Is cleaning necessary?

[ac398]

Shoot it until it starts smoking.

Love it...Someones got an AK
Lol

[Jimmy's]

Shoot it until it starts smoking.

Love it...Someones got an AK
Lol

Nope don't care for those. Only auto's I have are Pistols.

[Mark77]

Not a bad policy, but I want to play devil's advocate here.

Say you fire 200 rounds in a range session, then clean it. Someone else shoots 100 rounds, takes a week off, then shoots another 100 rounds. As far as fouling goes, the second hundred rounds in both cases are through the equally "dirty gun." No problem either way, really.

Cleaning is absolutely critical with corrosive primers (comblock surplus rifle ammo) since those salts cannot be left on the metal for prolonged periods of time, but with modern "standard" ammo it's a non-issue.

What is important is metal protection, particularly in wet climates. If we lived in the South, we'd have to slap some oil on each gun even if we didn't clean it. It's just to prevent rust. The same goes for those who live close to the ocean and don't have dehumidifiers in the safe.

For the rest of us it doesn't have to be too strict. It's just the nature of living close to the desert and shooting modern guns built using modern metallurgy and modern ammunition.

Agreed. But I don't go to the range often, and when I do, I shoot for hours. Now, if I lived minutes away from BLM land, or had my own private range, that would be a different story.

[1flhtk4me]

Coming from a manufacturing background, i am not confident in all manufacturers fully clearing all metal shavings from their machined parts. Because of this, I clean all my newly purchased firearms prior to use.

Coming from a mfg. background also, you would think that after plating the parts would be clean,stainless parts that get no process may be a different story.

I have cleaned all the new to me guns I have bought.

[.40Cal]

I would base necessity on a field strip. If it isn't gunked up with old lube and residue I would oil it and run it.

Field stripping is not a very time-consuming chore. I'd open it up anyway...

Spray some CLP, wipe down and go shoot...

[tanks]

Field strip, clean, oil and lube probably would take less time than reading this thread

My rule is to clean after every range trip and prior to first range trip. Those that say if a gun doesn't run dirty it is not for them, I hope you do not have a malfunction at the wrong time.

Guns are tools, why not keep them in good condition? Just like anything else that has moving parts they need maintenance to keep them going.

[Tehjosheh]

Coming from a mfg. background also, you would think that after plating the parts would be clean,stainless parts that get no process may be a different story.

I have cleaned all the new to me guns I have bought.

Great point and you are right! The other part i left out was the factory grease that prevents rust, dont have confidence this gunk is good for cycling through your firearm.

[wpage]

Did you inspect it when you bought it?

Shoot it if you did...

[DArBad]

Cleaning my newly bought firearm as soon as I get it home for the first time is an SOP for me. OP, its YOUR gun....do with it as you please.

I have my own routine and I don't expect anyone to do as I do.