[katie5805]

Every time I shoot, I clean the bore, chamber, and wipe down gun. I shoot 200-300 rounds this way....then do full field strip, cleaning, and lube.


what do you more experienced guys think of this-thanks

 

[WiseguyDS]

KJ I think you can never have too clean of a gun. I like messing with mine so I’m not too troubled if I spend more time than really necessary. I also have gone 2-3 days worth of shooting and don’t bother cleaning anything until I’m done. I think your best concern is technique rather than frequency and one piece of advice I will give is to grease the rails and lightly oil the rest. Never grease or oil too much or you will end up collecting even more dirt and grime.

I’ll continue to dote on my babies and I’m happy doing it.

 

[WaterDR]

I used to field strip every time I shoot. Now I out about a 1,000 rounds through a gun before I bother. As long as its shooting....it’s clean enough

 

[olsoul]

Clean and maintain your weapon like your life depends on it. It does.

 

[XRing]

I clean and lube after each range trip.
If I shoot two days in a row with the same firearm then I field strip clean and lube after the second day.
I only use break free clp and some all temperature grease as needed. CLP in my use does not build up or gum up so I never had a problem with overlube. CLP gets into the Ally and is not very viscous so extra amount will not build up.
I standardized on clp as it worked great with ARs so I now use it on all firearms.

 

[RGRacing]

Small Safe and 13 Guns - I love the smell of Hoppes when I open the door. Dirty Stinky Guns might get cleaned just for that nice smell. Try to keep the barrels clean and break them down after 100 rounds of so or after a dusty outdoor session.

 

[grumpy1]

I go several range trips between field strip cleanings but I do wipe down exterior metal with a patch lightly moist with Breakfree CLP after handling.

When I do field strip a pistol maybe 500 rounds have been fired thought it and it is still not that dirty.

 

[Doogie85]

I generally clean and lube after each shooting. I usually kind of enjoy it as I don't get to shoot near as often as I'd like.

 

[waltherwright]

i clean after every 100 - 200 rounds

 

[BlitzPig]

Clean and lube after every range trip, which is typically 200+ rounds through the pistol.

 

[WaterDR]

Clean and maintain your weapon like your life depends on it. It does.

.

For a carry gun...yes. Range toy? Not needed.

 

[matquig]

Every time I shoot, I clean the bore, chamber, and wipe down gun. I shoot 200-300 rounds this way....then do full field strip, cleaning, and lube.


what do you more experienced guys think of this-thanks

I think yours is a very practical and sensible approach. Along with "you can never have too clean a gun". There is a practical limit: cleaning it totally, all the time, and lubing it properly, and it will probably be closer to 100% reliable. However, improper cleaning might put excessive wear on the barrel crown, and the loss of some accuracy, but pistoleros would probably never notice unless the gun is bullseye accurate, along with an equally good shooter. Cleaning only the bore and wiping down will be good for maybe 99% reliability, and for returning to the range to shoot again, that will be o.k. If you are comfortable with a slightly fouled gun for self defense, you may be trading off a very small percentage of reliability. Shy of a real gunfight, though, most all of us will never realize that "deficiency", should one exist. One other thing cleaning does is sometimes expose a worn or damaged part, a foreign object in the gun (I have found small pieces of brass), etc. Things that might affect reliability. Things you wouldn't know to correct unless you opened it up and noticed during cleaning.

 

[olsoul]

Shy of a real gunfight, though, most all of us will never realize that "deficiency", should one exist. One other thing cleaning does is sometimes expose a worn or damaged part, a foreign object in the gun (I have found small pieces of brass), etc. Things that might affect reliability. Things you wouldn't know to correct unless you opened it up and noticed during cleaning.

...So... Clean and maintain your weapons like your life depends on it. It does.

 

[matquig]

...So... Clean and maintain your weapons like your life depends on it. It does.

Yes, and no. As noted by others, if it's just a range gun, clean it whenever you want. Those weapons being relied on for defense are different.

 

[balance]

I've never heard of a machine that runs better when it is dirty, and a part can break at any time. So if you are going to rely on the pistol, and it probably will run better clean, why not clean and inspect it regularly? I don't see an issue with cleaning the pistol every time you are done firing it.

"Cleaning" a firearm should really be looked at more as "cleaning and inspecting" a firearm. I've seen plenty of pistols with parts issues. Many of which were on my own pistols, and I've heard of countless others.

 

[corypj10]

I usually go through 3 to 400 rounds rounds at the range with my PPQ. When I get home I take 15 minutes to wipe off the inside of the frame/barrel, clean the bore and lube the rails. Never put it back in the safe dirty. Just how I was taught and how I teach my kids.

 

[Majwingding]

cleaning pistols

I clean when I can, it maybe after 500-700 rounds

it also depends on the type of ammo (cheap stuff is a little dirtier) then the more expensive stuff so less cleaning but if you buy cheap just clean more

Really cant clean enough if the gun has been blued you will need to clean EVERY time you shoot so it does not Rust ( hand salt make the gun rust)
That's all I have to say

 

[tedln]

For me, it sometimes depends on the ammunition I'm shooting. If I'm shooting high quality rounds, I will normally only strip and clean every thousand rounds or so. If I believe the ammo I'm shooting isn't burning very clean, I will strip and inspect and clean if necessary. That is only true when I'm only shooting the PPS m2. If I'm shooting my PPK S, the stainless steel seems to require cleaning more often.

 

[surrealone]

KJ I think you can never have too clean of a gun.

One can absolutely have too clean of a gun. Most hunters do NOT hunt with a clean bore because of lessons learned from having done so. Likewise, match shooters will typically fire off one or more fouling shots prior to shooting a match. Google 'fouling shot' and read a bit about it if you have any doubts.

I've never heard of a machine that runs better when it is dirty

Sounds like you need to Google 'fouling shot', too -- which surprises me given your experience, here. I say this only because some machines DO run better (i.e. more consistently as it pertains to grouping and MOA) when warmed up and/or slightly dirty.

 

[kensmith]

Every time I shoot, I clean the bore, chamber, and wipe down gun. I shoot 200-300 rounds this way....then do full field strip, cleaning, and lube.


what do you more experienced guys think of this-thanks

To be honest, there´s a bit of voodoo involved here.

I noticed, cleaning to early, it makes accuracy a bit off target and it takes a bit to get it back (never clean a gun before a competition).

Using a Niebling Bore Blitz (good device) just after shooting, to clean the bore is ok.
Depending on what ammo you are using, also what kind of projectiles could mean more often cleaning. Like using lead instead of FMJ.

I clean my guns after approx. 500 rounds or more and never had an issue.

I know enogh people that cleankilled they guns.