Firearm Cleaning

[kid44]

I just read the Bore Snake thread. How many of you clean your guns to factory like new every time you shoot them? How often do you clean your bore? I had a gunsmith once tell me that a bore should not be cleaned very often, only when accuracy starts to suffer. Me, I have a hard time storing a "dirty gun" and make sure mine are clean after shooting.

 

[Dos Perros]

In a world where I can execute all my good intentions, I would clean and liberally oil any gun I intended to put in the safe and leave alone for a long time. For example, I'd clean a deer rifle at the conclusion of deer season and it might sit until just before deer season next year. In reality though I'm much too lazy/busy to actually do that.

 

[Actual_Cryptid]

I have never cleaned a gun to "like new" unless I was selling it.

Snake the bore, get the dirt off, oil the steel that got touched or wet, wipe down the bolt and and bolt channel with a rag and some CLP maybe. Half the time I don't do more than just wiping down the outside until it starts to chug or accuracy suffers.

The only guns that get babied are the war relics older than my parents. The rest are tools and get maintained to ensure function, not aesthetics.

 

[dieselchessy]

I spray WD40 specialist corrosion inhibitor down the tube and rub the rest down with same before storage. I remove from stock and disassemble to wipe down if moisture is suspected.
I then wipe down and dry patch the bore before taking the gun out again.

I only clean the bore every once in a while when I’ve got several hundred rounds through it, or changing bullets, ect.

I live and hunt in wet areas. My rifles must shoot to point of aim on a clean lightly oiled bore. If they don’t they get fixed or sold.

I see a difference between oiling and cleaning a firearm.

 

[Wrench]

Owning a borescope and a foul out system....I can say that almost nobody can clean a rifle to like new.... regardless of how much they try.

 

[browning2480]

I can’t remember the last time I cleaned mine

 

[Marble]

I'll do a good thurough cleaning during break in of the barrel, but after that, unless there is an issue I'll only run a powder/carbon remover patch down the barrel and light oil, followed by dry patches if weather dictates it. I don't shoot them enough to worry about it.

For my .223 guns when shooting squirls, I will do a decent cleaning part way through the day. Check the bolt etc.

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

 

[Newtosavage]

I used to clean during the break-in period as per mfg. recommendations, but I don't even do that anymore. I've noticed zero difference in performance. The last barrel I shot from-new was a Shaw stainless prefit for my Savage and it shoots lights-out without ever once touching the bore. I have about 100 rounds through it now. My latest X-Caliber barrel is getting the same treatment and it's coming around after just 20-25 rounds. Last 5-shot group was just under an inch with very little load development.

I'm done cleaning barrels unless they really, really need it.

Since I've started using the Enduron line of IMR powders, I've not noticed a bit of copper fouling in either of those barrels mentioned.

 

[dtrkyman]

Thorough cleaning once a year, quick clean once every so often, also depends on use, I rarely go out to shoot, I hunt birds with a shotgun, duck hunting tends to get things dirty.

I use a cordless drill with cleaning rod attached for barrels, works amazing!

After 10 plus years of use I finally tore every part of my sbe2 off and cleaned it, it was cycling slowly in the cold and the mag tube/spring and recoil tube and spring were in horrible shape, good as new after!

I run a bore snake through my turkey gun after each shot, periodically blow out the junk during season.

 

[EastMT]

I don’t shoot my hunting rifles like they are a plinker, so I’ll run a bore snake through it, clean it a little. After I check zero, I don’t touch the bore until after season bar a mishap.

Seems like if it isn’t broke don’t fix it. Clean for storage after season.

 

[robtattoo]

Nope.

Honestly couldn't tell you the last time I cleaned a bolt gun.

 

[wapitibob]

I got copper after bullet #1, none on #2, and didn’t see copper after #35 so I quit cleaning.

 

[Keep On]

Gun gets a wipe down after a trip out, but bore only gets cleaned after the season is over. I find it usually takes a few shots after cleaning the bore to get it to settle in.

 

[TheUgly]

I don’t bother cleaning any of my guns anymore. 2k rounds through my .223 in the past 1.5 years since I bought it and haven’t cleaned it once.

Here is the last 10 shot group I put through it last month before hunting season - just over 1 MOA. Good enough for me so I don’t see a point in cleaning it.

 

[(NOP)]

I clean once a year, after a rain/condensation, or after roughly 100-300 rounds. All depending on what happens first.

 

[762 ULTRAMAGA]

Really..
Another one of these threads?
Just do a search and you'll find 3 or more threads on here with the same guys saying not to clean your barrel.
My advice is to stop asking this question on forums, and do some research coming from a scientific perspective.
I'd start by asking quality barrel makers

 

[tcpip95]

I clean each gun after every use. Especially anytime gas operated. Shotguns get pretty dirty after a day of trap and sporting clays.