New M&P Owner Looking for Gun Cleaning Help

[DigiRebel]

I get your question better now.

Make it simple here. Pretty much ANY commercial cleaner will clean the gun and do a decent job of it. As long as you put in the effort to keep it clean it will treat you good for years and years to come. I use hoppe's because the smell brings back good memories, and because its what I've been using since the first time I cleaned a rifle.

Oil and grease, either works. I use oil because Smith & Wesson says oil. Also I like shooting when its cold outside too, grease gets a little thick in that weather. If you're cleaning it regularly the issues where it gunks up or solidifies really aren't a concern (since you'll clean it long before either becomes an issue hopefully, long term storage is a different story).

I've heard VERY good things about froglube. I'd like to try it but can't find it anywhere locally.

 

[Tom Goodrick]

The thing to avoid is over-cleaning. Clean the points S&W describes in the manual and nothing else. I became concerned that there was no instruction to clean the firing pin chamber or striker chamber. That is because you must keep oil or grease out of that area. Do not disassemble below the level described in the book. You'll just screw things up.

 

[Rastoff]

...do you use silicone cloth or old tee shirts / flannel shirts?...

I wouldn't use a cloth coated with silicone. You'd be putting stuff on as you take it off. Neither would I use a flannel shirt. It is high in lint and that is bad for the operation of the gun. You can use them, just be sure to get all the lint off.

Old t-shirts are great because they are mostly lint free. Shop rags are great too.

As for cleaner, I've switched to Frog Lube. It doesn't attract dust and that's worth its weight in gold.

The thing to avoid is over-cleaning. Clean the points S&W describes in the manual and nothing else. I became concerned that there was no instruction to clean the firing pin chamber or striker chamber. That is because you must keep oil or grease out of that area. Do not disassemble below the level described in the book. You'll just screw things up.

Sorry, but I disagree.

Every now and then people make mistakes. You will get grease and dirt in the firing pin hole. That means you'll have to clean it out eventually. Taking the striker out is not hard and any mechanically inclined person can do it. You will not "just screw things up."

 

[Justin69]

Frog Lube. Frog Lube. Frog Lube.

 

[keakar]

I wouldn't use a cloth coated with silicone. You'd be putting stuff on as you take it off. Neither would I use a flannel shirt. It is high in lint and that is bad for the operation of the gun. You can use them, just be sure to get all the lint off.

ok I saw the cleaning patches labeled as "cotton flannel" so that must be a different type of flannel material

 

[zotzer]

Froglube, boresnake, microfiber cloth. Sometimes q-tips if the rails are really gunked up.

Tracy

 

[Gyrene6891]

Hoppe's Elite, my wife doesn't like #9 & either CLP or M-Pro 7. Bore brush, Q-tips, tooth brush, bore swabs & an old T shirt. Same basic stuff I started using in 1968 when I joined the Marine Corps. Never failed an inspection nor had a firing malfunction!

 

[Rastoff]

ok I saw the cleaning patches labeled as "cotton flannel" so that must be a different type of flannel material

Nope, not different. Swabbing the bore is one thing. Wiping down the small parts that are precision fit is another.

Just be sure to not leave any fibers behind.

 

[keakar]

Hoppe's Elite, my wife doesn't like #9 .......

what is the difference between elite and #9?

Nope, not different. Swabbing the bore is one thing. Wiping down the small parts that are precision fit is another.

Just be sure to not leave any fibers behind.

ok, yes that makes sense but for bore swabs its fine to cut up old flannel shirts and then use a white one last to test the job is done

 

[johnmatrix]

FROG LUBE

USE FROG LUBE!!!