Cleaning and Caring for Modern Rifles

[cwitt]

Like I’m sure many of you did, I grew up learning my gun cleaning habits from my dad. He was a Marine and spent three decades in law enforcement so he has always been religious about taking care of our guns — cleaning them top to bottom if they leave the safe and always a thorough wipe down with Hoppes. As more of the guns we are using are synthetics and cerakoted/nitrided instead of wood and blued steel, we have started to butt heads on how and when to clean them.

I know at this point that many choose to not clean their barrels until accuracy suffers and I’ve adopted that. Beyond that what products and practices are best with these modern rifles? Are any of the old solvents and methods doing more harm than good on modern finishes?

 

[77TMK]

I cover them with spray paint then use a big aerosol can of CLP on anything that moves or moved on. Wipe off excess the next day. If I sell something, they typically clean up quick with citristrip and the original finish is unmarked as the spray paint protects it all.

 

[BLJ]

I may brake clean barreled actions when I bring them home.
Put a thin coat of Mobil 1 of whatever weight I have on hand on the bolt
Repeat motor oil on the bolt when it seems to need it.

I don’t remember the last time I cleaned a barrel or wiped a rifle off.