Pistol Cleaning - How Often?

[drgrant]

The only guns I clean "frequently" are my current "in use" carry gun, (I try not to carry a dirty gun, except when coming back from the range with it) and usually my AR-15... although I've been slacking on that gun. . Usually I let the range toys gunk up a bit before cleaning. My 1911s for bowling pins get a quickie clean and lube before every match, but thats nothing more than a boresnake pass or three and a coupla drops of lube. I tear them down every other month during the season though and give them a good cleaning, because after awhile the gunk starts to cause severe issues- issues that in the past caused me to lose relays because of a malf'ing gun.

Also, usually around the end of November or so I systematically clean everything, as most of the stuff will sit in the safes until march of the next year. (I'll be lucky if I get to get out 3-4 times during the winter to shoot anything- I dislike shooting indoors (most indoor ranges in MA/NH with a handful of exceptions are terrible or too limiting) and outside is usually too cold... )

-Mike

 

[Joe G]

My first instructor, from whom I learned about bullseye, IPSC, and CCW had a philosophy that I subscribe to:

Competition guns get cleaned when they malfunction, for the reason mentioned above - a clean barrel may shoot differently than a fouled one. Consistency is important, even when you're shooting 240s-250s like me. I can take an alibi during a bullseye match or can do a tap-rack-bang in IDPA. The consequence of a failure is not earth shattering.

Carry guns get cleaned after each use. You always want to be confident that it will go bang when you pull the trigger. That is way more important than the fraction of an MOA you might lose by changing the dynamics of your barrel.

YMMV, but it sure made sense to me when he said it.

 

[LT1MCSS]

Everytime I go to the range. I spend way to much money on my guns not to clean them.

 

[PaulD]

Mobil 1 synthetic is one of the best lubricants out there. It won't burn off as the gun gets hot and is thick yet not too thick. It just doesn't smell as good as others.

I switched to Mobil 1 also (though probably even non-synth motor oils like Castrol would be fine too). I noticed on my guns that I haven't brought to the range lately that it doesn't dry out.

As for taking the advice of a gunsmith on barrel cleaning, I'll just say that plenty of auto mechanics still think a 3000 mile oil change is necessary on modern engines. They may be great mechanics but they are't petroleum engineers or metalurgists.

 

[LT1MCSS]

Mobil 1, interesting lol. Definately got plenty of that stuff hanging around. I m ight have to try it. I have switch to Mil-tec the past few months though. Its not supposed to burn off while it get hot either.

 

[Du510]

Which viscosity on the Mobil1?

 

[Cuz]

Mobil 1 synthetic is one of the best lubricants out there. It won't burn off as the gun gets hot and is thick yet not too thick. It just doesn't smell as good as others.

+1 for Mobil 1. I switched to it a couple of years ago and never looked back. It's way cheaper than any gun lubricant out there, and at my current rate of about 4 drops every few months in each gun a $6 quart will last me a lifetime.

-Cuz.

 

[Scrivener]

Which viscosity on the Mobil1?

Whatever I put in the crankcase. I stack the 6 bottles in 3 pairs, spout to spout, then keep consolidating the drippings.

That means 5W-40; 0W-30 in the winter.

 

[RG617]

One thing I have to wonder is if it depends on the manufacturer and the metal/materials they use. I'd taken my new Mark III to the range three times over four weeks, trying to break it in appropriately before I decided to clean it. Imagine my surprise at opening the case and finding some light rust on the magazines after sitting for only three or four days since the last time out. Maybe there's a train of thought I'm overlooking where you lightly wipe everything down with a little lube after each use, but I was pretty surprised at how fast a little palm sweat brought about surface rust on those particular mags. Never had that happen with anything else I own.

 

[Scrivener]

Sweat contains water and salt - two prime ingredients for rust.

 

[Dick]

Maybe there's a train of thought I'm overlooking where you lightly wipe everything down with a little lube after each use, but I was pretty surprised at how fast a little palm sweat brought about surface rust on those particular mags.

I can only speak for myself, but my remarks about not cleaning as frequently as others shouldn't be confused with total neglect. Even guns I don't intend to clean for a while get wiped down with a silicone-impregnated cloth, or just simply an oily rag, after every time I touch them.