How Often Do You Have To Clean a Gun (Really)?

[snapping turtle]

The ones I do not shoot get a cleaning yearly between Xmas and new year. The regular suspects after a heavy range session get a clean inspection and lube. My hunting rifles when needed and after any rain snow time.

 

[COOPADUP]

I usually wait till I have several to clean at once. Makes more sense to me if I'm getting out all the cleaning and lubing goods.

 

[Ggreen]

A clean weapon is a happy weapon - Every USAF CATM (Combat Arms Training and Maintenance) Troop I ever met.

Meanwhile every usaf m4 i used failed to clear a qualification without multiple malfunctions.

 

[BE Mike]

I NEVER clean the barrels of any of my .22 caliber firearms...chambers yes, but barrels, no.

 

[BE Mike]

Meanwhile every usaf m4 i used failed to clear a qualification without multiple malfunctions.

First place I always look when autos quit functioning as advertised is the magazines. A lot of military magazines get a lot of abuse.

 

[Ggreen]

I clean old guns after I shoot them. Old blue steel guns seem to rust fast from handling. My precision rifle won't get touched until groups open up. Ar's get lubed when they act up or after a lot of suppressor work. Handguns get cleaned when I get dirty from picking them up.

 

[SnoopLoggyDog]

A clean weapon is a happy weapon - Every USAF CATM (Combat Arms Training and Maintenance) Troop I ever met.

I had the same CATM instructors.
In Basic Training, I always volunteered to go to the Armory to help clean weapons. Kept me out of KP duty.

 

[Leo]

I wipe the fingerprints down to prevent rust every time I touch any of them, but will often shoot a pistol 300 rounds without cleaning. The variable is bullets. If I am shooting a lot of cast semi wad cutter bullets in the .45, there is a lot of waxy residue that builds up inside the slide. You can actually feel the pistol running sluggish. If shooting brass plated or jacketed bullets you don't get that the build up.

When I was shooting High power competition, a match is 88 rounds. If I shot a match on Saturday and another on Sunday, that would be 176 rounds. If the Sunday match was in Quad cities or Grayling and I got home late, I might shoot another match next Saturday (making the total 264 rounds) It never had any degradation of accuracy, and really was no more fouled than after 88 rounds. The Ammo was all Sierra MatchKing projectiles pushed by Varget powder. Not all ammo is that clean.

Trap shotgun during ATA competition, 8,000 to 15,000 shots per year in a chrome lined Beretta barrel, once or twice a year cleaning. Wipe off dirt and Lube the pivot points every few outings, remove and clean the chokes maybe twice a season, using graphite grease on the threads. Every third year take the stock off, check the firing pins for wear, change the springs and relube. A Semi Auto or pump needs cleaned a lot more often, probably at least every 500 shots as the trigger gets filled with dirt.

I know men in every field that clean always and every time they shoot, even if it is just a few shots, that is not wrong either.

 

[foszoe]

I'm kinda seasonal guy. Twice a year, fall and spring. On firearms that have been shot.

.22s either after I shoot them or before I shoot them the next time

 

[KellyinAvon]

Meanwhile every usaf m4 i used failed to clear a qualification without multiple malfunctions.

Where?

 

[Jsomerset]

When I was a kid I cleaned them like I was petting my favorite girlfriend now it’s like I’m hiding from the 300lb he-she down at the trailer park!

 

[foszoe]

I NEVER clean the barrels of any of my .22 caliber firearms...chambers yes, but barrels, no.

Do you ever just shoot lead rounds? I took a .22 to an Appleseed once and it started keyholing right as we go to the end of the day qualifications.

 

[Alpo]

When I shot black powder cartridge alot, I'd clean and lube after every outing. Smokeless, not so much. Wipe down the blued surfaces with an oily rag and maybe a drop of lube.

People have a tendency to over-lube plastic guns. No need.

 

[Ggreen]

Where?

Lackland, Holloman, Luke. I never saw a clean day of shooting with those over serviced garbage rods.

 

[STEEL CORE]

According to my Drill Sergeants , WASHINGTON/HERROD/O'BRIAN, after every time I used it.
It was good advice (Charlie-18-5) at Ft Knox KY then, I think its still good advice now.
If you were found to have a dirty weapon then, well...……………………..you learned a panful lesson right quick.

 

[Mongo59]

About as often as I polish my hammer

So, is that what they are calling it these days?

 

[KellyinAvon]

Lackland, Holloman, Luke. I never saw a clean day of shooting with those over serviced garbage rods.

Lackland... mine jammed every-other shot back in 86.

Luke: AETC for decades, big fighter training base. Figures...

Holloman: Back in the day they had a real mission. This is surprising.

Going back the last 30 years since I've been retired a while:

Langley: no problems.

Hurlburt Field: no problems.

No-Hope Pope: no problems.

McConnell: They had a FATS/big video game

Tyndall: No problems (and they had those new A2s with the round hand guards! It was 1992...)

 

[BE Mike]

Do you ever just shoot lead rounds? I took a .22 to an Appleseed once and it started keyholing right as we go to the end of the day qualifications.

I always shoot lead .22 rounds...no copper for me. If your gun is leading up, there is a problem with the barrel. What brand of rifle were you shooting?

 

[foszoe]

I always shoot lead .22 rounds...no copper for me. If your gun is leading up, there is a problem with the barrel. What brand of rifle were you shooting?

Beretta ARX. It was fine all day...until the very end.

 

[Mgderf]

Clean your firearms with the same frequency as you clean your rectal orifice.
Every time you use it.