 

[Rastoff]

I trusted the advice of my instructor. I guess I should re-phrase the question. Why is the dealer telling me opposite information from what the manufacturer is advising?

OK, that makes more sense to me.

When it comes to maintenance, I put my trust in this order:

1. Manufacturer
2. Everyone else

I have developed my own routine, but it may not be the right one. Since I shoot a lot, I probably clean less than some others do. I'm not saying what I do is right. It just works for me. If I were to give advice on cleaning (and I do all the time in the NRA Basic Pistol Class), it would be to follow the instructions in the manual.

Cleaning more is never a bad thing, but doing at least what the manual says is the right way to go.

 

[Ranger17]

I trusted the advice of my instructor. I guess I should re-phrase the question. Why is the dealer telling me opposite information from what the manufacturer is advising? Not really asking the question to the forum; just thinking out loud. It's the dealer I don't trust. Having a good selection doesn't necessarily make one good at everything I guess. I will promise to keep my firearm well cleaned. Thanks for the input.

I went to a chain store when i lived in another state (and was at my "pure newbie" status just trying to learn), and watched the gun counter clerk explain a small revolver to a husband and wife. Well, what he really was doing instead was telling a story about how in the old days card sharks could carry something like that for protection at games when they were cheating..... sounded more like a pawn show from tv instead of actual instruction on features, etc. I heard zero on the gun itself and how it would/wouldn't work for their needs now.
Lets just say like anything else, there are those who know their stuff and those who don't. I'm just glad i'm back home, where family is able to give me the help I need on this stuff. Well, that and a good forum like this.

 

[Ranger17]

is the general consensus that one can wipe down a mag (even disassemble for more thorough cleaning) but not to actually oil it inside? That's all I've done with mine so far anyway, wipe in and out but no oiling.
Seems in the past I've read that isn't a good idea to get oil in the mag (perhaps more on .22's than center fire) as it could gunk it up; just figured as this is a thread with good solid info may as well sneak in the question. thx

 

[tcon]

is the general consensus that one can wipe down a mag (even disassemble for more thorough cleaning) but not to actually oil it inside? That's all I've done with mine so far anyway, wipe in and out but no oiling.
Seems in the past I've read that isn't a good idea to get oil in the mag (perhaps more on .22's than center fire) as it could gunk it up; just figured as this is a thread with good solid info may as well sneak in the question. thx

They normally come dry and work fine but I've always misted the insides with OneShot dry lube and then leave 'em alone. I would never put wet oil inside a mag.

 

[RJJ 1971]

I try to clean after every trip to the range (averages 3 times a month).
Sometimes I do get busy though and have to wait a couple days after, before I can get to it.

A lil lube goes a long way.

 

[Bkreutz]

is the general consensus that one can wipe down a mag (even disassemble for more thorough cleaning) but not to actually oil it inside? That's all I've done with mine so far anyway, wipe in and out but no oiling.
Seems in the past I've read that isn't a good idea to get oil in the mag (perhaps more on .22's than center fire) as it could gunk it up; just figured as this is a thread with good solid info may as well sneak in the question. thx

When I do a deep mag cleaning (disassembled and half an hour in the ultrasonic cleaner) I spray the inside with silicone spray and then wipe it dry, it leaves a slick surface. I use a silicone impregnated cloth on the outside. I'd use the same cloth on the inside but the cloth is too big to pull through and I'm too lazy to cut it into smaller pieces.

 

[Deadeye Dick]

I change the oil in my car every 5000 miles; so why wouldn't you clean your firearm with the same care. I don't want my car to break down, but I darn sure don't want my firearm to break down! Those little cleaning kits have some much stuff in them to use; it's overwhelming. I guess it's off to cleaning class next.

You change motor oil in your car every 5000 mls not every time you pull it out of your garage correct? So does that mean you clean and relube your guns after X number of rounds? You kind of lost me.

 

[apstang50]

I've never cleaned a new gun, and taken it right to the range and put a couple hundred rounds though them. Never had an issue. I do though read though the manual and break the gun down to become familiar with it. I clean my guns after every 300-500 rounds. My EDC I keep clean, by that I pull the mag and clear the chamber, and then give it a good blowing with air. But I do make sure to give my EDC a good cleaning/lube once a month. No matter how many rounds I put through it.

 

[SVTCOBRATKD]

Always clean a new gun! Replace the grease with oil.
I clean my guns after a trip to the range.
If I don't have time to tear them down and clean them, I clean the feed ramp and run a snake thru them. And, clean them thoroughly as soon as I can.

 

[CherStew]

after thought

My private instructor is good with safety and teaching fundamentals, but she was the one who couldn't figure out why the slide wasn't locking open. I learned that from the members here.

 

[Rastoff]

is the general consensus that one can wipe down a mag (even disassemble for more thorough cleaning) but not to actually oil it inside? That's all I've done with mine so far anyway, wipe in and out but no oiling.
Seems in the past I've read that isn't a good idea to get oil in the mag (perhaps more on .22's than center fire) as it could gunk it up; just figured as this is a thread with good solid info may as well sneak in the question. thx

Oil in the mag is potentially bad. Not just from gunk building up, but from the oil itself. If oil were to work its way into a cartridge, it wouldn't fire.

I keep my mags clean and dry.

 

[CherStew]

some things on YouTube?

Always clean a new gun! Replace the grease with oil.
I clean my guns after a trip to the range.
If I don't have time to tear them down and clean them, I clean the feed ramp and run a snake thru them. And, clean them thoroughly as soon as I can.

I saw on video where a guy was cleaning his with; and get this, baby wipes?! Anywho...I did see the boarsnake; that is a must have, right?