Is there a cleaning interval for an ejector and spring?

[castgold]

I got a bolt gun on Gunbroker 4 years ago and put about 600 rounds through it, mostly handloads. I keep it below max pressure specifications and have never noticed any pressure signs. Last weekend, three shots into a match, the ejector gets stuck and won't come out. I bring it home and eventually get it dislodged. I cleaned out a good amount of carbon particles that scraped the blueing off the ejector when I slid it out. It's working fine again, but should I be removing it and cleaning it at a regular interval?

[musick]

Gun cleaning is rather personal. Some shooters enjoy completely cleaning their gun each time, others do no more than the bare minimum.

I detail strip once per year regardless of round count and have had no firearm specific failures in 20+ years. Two issues with remanufactured ammo but thats it.

Be prepared for 31 different answers from 30 account holders.

[Scratch705]

well how about cleaning it around 500 rounds in?

you said you went 600 + 3 before it jammed, so clean it at 500 rounds and no more problem.

[ChuckDizzle]

After years of fighting the ingrained military training of "never let the sun set on a dirty rifle" I finally just started cleaning when I got my first malfunctions in a rifle. Of course I clean the bore pretty regularly, but I'm talking action, maybe once a year.

[castgold]

Just seems like such a weird place to get carbon accumulation. I've never had a blown primer, so I was worried that there might be another underlying issue I'm not aware of that would facilitate this.

[Fishslayer]

Beyond normal field stripping if it doesn't need to come apart, it doesn't come apart. However, I WILL go crazy with the aerosol douche in areas that get some carbon on 'em. Clean, dry & lube.

[jrpowell3]

After years of fighting the ingrained military training of "never let the sun set on a dirty rifle" I finally just started cleaning when I got my first malfunctions in a rifle. Of course I clean the bore pretty regularly, but I'm talking action, maybe once a year.

It's still ingrained into my physical make up. I just can't leave any of my weapons dirty. They always get cleaned within a day after I go shooting

[RandyD]

I had the similar thing happen to a Remington 700, except I got brass shavings in the ejector's hole, and it cause the ejector to stick. I bought the tools from Brownell's that allows me to disassemble the entire bolt, so now I clean the entire bolt before any hunt. It only takes a few minutes and it is good preventative maintenance.