Gun cleaning opinions

[Honda]

I know that some rounds are "dirtier" than others but that said how often as a general rule do you do a full cleaning job on your weapons. The answer may be different based on caliber and type of weapon.

[Truckman]

After a day at the range...And it's only a weapon when it's used as one...Until then it's just another tool......Ben

[Honda]

Well I usually take 4 or 5 pistols, a shotgun, a .22 cal AR and a .556 AR so I might not put that many rounds through each one. Maybe 50 or so through the pistols and 100 through the .22 and maybe 60 through the AR and it does not seem to me they get all that dirty. I want to clean them but that is what I am trying to determine is it really necessary. How much is necessary for the gun's health?

[Truckman]

If you have time to use your tools, you have time to clean and maintain them before putting them away ready for use the next time...You might even find a problem in one of them that would deter its use when it's most needed......Ben

[Mike]

In addition to what Ben said, not all ammo is created the same. Even though modern powder and primers are (supposedly) non-corrosive, how do you know what was used on the reloads you might be using due to price considerations?

On top of that, you know from personal experience what it is like to have your life depend on your weapon functioning without fail.

You shoot it, you clean it!

[CactusCurt]

Oh boy, here we go. As a point of reference, I am lazy. But handsome.

Shotguns: hardly ever. When I was shooting trap, I used to fool around with a beretta gas gun. I went several years and as I remember north of 10,000 rounds without cleaning it with no problems. I would run a pipe cleaner thru the gas ports every once in a while. I hardly ever cleaned my break opens, but I did lubricate them faithfully. If they got grungy I hit them with some oil and wiped them down. I drag a bore snake thru my trap guns at the start of the day.

I rarely clean my pistols but the 22's require it most. I start getting misfeeds after a couple hunnert rounds if I dont wipe the crud out. But pistols are a novelty to me. I dont ever remember cleaning my Colt Trooper 357

Centerfire rifles: at least after every box of ammo (20), or every time I take it to the field. When I am at the bench, I drag a bore snake after every group because I am usually waiting for the barrel to cool anyway. And I seem to have to scrub the heck out of them to get the copper fowling out. Far more passes than rounds. The exception here is when I used to spend time in the prairie dog fields. In that case i frequently went over 100 rounds without a cleaning. Accordingly, I have a 222 who only gets moly coated bullets and I am extending the cleanings to see what happens.

So in summary, I clean them only as necessary or when I get a round to it.

I used to shoot with an old military lifer who swore that people did more damage cleaning their bores than they did good.

Flame away

[Honda]

On top of that, you know from personal experience what it is like to have your life depend on your weapon functioning without fail.

Back in the day I rarely ever shot my duty weapon except to qualify and it was promptly cleaned thereafter. Even if I had not shot it I would take it apart at least once a month wipe the lube off and replace it. So Point well taken