[Tommydog7575]

I was wondering what you guys have to say about gun cleaning. I’m a hunter (deer and duck) and an avid shooter(Glocks, ARs, long range rifles). I might drop a bit of oil here and there when really shooting a gun but that’s about it. I’m near 50 years old and can remember watching family members clean shotguns after an afternoon of dove hunting or a 270 rifle after each shot for deer season. Seemed normal. I don’t really bother with it. With current firearms I don’t thing it’s that important. I’ve watch too many videos of guys that served in the military during the last war/wars overseas that said they never cleaned their weapons really unless told to do so and they ran fine. Nothing wrong with doing it. Better safe than sorry in a life and death situation. I’m just wondering I what most people are doing these days.

 

[1010]

I just wish I had a gun

 

[Christopher S.]

I used to clean mine after every range session, hunt, or whatever their use was. Now, unless they are just super filthy, not running properly, or I'd been out in wet environments I don't usually clean them often. If they were used at the range and had a heavy firing session I would but I'm with you. Most modern weapons don't need it ad often.

Even some older weapons are quite rugged and don't need it often.

 

[onlymaroonmatters]

You’re supposed to clean them??

 

[Gulfport Joe]

I have a gen 2 Glock 17 that I bought brand new in 1997? I think? Maybe 1996? I have the original paperwork and box so I can verify this. Anyway it has yet to be cleaned and has NEVER been disassembled. I had originally planned to do a 1 year “torture“ test after firing 2k -5k rounds but I forgot. So I pushed it to 5 years….then ten…so on…
long story short is I kept forgetting and that pistol easily has 25k+ down the barrel with zero cleaning. Keep in mind I am being very very conservative as no one only shoots 1k a year in a favorite pistol. Truth be told it is probably north of 50k rounds through it. At 26 or 27 years now of shooting this same pistol I have no issues with FTF or feeding or ejection problems. It runs like a champ and never disappoints. So take that for what it is worth.

 

[Swift]

I oil my blued guns if they get wet or if I start to see rust spots from where I've touched them. I clean my carry gun after I've sweat on it a bunch. My AR's BCG gets wiped down and oiled after a good many rounds.

Other than that, not really.

 

[RONIN79]

I never clean a gun or change my oil in my yota…and I like the movie the breakfast club…😁

 

[Subsonix]

No need to over-think it. Guns are machines. Like all machines, they need a little maintenance from time to time.

Guns are like cars. Some folks are going to putt around in them and clean them often. Other folks are going to ride them hard and put them up wet. Either way, it's gonna drive down the road.

It's your gun, do what works for you!

 

[A B]

I spray mine down with Lucas CLP every once in a while

 

[Jarhead5811]

I am not a precision shooter. So, if you are into that, disregard anything I do or think.

Do I deep clean my weapons like we did in the Corps? NEVER. Doing so destroys the finish & has no positive effect I can dream up.

I keep them functionally clean. Wipe down the exterior. Wipe an oil impregnated rag on it. Clean the bolt & locking lugs on an AR if I shoot it much. I rarely even punch the bore on a center fire weapon (I don’t shoot corrosive ammo.)

On AR I used a .22lr kit on I put a few rounds of 5.56 through it & then give it a pretty thorough cleaning.

Once they start jamming, I clean my 10/22s deeply. It’s strange than the ancient Remington .22lr I grew up shooting never got cleaned & never jammed. That’s my only complaint about 10/22s.

 

[rigrat]

LOL, when I was shooting regularly I never had a problem with my 10/22's getting dirty and jamming. I hadn't shot mine in years until few months ago. Would not eject a single cartridge. Guess its time to clean and oil the bolt. But until accuracy falls off on one I don't clean except for wiping down the outside. If I shoot BP sub I try to clean within a day or two. That stuff is hard on one.

 

[whoflungdo]

I am not a precision shooter. So, if you are into that, disregard anything I do or think.

Do I deep clean my weapons like we did in the Corps? NEVER. Doing so destroys the finish & has no positive effect I can dream up.

I keep them functionally clean. Wipe down the exterior. Wipe an oil impregnated rag on it. Clean the bolt & locking lugs on an AR if I shoot it much. I rarely even punch the bore on a center fire weapon (I don’t shoot corrosive ammo.)

On AR I used a .22lr kit on I put a few rounds of 5.56 through it & then give it a pretty thorough cleaning.

Once they start jamming, I clean my 10/22s deeply. It’s strange than the ancient Remington .22lr I grew up shooting never got cleaned & never jammed. That’s my only complaint about 10/22s.

I have a couple that I've thought about getting cerakoted to help with this. But this is similar to my experience with the 10/22's

 

[HerrZnk]

I never clean a gun or change my oil in my yota…and I like the movie the breakfast club…😁

My favorite movie! At one point in HS I was both of the male characters...

 

[HerrZnk]

LOL, when I was shooting regularly I never had a problem with my 10/22's getting dirty and jamming. I hadn't shot mine in years until few months ago. Would not eject a single cartridge. Guess its time to clean and oil the bolt. But until accuracy falls off on one I don't clean except for wiping down the outside. If I shoot BP sub I try to clean within a day or two. That stuff is hard on one.

Problem with semiautomatic .22s is the wax on the lead projectiles, depending on which brand you shoot. Easily solved with q-tips (generic are cheap at Wally World) and Hoppe's. Swab out the crap that builds up in the action and bolt. You might have to disassemble the 10/22 and get that bolt out but I would say honestly maybe every 10k rounds. Just depends on the brand of ammunition you're using, ie how dirty it is.

 

[HerrZnk]

Another note about .22 LR: cleaning the bore with any type of metal bore brush is a source of contention, especially among match shooters. It wears the bore much worse than shooting, since you are shooting lead projectiles. If the bore is heavily fouled cloth patches with Hoppe's or your solvent of choice will have little to no effect on the rifling.

 

[HeNNmike89]

If only newer guns then Maybe but military surplus and collectable firearms that may use corrosive ammo.. please do clean them lol

 

[BasMstr]

Wipe ‘em down if they get dirty or wet. Hit ‘em with the air hose then a little Sum Gy lube after a few thousand rounds. BCG’s get cleaned after 2,500 rounds because 3,000 rounds was the lowest round count I ever had before one’s firing pin got gunked up too bad.

 

[bangswitch]

I have a gen 2 Glock 17 that I bought brand new in 1997? I think? Maybe 1996? I have the original paperwork and box so I can verify this. Anyway it has yet to be cleaned and has NEVER been disassembled. I had originally planned to do a 1 year “torture“ test after firing 2k -5k rounds but I forgot. So I pushed it to 5 years….then ten…so on…
long story short is I kept forgetting and that pistol easily has 25k+ down the barrel with zero cleaning. Keep in mind I am being very very conservative as no one only shoots 1k a year in a favorite pistol. Truth be told it is probably north of 50k rounds through it. At 26 or 27 years now of shooting this same pistol I have no issues with FTF or feeding or ejection problems. It runs like a champ and never disappoints. So take that for what it is worth.

Good grief clean that gun.

On second thought let it ride. Would you be willing to do a burn down with it? If so I might actually have to make it to one of these meet and greets. I would be glad to donate a couple hundred rounds to the cause. Some dirty Russian ammo maybe?

 

[rigrat]

Problem with semiautomatic .22s is the wax on the lead projectiles, depending on which brand you shoot. Easily solved with q-tips (generic are cheap at Wally World) and Hoppe's. Swap out the crap that builds up in the action and bolt. You might have to disassemble the 10/22 and get that bolt out but I would say honestly maybe every 10k rounds. Just depends on the brand of ammunition you're using, ie how dirty it is.

Yeah until I stopped shooting regularly I never had a problem. All I shot was inexpensive 22 lr. I don't believe in paying for the target stuff. I shoot a green mountain barrel, and lots of modifications to the action /trigger setup.

 

[steve2112]

You’re supposed to clean them??

My motto exactly!