Here are a few things for my readers (all 20 of you).
How often do you clean your firearms?
I'll clean my .22 LR guns only a few times a year, and then only if I have shot them a lot. Many people who own inexpensive .22's NEVER clean them. I know, I've bought many of them over the years from pawn shops, and when I used to do gunsmithing, I had to "Repair" many .22's that only really needed a proper cleaning.
My AK or SKS? I'll admit to letting them sit in the safe for a week or so after shooting before cleaning them. As long as I hadn't fired corrosive ammo that is. If I fired corrosive ammo it's gets windex, hot water and cleaned the same day.
My AR? The longest I've gone was 9 days between firing it and cleaning it. However I sprayed it out with brake cleaner and then sprayed it down with some CLP before putting it in the safe. UNLESS I was using my .22 LR conversion for it. After using .22 LR in my AR, I ALWAYS put my 5.556 bolt in and run at least 10 rounds through it to blow out the gas tube. And it gets cleaned no later than the next afternoon.
My chinese T-53 (Mosin M44 Clone) I ALWAYS spray some windex through the bore before I case it and I run LOTS of hot water through the bore and thoroughly clean it the same day I fired it.
Pistols? It depends on the ammo I used. Corrosive ammo? Windex, hot water, clean. Non corrosive, I'll let them sit for a day or two if I can't get to them right away.
Shotguns? It's once again, ammunition dependent. If I'm shooting a lot of buckshot and slugs, I'll spray them out with brake cleaner, wipedown and lube, then set them in the safe for a day or so, if I'm shooting a lot of bulk pack ammo, I'll clean them the same day
Cleaning solvents. Lot's of brake cleaner, Hoppes, Windex, occasionally carburetor cleaner depending on how bad a gun is.
Lubes, I used to use CLP and LSA like I did when I was in the Army. However, since I've found Slip 2000, I've been using that for most of my lubrication needs, although I still use Hoppes Gun Grease on my doubles and break opens.
Cleaning cloths and patches. I use bulk pack patches, both cotton and synthetic. I also use flannel cloth for the bores of my shotguns.
Now after you have cleaned your firearm, do you run oil or lube down the bore?
I do on my shotguns. Not so much on my rifles and handguns. Some people swear by oiling the bores on all firearms, some don't.
What are your preferences?
1 comment:
Shotgun: I think I have cleaned it twice in the the past 40 years. I have a Stevens 311 Double Barrel.
Rifle: AR will get cleaned after every range day but it may be a week later - I leave a light coating of oil on the moving parts. SKS/AK - they get cleaned about once a year but they only get used two or three times a year - oiled and wiped down. 22 Bolt Action - use monthly and light wipe after use and thorough cleaning once a year. 10/22 - every other time I use it - light oil and wipe. Hunting rifles after use whether they were fired or not - light oil and wipe.
Pistols: Cowboy Action 44 Mag - when it starts looking dirty - light oil and wipe. Taurus 92 - After every 150-250 round range day - leave it wet with oil. Glocks - do these ever need cleaning? G37 has had two 5000 round cycles between cleaning without any FTF or FTE. I clean the others Glocks about every 500 rounds.
When cleaning I will alway run an oil patch through the barrel. The first shot will always be smoky.
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