Cleaning after use

[cbright1]

How often should a firearm be cleaned. Should it be cleaned after every use at the range. if only 50-100 rounds are fired, can it wait a week and another 50-100 rounds?

[stphnman20]

I'm on my 8th month of not cleaning my G19. So far i've have somewhere 5k through it and not a single jam. I just lube it with CLP before a range session though.

[mr2ndamendment]

Most guns don't really have to be cleaned every single time you shoot an occasional amount of rounds.

With that said, I still clean every time I shoot, whether it's one round or one thousand rounds. Cleaning every time is not just about getting the gun clean as it is about being familiar with your guns and checking for hidden damage.

You may not need to clean a gun after just shooting one box of ammo, but when you do clean it you re-familiarize yourself with how to take the gun apart and while you're in there you can look for weird wear marks, cracks, or rust.

You may realize that you need to replace certain high-wear parts, like gas rings on an AR15 or recoil springs.

Plus it's just relaxing to get on the workbench, turn on the radio, grab a drink, and just do your thing.

[lakersandguns]

Rarely clean my handguns. I just clean my rifles more often

[DennisCA]

cbright1 - Maybe I'm just a bit excessive but this is my routine:
At the range:
Run a rod with a patch down the bore with hoppe's #9 (for factory or reloads ammo) or windex if I'm shooting surplus ammo
At home(when I get home-that evening)
Clean the bore extremely well/lube
The next day (if not then the day after that)
Clean the entire gun: inside and out
(may or may not take it apart - depends on the gun)

Excessive - Prob but I never had a problem with a gun (besides shooting guns cleaning guns is therapeutic - at least for me)

Also - I check my guns (esp the ones I have shot in awhile) at least once a month

Remember-Guns have two enemy's:
RUST AND POLITICIANS

I can def do something about the 1st one and try my best to do something about the other!

[nsimi]

Depends on the firearm, I'm running AR till its first jam - 2k rounds no cleaning/lube and not a hiccup so far, bolt actions should be cleaned often, Handguns - depending on the model, some every couple hundred rounds, some can be run couple thousand before cleaning (glocks)

[Bansh88]

meh. I hate cleaning. Especially right after a shoot. I only shoot a few dozen rounds generally.

I make sure to counter the corrosive ammo if I shot AKs. Generally just hang em back up.


I agree with getting to know your gun. Disassemble and assemble often.

[WASR10]

I believe rimfires and corrosive ammo guns should be cleaned after every use. Of the rest, it depends on the gun. Some go tens of thousands of rounds with only a barrel swab now and then and still run perfect.

I have Glocks that I have never cleaned, while I had a couple revolvers I cleaned after every range trip. As some have said before, more firearms are in danger of over-cleaning and under-cleaning.

[robcoe]

Depends on the gun for me.

AR-1911-92fs-1903-Mosin, these I clean every single time after I am done at the range.

most of the rest, every month or 3

GP100 stainless, I cleaned it last weekend after having not for nearly 2 years.

[TheExiled]

50-100 rounds is not enough in a range session for most guns, and not enough to NEED a cleaning unless its corrosive ammo

I clean my carry weapons meticulously, but the rest whenever I get around to it. I actually enjoy it so its not a bother, just dont make the time as much as I used to

[nsimi]

Why should rim fire guns be cleaned after every range use?

[Bansh88]

Same reason "Glocks suck, you should never dry fire, ARs are better than AKs, steel case is bad, 9mm has no stopping power, racking a shotgun kills bad guys...."

[Zorba]

Same reason "Glocks suck, you should never dry fire, ARs are better than AKs, steel case is bad, 9mm has no stopping power, racking a shotgun kills bad guys...."

Don't forget "Always slingshot your slide, never use the slide release lever. Except it isn't a slide release, its a slide STOP." Etc...

[Dano3467]

Always no matter haw many rds, as I don't know how long it will be before it's used again...rust prevention is a must...

[Divernhunter]

Not every trip.