Cleaning after every range trip?

[rogervzv]

Absolutely.

Take care of your equipment and it will take care of you.

Exactly. Frankly, I find cleaning my weapons to be almost as enjoyable as firing them. Plus it is a great time to make sure that you are familiar with how to take the weapon down, and it is a great time to inspect the weapon for any problems. I never put a dirty gun back in the safe. That includes my Ruger Mark I, which some guys say does not need cleaning after each use. I disagree.

[jackandblood]

My FNH manual states on page 35 "A good rule is to clean and lubricate the pistol after each use or in the case of intensive shooting, after every 300 rounds. Correct maintenance will enhance the longevity of your pistol".

many of the handguns you use are a service pistol for one or more nation's army or security forces. They're robust. Cleaning after every range session is mostly therapuetic. It should be put rather low in your prioritizes list. think of it more in the sense of a time-killer/hobby. anything less than 100 rds in one sitting i'd avoid bronze brushes, just field strip (which always makes me feel badass ) wipe down and dab of lube at wear points.

This is where airsoft/airguns come in for me. Just to keep on shooting for pennies. OCD cleaning your gun esp. with bronze bore brushes and whatnot i would expect premature wear.

[cmichini]

My routine is to take care of my guns after every use. That differs depending on the gun.

HD weapon is cleaned, lubed and re-assembled the same way EVERY time it is used. That way there is predictability in its performance every time, especially that (God forbid) one time it's really needed.

Rifles (M1, M1A, etc) get the bore cleaned after every use. They don't get that much use individually (in both frequency and # rounds per trip), so maybe once a year or so they get field stripped, fully cleaned and lubes. Of course if there's any change in function, it gets the full attention.

Pistols get a quick field strip, bore clean, internal wipe and relube. Revolvers get similar treatment, mainly to keep the bore clean and to prevent too much build up that will require more effort later.

YMMV

[rojocorsa]

I wasn't aware that some solvents could weather metal itself.


Being that M-pro7 is non toxic, would that apply to it? Yes, im in the minimalist cleaning camp, but I've been wanting to try Mpro7 for that every once in a while occasion.

[luckystrike]

What do you think solvents do?

breakup carbon, not metal

[Fishslayer]

I work nights so it's usually bedtime when I get home. The blued guns get a quick spritz & wipedown, the stainless has to wait till the next day, when everyone gets cleaned. If it's the bedside gun it gets cleaned & oiled right away.

They all get cleaned after every range trip... eventually.

[FieldsofFire]

You don't have to at all but you should anyway. I find that the longer you go without cleaning it, the harder it is to clean later because the carbon/residue sticks on harder. Takes more time and effort to scrub it off. If it's a gun that you use for defense, then definitely keep it spotless and fire ready all the time.

[Fishslayer]

. You guys that let your equipment go without even a field strip wipe down,... well, I hope you keep your b**ls cleaner than your guns!

I lawld...

And now I have coffee on my keyboard...

[sirgiles]

You prematurely wear your parts by excessive cleaning. If someone takes their gun out to the range once a month and puts 100 rounds through it, it's likely that all of the wear on the gun will be from cleaning and not from actually shooting.

+1.
so true especially on glocks. most of the pistols at the armorers course have worn parts due to repeated detail stripping even though they have never been fired before.
so go ahead and detail strip it, its good business for glock.

[rogervzv]

+1

No exceptions

No exceptions +2

[jackandblood]

I clean all of my guns after firing them. I find Hoppe's #9 to be an aphrodisiac!

you're a sick sick man.

[jackandblood]

I lawld...

And now I have coffee on my keyboard...

my testicles dont encounter friction copper/lead deposits nor explosive pressured propellant residue. I just never got into that scene.

[napahunter]

My pistols, yes..My hunting rifles, no

[osxar]

What cleaner/lube do you guys think is the safest for the guns. Currently I use M pro 7/CLP for the lube portion or Gunzilla. For the AR I just started using Slip 2000. I have found the guns work better when cleaned after every range trip of 200 rounds.

[coy80176]

you'll know when you need to really clean it

shooting your guns/rifles IS keeping them clean!

seriously, it depends on how much you shoot

My ritual: at the beginning of every shooting session, run a lightly oiled swatch on the slide rails and thru the pipe, and it's good to go.

Otherwise, after every few hundred rounds or so, tear the firearm down to it's bits and pieces, simple green/scrub/wash/rinse/condition/blow dry, and then the light oil coat.