Gun Cleaning Process

[Fuel&Fire]

Just got the M&P home, first gun I've personally owned. I've done the search, and read a few threads but they vary. For Handguns only, what is your cleaning process (just field striping), and what products are you using? Dont have to get into too much detail. Basically everything after breaking down the gun, to Re-Assembly and Lube. Thanks for the Input.

[wildhawker]

Minor clean: Unload, field strip, wipe down everything; degrease/regrease rails/sliding parts, a bit of CLP in the rotating/moving parts, boresnake the barrel, run a lightly oiled patch through the barrel, reassemble.

Full clean: detail clean and lubricate everything.

I don't baby handguns, and especially not the plastic ones. The custom 1911s get treated better, obviously.

[THE NEW GUY]

Hoppes 9 works well. They have a kit with cleaner, lube, patches, bore brush, bore cotton ball thing, and rod.

[Legasat]

Field strip, clean barrel with patches & brush, toothbrush & Hoppes everything else, oil rails & slide, oil patch thru barrel, wipe everything down, re-assemble. Takes me about 20 min for my M&P's.

I use Hoppes Elite for cleaner (Hoppes #9 smells, but also works well), and FP-10 for lubricant.

[drunktank]

I clean after every range trip, even if it's only 1 shot fired. If a gun hasn't been shot in a couple months, I'll break it down and wipe with oil or clp (whatever's in front of me first).

My pistol cleaning goes like this. Take out mag. Take apart and wipe clean). Check pistol for clear and field strip. I now use butch's bore shine for the barrel and run a dry then wet patch through. Then run a wet bronze brush a handful of times. Follow with another wet patch then a dry one, and finally a moist one lubed with hoppes oil. For the slide and frame, I wipe down with a rag or clean wipes. Then get wet with hoppes 9 or clp (whatever's in front of me). I'll use a toothbrush or nylon brush and q-tips to clean everything. Follow with a wet patch then finally a dry one. After all this I wipe everything down inside out with a moist patch of oil or clp. With this method I haven't yet needed to do a complete strip of the weapon, but it doesn't ever see extreme conditions.

[drunktank]

Forgot to mention I use tetra grease for metal on metal contact (frame to slide) and clp on all oter metal surfaces. So far happy with butch's bore shine for inside of barrel, any aerosol brand clp for protecting, hoppes 9 for solvent and hoppes oil. I'm sure there's better out there but I clean often and this works for me. No signs of rust ever on my equipment and smooth action/operation.

[Fuel&Fire]

Thanks for the insight... So for oiling you can use the CLP, FP for lub/oil as well?

[gasol1ne]

after every range trip i lock the slide back, blast the inside of the barrel with powder blast, run a boresnake through, and while the slide is still locked back, i put a few drops of oil on the rails and let it run down the rails.

Every other range trip i field strip, clean and relube. Every 2 months i do a full detail strip and clean all the parts with ballistol.

[patrickstarfish]

I use Simple Green for wiping off carbon and degreasing. Use copper brush and jags with KG Bore Clean for the barrel. And Slip 2000 for lube.

These products have very little fumes. You will appreciate how clean your handgun will be.

[Fuel&Fire]

Thanks for the insight... So for oiling you can use the CLP, FP for lub/oil as well?

^ What about this...

[2Cute2Shoot]

Well my dad always taught me to just take our guns apart to the smallest possible pieces, then use a toothbrush and cleaning lubricant and scrub EVERYTHING. Then wipe it all down with a clean soft towel and put it back together.

Oh yeah, and a patch in the barrel too

[Zorrm]

A boresnake is absolutely awesome in helping clean out everything in the barrel... just put a couple drops just above the bronze brushes and run it through half a dozen times. After that run a dry patch through and your barrel should be spotless.

[mhho]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HovIM4JHb8I

[erik_26]

I think everyone already said all there is to say.... Except..... Clean in a very well ventilated area. Some of those solvents can be pretty bad to breathe in. Not to mention any lead dust you might break free.

So out on the back patio or in the open garage is the best.

Plus I will put an emphasis Step 1- Unload firearm/check firearm unloaded first.

[Squidward]

Unload, field strip and wipe down everything with Hoppes Solvent. Run a boresnake down the the barrel. Push a patch with Hoppes Oil through the barrel. Wipe the solvent off of everything. Reassemble and reload.