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How Often Do You Clean Your Guns

7K views 57 replies 30 participants last post by  pdkfishing 
#1 · (Edited)
As I'm in the process of giving all my guns their annual cleaning (especially George's M1917 :p, inside joke) the thought crossed my mind to ask you folks about your cleaning schedules. I'll just say I have less than 40 guns and don't manage to get to shoot all of them regularly so every year I take them all out of the safe, give them a check and cleaning just to make sure all is well. Ten of them I touch with enough regularity I know they're good to go but the rest I think deserve a look at least annually. So, what do you guys do that own let's say more than 20 guns or have guns that you don't regularly shoot? I suspect, yea right :rolleyes:, there are a few here that have a few hundred guns and was just curious how often and how detailed a cleaning they all get?
 
#2 · (Edited)
i pretty much clean my guns after each time use them. Had my henry .45 colt and winchester 63 out yesterday, cleaned as soon as they and ME warmed up. Like you say some guns don't get shot regularly, so they just get a wipe down with a oily cloth. They Keep me busy in my retirement.;)
 
#3 ·
Mine get cleaned after every use, as well as when I just feel like cleaning something... There is no set schedule, though some get cleaned without use, a couple times per year. I am one of those that enjoy cleaning them.
 
#4 ·
You better clean that thing good!!

I do clean whatever I shoot pretty quickly after its range trip. I try to take all of mine to the range as least once a year so it they get a little exercise and a cleaning. There are a couple that I have not taken out in a while and to be honest, it is an effort on my part to take those out and clean them. I know I haven't shot (or cleaned) my Mausers in two or three years.
 
#25 ·
George,

It's been a while so thought you might like to see a couple pictures of the old girl. Someday I really need to figure out how to post nicer pictures.

Plant
Plant
Gun Rifle Firearm Trigger Wood
Gun Rifle Firearm Trigger Wood
 

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#5 ·
Always clean mine right after I finish shooting. Other than that I try to at least run an oily swab thru the bore and wipe down exposed steel at least twice a year. I'm embarrassed to admit that there are a few I haven't fired in a very long time - like my Garand, a '96 Krag, any of the '03 Springfields, the Winchester 'Carbine or the 1911A1. Been at least 10 years on those. But they get the same cleaning and oiling as the others.
 
#7 ·
I kinda figured we all cleaned them after they were shot. I was more wondering about those guns that haven't been shot recently. Sounds like you all do about the same. Giving them a good wipe down and inspection every 6-12 months.
 
#8 ·
Mine varies, but as in my OCD post, when I clean them it is quite detailed. I've been off for a couple of weeks and there is currently nothing in my safe that is dirty, I shot falling plates last night.

That said, I clean my 3-gun shotgun twice a year (roughly 400 rounds), trap shotguns each fall, my 9mm 1911 every other month (roughly 800 rounds), WASR every other month (roughly 400 rounds), .22 rifles twice per year, everything else every time I use it.
 
#13 · (Edited)
Thread started by dbcooper in the 22 rimfire forum

#2

ysacresWell-Known MemberSupporting Member
4,189
Nov 11, 2001
Wazzu WA
O MY GOD.............All these years of reading the instructions over & over. :mad:

FOR SALE. A very nice Ruger MK II Target. Some scratches where the takedown lever was pried open with a screwdriver. and some file marks where the sneer thingy does not engage unless the pistol is up side down. and a ding on the barrel from being thrown across the room. :(
I should also mention the gun needs cleaning and the vertical pin may be bent from trying to force it into battery. :confused:
Comes with takedown instruction manual :p Free scope, and no shipping
Wiseacres
Ruger Dog RD
Wazzu WA
 
#14 ·
Like everyone else, I clean after use. However, the guns which haven't been in use I try to clean every 2-4 months (no regular schedule, though)
 
#19 ·
It's not really all that bad. At least the MK I and MKIII's I've done. Yes, a little bit of a pain, but not horrible.
Might be a good idea to get the hang of cleaning it before it gets real, real bad ;)
 
#21 ·
I clean mine after they get back from the range. The guns that don't make it to the range get cleaned twice a year, wether they need it or not.
 
#22 ·
I do a quick clean while having coffee at the range when I am finished shooting, then I do a detailed Cleaning when I get home before I put the guns to bed (in the safe). Even if I don't go shooting, I clean and oil them about once a month (sometimes more often when I am bored.
 
#23 ·
Well.....it depends....lol!! As with others I have rifles I haven't fired in decades nor have they been "cleaned". Examined and wiped down if needed, yes, usually 2-3 times a year, however. Except for my carry piece(s) and the rifle over the fireplace mine all live in a climate controlled vault in safes with Goldenrod heaters in them. I have not had one issue in the over 24 years I've been storing that way. Right now there is two rifles I'm shooting nearly every day and one won't get cleaned until I'm finished with load development. The other is my Schuetzen rifle and I practice offhand with it just about every day, time, weather and head cold permitting. I think it was last week I finally "cleaned" it for the first time in over a year.
 
#28 ·
It desperately needs a range trip. I bought it in Feb of 2015 and have only shot it twice. And I believe that was a year ago. Just no good places to shoot rifles near me. Handguns, 22's and shotguns I've got lots of great places to shoot but not rifles.
 
#31 ·
Nearest one is about 30 minutes away. Furthest distance is 100 yards and they only have five lanes at that distance. As you can imagine, a guy could wait hours just to get a chance to shoot. Next closest is around 1 1/2 hours away. Never been there before but I've heard they are both a zoo.
 
#37 ·
I've been looking at property in Golden Valley tonight. You might want to do the same... There's a very nice outdoor range there, and at $12k for a 20 acre parcel, it's awfully attractive. In a butt-ugly desert sort of way, of course. ;)
 
#36 ·
My muzzleloaders probably get " a cleaning" more so than other guns.
My skeet gun gets used 8 times a month sometimes 10 with a minimum of 2 boxes of rounds per gauge.
It gets a good wipe down after each use. Especially during summer use and sweaty hands.
I mop the barrels with solvent and oil about twice a month.

My rifles are cleaned after each substantial use. Do I clean after 6 shots? NO
But after a couple days of some 3 gun YES.
I do not use brass brushes on rifled barrels.
I have an ultrasonic cleaner I use on barrels that does a great job.
I clean rifle barrels when accuracy warrants it.

EVERYRHING gets inspected and wiped down 3 times per year
 
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