Do I clean my guns too much?

[BlackDrop50]

I clean my guns every time I shoot them. I go to the range once every week or 2, sometimes once a month. Usually I shoot 100-250 rounds per gun. Lately been lazy and have heard people saying you really don't need to clean your guns too often. So I've just been wiping em off , boresnaking them a few times, and re-oiling my 1911 on the rails, barrel, hood and disconnector without dissasembly.



What do you guys think?

[What Just Happened?]

The only thing you have to worry about are the brushes damaging / wearing way the rifling. As long as you're not using steel brushes, you should be fine.

[11Z50]

I believe that one can actually wear out a weapon by over-cleaning it. Most modern firearms are designed to work while dirty. A wipe down, and bore snake is sufficient for a 2-300 rd shoot. I normally detail-clean a weapon after 1k plus rds. I do however, do what I call a combat clean after each shoot. I take a cloth rag and clean the breech face, chamber, and action. I bore snake and lube, and that's good enough.

[tziggs]

It probably depends on the gun you are shooting. Some are more temperamental than others.

I'm in the habit of cleaning after every session...but that's just a ritual I have. Also, since a few of mine are specifically for HD I want them in them to be in tip-top shape. Just in case.

[onikuma]

sounds fine to me. i also like to clean my guns after each range trip. i havent noticed any unusual wear or problems associated with cleaning alot.

[Greg-Dawg]

[Xerxes]

I clean my guns every time I shoot them. I go to the range once every week or 2, sometimes once a month. Usually I shoot 100-250 rounds per gun. Lately been lazy and have heard people saying you really don't need to clean your guns too often. So I've just been wiping em off , boresnaking them a few times, and re-oiling my 1911 on the rails, barrel, hood and disconnector without dissasembly.



What do you guys think?

Yes you are over cleaning...


STOP IT NOW!

I am tired of wearing welding goggles all the time due to the extreme glare coming from those over cleaned firearms of yours.

Knock it off please so I can see the light of day without being blinded by your glare!

[SFFRONTMAN]

Yes. Its a gun, just shoot the friggin thing.

[Slowshooter]

Depends on what the gun is for. Is this just for the range or for self-defense?

If just for range, and you go to range about twice a month or more frequently, no need for cleaning after each session. I've gone through several thousand rounds before cleaning for my dedicated range gun. I even forgot how shiny the feeding ramps were.

For firearms reserved for self-defense, after each session is a must regardless of round count. When you are cleaning your self-defense gun, make sure you check for any problem on your gun.

[BigRich]

I believe that one can actually wear out a weapon by over-cleaning it. Most modern firearms are designed to work while dirty. A wipe down, and bore snake is sufficient for a 2-300 rd shoot. I normally detail-clean a weapon after 1k plus rds. I do however, do what I call a combat clean after each shoot. I take a cloth rag and clean the breech face, chamber, and action. I bore snake and lube, and that's good enough.

I completely agree with this statement.

[Waingro]

I clean my guns every time I shoot them. I go to the range once every week or 2, sometimes once a month. Usually I shoot 100-250 rounds per gun. Lately been lazy and have heard people saying you really don't need to clean your guns too often. So I've just been wiping em off , boresnaking them a few times, and re-oiling my 1911 on the rails, barrel, hood and disconnector without dissasembly.



What do you guys think?

I think it is different with all guns, Glocks can go a while without cleaning, whereas I give my DE and P7M8 a good cleaning after the range, more so the DE (i feel the finish is not up to par).

[USN CHIEF]

I was taught to clean my guns after every shooting them at the end of the day. I always take them apart and clean them and baby them. I cannot stand a dirty gun. I have spent soo much money on them that I really don't care how much time it takes me to clean them after I shoot them. I want to ensure that all parts are working properly so that they are ready whenever they are needed.

[1911su16b870]

Cleaning once per month for your trusted and regularly used blaster IMO seems appropriate. Clean any firearm prior to putting up in the safe for an unknown length of time. I enjoy cleaning firearms and a properly cleaned and lubed machine. One question for those who clean their HD firearms - Do you see a cold bore bullet impact shift on the first round? I do with my 92FS.

[BlackDrop50]

I've been shooting a lot lately maybe that's the reason for my laziness. Gonna go clean my guns and put em away for a while.

I've been doing the "combat clean" on my 1911 and I guess I'll just keep doing that and clean it every 750-1000 rounds I guess. Or whenever it looks too dirty...

Thanks for the tips guys

[an actual gun]

I was taught to clean my guns after every shooting them at the end of the day. I always take them apart and clean them and baby them. I cannot stand a dirty gun. I have spent soo much money on them that I really don't care how much time it takes me to clean them after I shoot them. I want to ensure that all parts are working properly so that they are ready whenever they are needed.

I don't think I could say it any better than that.

Especially on precision rifles, the bore--in my humble opinion-- should be cleaned after every use. Unless one is expecting to use it again within a few hours. I mean if you're shooting just to be shooting (not competition or anything), and then decide to take a couple hours break and go at it again, there's no sense in cleaning it immediately during that break.

Another consideration is the use of corrosive ammunition if one is to be using such. Yet another consideration is in the restoration of an old firearm. Old surplus rifles may be full of grit, and doing some form of cleaning process on them every day for as much as 2 weeks is usually not harming anything, only helping.