How Often Do You Clean Your Rifle?

[Mr Drysdale]

Wiped down and oiled during season. One deep cleaning per year for the most part. Deer season closed January 31st. I pulled stands the weekend that followed. I started cleaning rifles the next weekend. Four for the grandchildren, one each for the son and son-in-law and four that I hunt with. They all get pulled from the stock and cleaned internally as well as bore. I finish my cleaning by removing the slings, cleaning the glass and running a lightly oiled patch down the bore. Then they all go into the safe until fouling and verifying zero next hunting season. We all shoot throughout the year with our 10-22’s, SKS’s and AR’s and they get cleaned as needed. It usually takes me a couple of weeks as I do it at night before the time changes. I actually enjoy it and it occupies my time after season and before the yard work begins. As you can see I am somewhat OCD about my rifles. BTW I let the grands help and they are learning. No bore snake in my bore!

 

[AirborneEScouter]

1-2 times a year if I’m feeling stir crazy. Keep bolt/action/exterior clean but only do a deep multi-hour cleanse that 1-2 times a year. Clean my shotgun once every 3-5 hunts. My rifles just don’t need the cleaning

 

[Maverick1]

I’m kind of simple. I clean the rifle after I’m done shooting. Which isn’t particularly frequent since I’m primarily a bow hunter and rarely shoot or hunt with a rifle anymore. It’s really so infrequent that I shoot a rifle that I generally clean it when I’m done just to make sure it gets cleaned once in awhile.

 

[Enel]

This question has been over flogged but here we go again, when you feel there too many carbon them that’s the right time. If you carry a handgun then I would say more often.

 

[bruceleroy]

I wipe my bolt off after range trips. Havent touched the bore or barrel since new 800 rounds ago.

 

[DB Cooper]

I only clean in Nov/Dec when the season's over. I'll shoot 400-500 rounds through a .308 in a summer and it never gets too dirty to where accuracy is affected

 

[wildbill34]

Why You Shouldn’t Clean Your Rifle Bore Before a Hunt

Most of us have been taught the importance of keeping our guns clean. After every outing, we are supposed to make sure there's not a spec of dirt, powder, or copper anywhere, inside or out. This will ensure both the accuracy and longevity of our beloved hunting rifles. I don’t want to stop that...

www.outdoorlife.com

Decent take that seems to be in-line with what most people here are saying.

 

[trailrider121]

I clean when accuracy degrades or its been a long time. Depends powder your using too. Some powders are dirty and carbon foul. I don't keep record of rounds fired, but I clean a month or two before hunting season.