How often do you clean your pistols/revolvers?

[JeffTheBig]

every 300rd. unless they are going to sit around for a long paired of time than ill clean them asap

 

[mmattockx]

Maybe after a thousand rounds or so, or stops functioning, which ever comes first.

X2 unless I have been out in the rain.

shooting guns should be a hobby.
oiling guns shouldn't.

No, not really. If I have not shot them in a while I might check to see if they need to be lubed up.
There is a fine line to walk with lube. Too much can be worse than not enough.

Ah, some voices of reason!

Basic target shooting rules.
1) Don't clean the gun unless it stops functioning.
2) NEVER start a match with a clean gun.
3) Match grade 45's work best when the oil is running off your elbow.

Dr J

Words to live by.


Mark

 

[yudonsay]

My .22 neos stops working at or near the 500 round mark. I usually do a quick clean after each outing as I go through 3 to 400 rounds.

It did this when I first purchased it and has never varied since. It just stops shooting. A light strike mark can be seen on the unfired casing I manually eject and is a sign to stop shooting as it will only get worse.

 

[John Sukey]

Depends on what you are shooting. Black powder; EVERY TIME and the SAME Day
Milsurp; (if used with corrosive primed ammo) You better damm well clean it the same day unless you LIKE RUST
.22; whenever I feel like it. You can wear things out by over cleaning
Other centrefire rifles; I Just run a bore snake down the barrel unless I shoot a LOT of rounds the same day

 

[collector67]

I do a detailed strip and clean if I am firing corrosive ammo immediately after the range session. I used to be very anal about stripping and cleaning the gas system of my M305S every time I shot it even though I shoot clean ammo through it, until I was advised that it can be detrimental to the system.

 

[Danimal247]

I clean my guns after I shoot them (same day/next day type of thing) - I even clean them when they are clean, they never go into my safe without a wipe down using a microfiber cloth

 

[Demon971]

I clean any firearm before and after the range. The pre-range clean is mostly just to lube working parts (metal on metal) but the post-range clean is where it really matters. Whether I've fired 50 or 500 rounds, I clean it all the same.

 

[animalamidon]

GunGuy it really depends on what pistols you are shooting and what kind of powder/bullets you are using. Certain powders dirty up a gun faster and some bullets (especially lead) will foul up a barrel quicker. I field strip and clean my handguns after almost each range visit. For me, with my cleaning regiment, a quick wipe and MILD lube will suffice. i rarely run anything aside from a wet patch and a jag through my barrels. as has been posted, you will wreck a good barrel/gun faster by cleaning too rigorously than shooting dirty. Keep in mind, that everyone on here shoots different gun and ammo combos so everyone will have different cleaning needs. I have friends who swear the only time their glock malfunctions is after a good cleaning; My 1911's love the oil. REMEMBER excessive oil or lube attracts dirt and crap that will ruin your gun.

 

[animalamidon]

a final note to berdan primed (corrosive) ammunition: take peoples word for how quickly you internals ESPECIALLY GAS SYSTEM will become caked with oxidizing agents. I have seen a piston pulled out of an SKS that had 500 rounds through it and then sat for a weekend, and after the crap was WD-40'd and scotch brighted off, the piston was so pitted it had to be replaced.

 

[yellowsv]

The Glock rarely gets cleaned other than a surface wipe down after a range trip.

The shotguns get stripped and cleaned every couple of months

 

[Steve1987]

I clean a firearm every time I use it. Sort of a military mentality, clean it as often as you can. Plus I just like my stuff to be clean, and have a nice thin layer of oil over all the metal parts.
-Steve

 

[Kayser Sose]

Because I love my rifle, I clean it.

 

[Lojak]

My 2 cents:

I ran an experiment with a Ruger Mark II .22 pistol. I did not clean it until accuracy started to go, after about 1200 rounds. Until that point, it ran flawlessly. Then groups started opening up. Anyway, took the pistol apart for a basic strip and clean. Lots of hard carbon build-up in the nooks and crannies but nothing a soak in CLP could not fix.

My CZ Shadow, on the other hand, tends to be stripped every 400 rounds.. which lately is every freaking range session (I'm not rich, just preparing for a black badge course). Even though I've got an AGI video explaining how to detail strip the CZ, I have not yet. Only blasted the receiver (trigger and hammer groups etc) with carbon cleaner. That works fine. Maybe a detailed strip after a year or so.. not ready for that yet.

Rifles are a different, more involved story. To summarize, the bolts and receivers get a wipe down after every session. The barrel and the chamber a quick scrub.

-- L.

 

[ChiliDawg]

Watching for your name in EE to avoid lol

you won't find any safe queens in my collection, everything I own gets shot and often.

My S&W 586 has probably seen 60,000+ rounds

 

[Amazingkg3]

I clean my work firearms after every use, with a wipe down and oiling every month. I clean my personal firearms every 500 rounds, and I clean my Glock whenever I really feel like it. 1000+.

I did all of them yesterday as thoroughly as I could, scratching off the hard carbon buildups and cleaning in every nook and cranny. I love cleaning guns, but not for 3 hours...

 

[BP7]

i tear down, polish, blueprint, lube, match, and document mine every time the bullet advances 2.2" in the barrel. so, since all my guns are the 4.2" / 4.25" types, i guess that's twice per shot? cuz, you know, i don't wanna OVERdo it or anything...

 

[easyrider604]

I consider powder/lead residue on my guns as a Badge of Honor and shoot my revolvers and semi pistols until they show the first sign of malfunction due to dirt.

Revolvers are cleaned where needed, between 500 and 700 rounds.

1911s field stripped and cleaned after about 500. Total strip after a couple of thousand.

.22 rifles get the usual oily rag wipe down after the range. Can't remember the last time I cleaned bores on a .22 rifle.

 

[Danimal247]

this thread points out exactly why I like to buy my guns new...literally

 

[GunGuy34]

this thread points out exactly why I like to buy my guns new...literally

lol ya really, im surpised by some of this. I mean to not clean you gun tell it stops working properly just sounds wrong to me.

 

[Amazingkg3]

I consider powder/lead residue on my guns as a Badge of Honor and shoot my revolvers and semi pistols until they show the first sign of malfunction due to dirt.

Revolvers are cleaned where needed, between 500 and 700 rounds.

1911s field stripped and cleaned after about 500. Total strip after a couple of thousand.

.22 rifles get the usual oily rag wipe down after the range. Can't remember the last time I cleaned bores on a .22 rifle.

Nothing beats a 1911 or even a Glock with beaten worn metal with the bluing coming off. 1911's with residue all over the front of the slide is just stunning.