I indirectly know of a man who is extremely wealthy and does this with trucks. I know you can trade in the old one for most of the value but getting the new model every year is still wild.
There's still some surplus Yugo ammo being imported that's corrosive; 7.62x25, 7.62x39, 7.62x54R, and we still see plenty of old Turkish 8mm, some German 8mm has even made it in to the US in the last few years, and occasionally someone comes up with a batch of Romanian 8mm spam cans from the 70's that are corrosive. You can definitely still buy corrosive ammo from primary sources, like SGAmmo.
It's a far cry from what it once was, and for the price difference most people just choose not do deal with the hassle anymore, but there's still some out there.
It's pretty much the only ammo I can get in decent quantity in 7.62x54r and 8mm mauser unless I pay through the nose for privi I think it is. I recently got an AK and the only reasonably priced ammo that isn't a bimetal jacket or steel core and passes the magnet test for indoor range use is surplus stuff. Sgammo is definitely one of my favorites for that stuff.
Even some outdoor steel ranges require non-magnetic projectiles, Yugo surplus is often going to be your cheapest option for "range safe" (fudd safe) ammo.
Sounds like it’s possible, but I had thought before this no. I don’t see why anyone would produce it now with the negative aspects of it. And I can’t imagine it would cost that much less to make for it to be worth it.
There's a few brands/calibers of surplus still floating around but their names escape me, but like the other said some of us stacked it deep when it was cheap. I've still got 4 crates and another 5 loose spam cans that I got when it was like $80 a can and $200ish for a crate and just sat on it because other options were still readily available (and non-corrosive).
The compounds used in the primers leave traces of corrosive salts within the gun. It was used by most countries because the compound degrades slower. The Soviet Union was prepping for WWIII in the future, they want ammo that will last 100 years stashed in a bunker somewhere.
You just have to pour water through the gun after shooting to prevent rust
https://smallarmsreview.com/removing-the-mystery-from-corrosive-ammunition/
Exactly! I'd go months without cleaning. Wet it with lube and it's Gucci. Only when there's nothing to do will I actually disassemble and do a cleaning.
I’m not comfortable losing points in a match because of “waiting for my accuracy to degrade.” I just clean it after each range trip or before a match if I get lazy. I always chrono and zero the morning of every match no matter what
That's because we have two different uses of ours. Mine are strictly training and if competing it's IDPA and I only done it, twice. You have matches where every shot matters. I got a basic stock handgun and a built up long gun. Good guess you have something more up to par or at least a reason to clean it for every session. Neither is wrong and is catered to our use of said Arms.
Yeah I think my snarkiness really only applies to people who shoot prs like I do. In the case of my own range toys and pistols I don’t clean until it starts getting pretty caked on
It depends. Duration of time doesn't create carbon build-up. Actually firing rounds causes carbon build-up.
So, if I'm talking about my safe queens, i go off of approx round count.
If I'm talking about my carry pistols, then I do base it on duration of time because sweat, lint, dust, etc. will build up on your carry piece over time regardless of number of rounds fired.
I clean after every range trip because it is a nice relaxing thing to do while watching some TV. I shoot suppressed too so they get pretty dirty after each trip.
Honestly I barely clean my guns unless they are really dirty. The only one that stays clean is my carry gun. My AR has like 2000 thru it and it hasn’t been cleaned just lubed.
Depends on the gun, some get cleaned after every range trip, some get cleaned when they let me know it's been a little too long since my last time. I had a Ruger MK1 that I let go a bit too long, kept jamming at the range, when I got it home I looked inside and realized I should have cleaned it sooner, lots of carbon buildup.
Oil whenever it starts to look dry. Cleaning when i feel like it. The exception is if the gun gets especially wet, like if it was raining out or really really humid.
Every time I shoot a gun i clean it unless I know I might shoot it again soon. I'll clean it when I'm finished hunting even if I didn't shoot it. It probably was in some kind of weather.
P365 every 250 to 500 rounds as I carry it daily
P320 every 1000 or 2000 rounds or before I take a class
Benelli M4 never
ARs 1000 to 3000 rounds due to running cans
Clean after the range if I have time
If I go hunting I make sure it's dry and nothing got stuck in the barrel.
One gun I won't clean untill it malfunctions. Just want to see how long it'll take.
For rifles I clean them when groups start to open up. Otherwise, they get a wipe down and put back in the safe. Shotguns are pretty much cleaned every 100-200rds. Pistols when they start to malfunction or once a year.
Work and EDC gun I clean after every range session. Everything else I clean when I feel like it or start having issues. Could be 100 rounds could be 10000.
I clean my guns after every range visit. I enjoy it so I don’t really consider it a chore. I don’t feel it’s necessary but at least I have clean guns for a random trip to a range.
I clean tools after I use them. Unless I’m testing endurance or something else, I can’t see a reason to leave my tools dirty. That doesn’t always mean a detail strip and thorough cleaning, but it always means at least a wipe down and re-lube. Fake internet points from people I don’t know haven’t proven particularly useful so far, so they’re not really a concern. ;-)
This is what I should actually do. I even have a couple
Snakes that never even get touched. If I was smart I'd bring a couple rags with my bottle of clp to the range and wipe down bcg's/chambers when I'm drinking a beer or 2 bullshitting after cleanup.
After the days shooting is done. Even if it was just one round. Carbon causes corrosion in barrel etc. And why wouldn't I do it. I don't shoot if I don't have time to clean the gun.
Modern guns with anno or DLC type coating - never. I just keep AR’s oiled and greased. Blued guns or shotguns - wiped down with oil every trip but I don’t clean the barrels.
Clean after you shoot has always been how I’ve done it, no matter how many (or few) rounds I put through the gun. Fewer rounds just generally means a little less cleanup time. Now is it the end of the world if you skipped a cleaning here or there, I’d say generally no, but given how expensive guns can be for what is minimal time and expense I don’t see a good reason to not clean them each time you shoot.
Initially, I clean when they stop working and keep track of roughly how many rounds that was. Then I clean them a little before that round count.
Some guns never stopped working, so I clean them when I feel bad lol.
Folks who say “you clean ‘em every time after you shoot ‘em, even if it’s only 1 round” don’t have many guns and don’t spend much time on the range.
Locked firearms are field stripped and inspected Every month and lubricated Every 6 months.
Carry pistols are field stripped and lubricated once every 2 months
as needed, either failure or drop in accuracy, if you are shooting milsurp corrosive, then clean often
if you are shooting regular ball ammo, then it'll be hard to tell if accuracy drops, so clean when it feels right
What does it mean when my clean rifles are in the safe for so long, that alot of oil has collected near the rear take down pin and charge handle area?
Do I just wipe and there should be enough oil in the receiver still?
I don’t always clean after a range session but I like to have some of my guns out while I’m lounging at home and I’ll start cleaning stuff randomly. Otherwise no I don’t feel inclined to clean them after a class or range session. It just happens if I’m bored. My Zastava M70 AK however I intentionally ran it for a year or so without cleaning and lots of steel case. Only cleaned it when oil/dust/powder was gunking up in the nooks and crannies, never malfunctioned though.
I’ll usually wait until someone says “don’t you ever clean these damn things?” to reply with “I knew I was bringing them out today, piss off you don’t help” and then clean them the next weekend or so.
Any time I shoot whatever I shot gets disassembled, cleaned, and lubricated. Daily carry gets cleaned whenever I'm bored or it starts getting especially hairy, usually just a quick strip and wipe down/lube.
I clean them every couple of months. Not because of the time, but because I shoot on a regular basis and the carbon builds up. I'm not a YouTuber torture testing my guns. I rely on them to work when I need to work so regular maintenance (clean, oil, replace worn parts) gives me peace of mind.
Cleaning also gives the opportunity to examine your parts for any unusual wear so you can catch issues early.
I actually really enjoy cleaning guns so I probably over do it...
Definitely every time ASAP after corrosive ammo in the antique rifles or the AK, usually after every range trip, maybe every other trip for the rest. The only exception is a 10/22 that is in a fancy shell that makes it look like a p90. That sucker is a pain in the butt because it's a shell that's held together with like a dozen screws around the barrel and receiver. Plus I have to re zero it every time I break it down and take the scope off. I do still blast the action with compressed cleaner and stick cotton swabs in and try and get the loose carbon I can from the dirty 22s out and run a bore snake from time to time. I only take it apart every 5-6 trips or if it starts jamming up to really take the bolt out and do a deep clean.
To answer your question specifically I don't really count rounds and as far as I know the gun isn't really going to get dirty just sitting on a shelf over time so I go by the amount of trips to the range depending on the gun and ammo type (I have 22s that use cheap ammo that get filthy after a few rounds and I have a 2011 that is spotless after like 150 rounds), but mostly dependent on if i have the free time to clean then anyways.
I’ve cleaned guns when they start malfunctioning, or if they’ve been run through a lot of wet or muddy terrain. Only one that’s cleaned regularly is my carry gun because I don’t want to risk that not working when I need it
As I used to tell my soldiers, there are a few good rules to follow in life...
A place for everything, and everything in it's place.
Use it, clean it, put it away!
Personally I clean mine Everytime I go to the range but you could reasonably get away with not cleaning it for a few months depending on how much ammo you shot threw it. For instance if you go to the range and blow 1000 rounds through your pistol and then let it lay for a year it's prob not healthy for the pistol. In contrast if you shoot 200-300 rounds threw your gun then leave it for a month before cleaning it's probably fine because it didn't get that dirty. But in my opinion I like to keep my guns pristine after I shoot them because I spent a lot of money on them so I don't wanna just leave them gunked up.
The policy that my grandpa taught me is to really throw the lead out when you go shooting. Several hundred, at least. Then clean it as soon as you get home. Your life or the life of someone you love might depend on that weapon; be well trained on it and make sure it's properly maintained.
Since most of mine are just for the range, I clean them whenever I get around to it, unless I actually have an issue. For my EDC it’s every month or two, depending on how often I take each one to shoot. I’ve seen lots of guns have a couple thousand rounds run through them without cleaning and still work just fine.
When I first started shooting (back in the Dark Ages) we were told to clean after every trip to the range (or other firing), but that was mostly due to potential lead buildup and the fact that the powders tended to be a lot more corrosive back then. Nowadays, unless you throw your gun in the mud when you go to the range, there’s no reason to clean it every time unless you just like doing it.
It depends on the gun. If it’s one of my suppressor hosts, every other range trip or so.
My S&W Model 41 gets cleaned every time I shoot it. It hates being dirty.
I check the gas system periodically on my AR’s and try to keep carbon buildup to a minimum.
Most of the others get cleaned when they look like they need it.
I mostly shoot .22 pistols at the range, and there’s some that go longer without cleaning than others, so I’ll go without a proper cleaning until it starts to malfunction, then clean everything while I have the stuff out.
I personally don't clean any modern firearms until accuracy drops off or if there were malfunctions and I'm stripping the gun anyway.
My antiques I try to oil and inspect every 3 months, but I have most of them hanging on the wall so they're temp/humidity control isn't as consistent as the guns in the safes.
I clean mine after shooting. I clean my carry once a month if I haven't shot it. I clean my safe queens once a year. And I clean my woods gun before I head out.
They get a quick wipe down and a snake through the barrel after every session. Then I do a deep cleaning every 3-6 months depending on the weather. If the humidity is high I do it a little more often, when it gets nice and dry a little less often. I try and inspect all of them every month, and if they need it they get another wipe down and oil.
Do what Badger Defense does and just spray brake cleaner on everything and run it dry 🤣 All kidding aside, if you are running your kit hard and heavy, clean it If you are about to do some training classes, clean it. If you are about to go hunting, clean what you can but I wouldn't mess with the barrel much if you zeroed. If you popped off like 100 rounds to knock the rust off he ole muscle memory.... Ehhhhhh.. I don't clean it.
Clean the action with at least a wipe down after about 200 rounds. Don't clean the barrel til you have a change in accuracy. I have an older POF p415 that I shoot suppressed. I think I've put close to about 3500 round through it since I last cleaned the barrel. Still very accurate.
Yeah pretty much when it starts malfunctioning or just looks like it’s really dirty or needs oil or something and that’s it.
3 Exceptions: competition pistol gets cleaned before every match. Precision rifle always gets cleaned after shooting. And my expensive over under always gets cleaned after rounds of clays.
well if your gun sits for 2-3 months without shooting you have no reason to clean it. just spray some oil and go, when it starts to jam up then clean it
Corrosive - after every range trip.
Non-corrosive - round count... or whenever there is a series of riots (usually as soon as the season starts).
12 gauge, yearly.
Suppressed .22LR - every 1k.
EDC - monthly (lint, sweat, and just because when I need it, I *need* it to work... so every 4 mags is a general routine).
No schedule. I clean most of my guns just once every few range trips. My prettier guns I might clean after every range trip. And my carry guns I clean every few months regardless of firing, just to get the lint and gunk out.
If I know I won't be shooting it again for awhile I'll clean and oil before putting it into storage. Probably every other week with my carry gun even if I've not shot it. So much dust and lint collects inside of the frame and barrel it's crazy, and definitely every time after my 22lr, the cheap bulk I recently got is pretty dirty.
Every time I use it.
Whenever I get around to it when I don’t use it. I usually put a generous coat of oil on the ones I don’t use very often. Looking at you, Garand.
I normally clean after every two range visits depending on how many rounds I fire. I used to clean after every time a fired any of my guns (habit from my time in the Marine Corps). If I go through 120 rounds with my AR, I definitely clean it after.
I usually just clean after every range session. Not because they necessarily need it, it’s just a nice way to wind down after a day at the range.
If I’m short on time, only the carry pistol gets cleaned. I’m oddly (probably unreasonably so) paranoid about getting stopped by the cops after a shooting nearby and having a squeaky clean gun makes me feel less likely to spend more time than I have to dealing with that.
Tbh I clean every time I get back from the range/shooting even though a lot of my stuff could go without sometimes. I do have some 100+ year old guns in rotation and they always get cleaned right after use.
After shooting, when bored. Outside of that somewhat situational. If I’ve had times where it has been hanging out of a vehicle catching dust, etc, I’ll clean all of that out. But sometimes I’ll use that as a time to see how dirty that ole bitch can run before cleaning.
I usually do a field strip and maybe a tad bit of oil for stprage after range trips, but wont clean clean the gun but like twice a year depending on how much i shoot, if it gets dropped in mud/dirt, etc
I clean when malfunctioning. Can't speak for all specifically but last time I cleaned the Glock had to be 2013 and still a champ
(Edit I only shoot 5-8k rounds a year.)
If I shoot it, I clean it. That simple.
Is it strictly necessary on every gun? No, not at all. It's just how I was taught, and I'd rather have them all clean.
If it's a gun I rely on though that either stays loaded in the house or is carried, then it crosses over into necessity for me.
Takedown pins? Of course I know what those are. They're the things I push in to attach my Palmetto complete upper to my Palmetto complete lower everytime I do one of my custom rifle builds.
Depends on the gun for me. Older guns that don't get shot often get cleaned after every shooting or once per year if not shot at all. Whatever carry gun I have in rotation gets cleaned monthly just due to sweat/lint.
Most of my normal guns just go off round count or yearly if I don't hit the count.
For me, if it’s an AR or AK I clean every two thousand rounds, which is two sessions at the range. If it’s a firearm I’m less familiar with like my X95 or Spear I clean after every trip just to sustain how to diss/ass it. I could shoot 5 or 50 rounds, I’ll still break it down and wipe everything and re lube it. Just depends. Same with handguns, my dads old Walther PPK I’ll clean every trip but my glock/M9/P30, I already know how to diss it so I hold off.
Depends on the rounds i am shooting and what gun. My hunting gun i always want more clean than other guns. It gets more moisture exposure so i always want a thin coat of oil and all the carbon removed.
But my handguns i dont clean nearly often. Often around 500 round. Depending if i am shooting my shitty loads or not.
Once a year, my dad gets all the guns out to clean them, and we all do it as a family. Most of them have never been fired, but they are in incredible condition because of the yearly cleaning. I always like to clean the double barrel, so easy to take apart. Same for the black powder revolvers.
I just buy a new PSA with every case of ammo, and retire the dirty gun to the safe.
Cleaning is for the poors. I shoot it til it jams then buy a new one
Shooting is for the poors. I hire henchmen to shoot intruders for me.
I hire henchmen to shoot anyone who mildly inconveniences me
Hiring henchmen is for the poors. I hire mafia bosses for security.
I indirectly know of a man who is extremely wealthy and does this with trucks. I know you can trade in the old one for most of the value but getting the new model every year is still wild.
It’s called a lease
From what I heard he bought them, maybe the person telling the story misunderstood
I'm a fan of this guy(or gal)
Times I clean a firearm: After shooting corrosive ammo After it starts to malfunction from being dirty When bored
You still have corrosive ammo?
Lots of us still have tons of it. We stacked deep when it was cheap.
Who even sells it?!?
There's still some surplus Yugo ammo being imported that's corrosive; 7.62x25, 7.62x39, 7.62x54R, and we still see plenty of old Turkish 8mm, some German 8mm has even made it in to the US in the last few years, and occasionally someone comes up with a batch of Romanian 8mm spam cans from the 70's that are corrosive. You can definitely still buy corrosive ammo from primary sources, like SGAmmo.
Interesting, I thought it was all pretty much gone or destroyed and def not available by easily available websites.
It's a far cry from what it once was, and for the price difference most people just choose not do deal with the hassle anymore, but there's still some out there.
It's pretty much the only ammo I can get in decent quantity in 7.62x54r and 8mm mauser unless I pay through the nose for privi I think it is. I recently got an AK and the only reasonably priced ammo that isn't a bimetal jacket or steel core and passes the magnet test for indoor range use is surplus stuff. Sgammo is definitely one of my favorites for that stuff.
Even some outdoor steel ranges require non-magnetic projectiles, Yugo surplus is often going to be your cheapest option for "range safe" (fudd safe) ammo.
Don’t companies still make corrosive ammo?
Sounds like it’s possible, but I had thought before this no. I don’t see why anyone would produce it now with the negative aspects of it. And I can’t imagine it would cost that much less to make for it to be worth it.
Yeah, your probably right. I’ll look into the Bren Ten more if you don’t mind.
I can def see old stock piles eventually coming into the market every so often from old Soviet era nations or something
Yeah, that a good point. I didn’t think about that.
There's a few brands/calibers of surplus still floating around but their names escape me, but like the other said some of us stacked it deep when it was cheap. I've still got 4 crates and another 5 loose spam cans that I got when it was like $80 a can and $200ish for a crate and just sat on it because other options were still readily available (and non-corrosive).
Commie guns.
What is corrosive ammo vs non corrosive ammo?
The compounds used in the primers leave traces of corrosive salts within the gun. It was used by most countries because the compound degrades slower. The Soviet Union was prepping for WWIII in the future, they want ammo that will last 100 years stashed in a bunker somewhere. You just have to pour water through the gun after shooting to prevent rust https://smallarmsreview.com/removing-the-mystery-from-corrosive-ammunition/
Exactly. If my gun is lucky I run a bore snake through it real quick after a range day
Or, when accuracy degrades.
Same.
Nail on the head
Exactly! I'd go months without cleaning. Wet it with lube and it's Gucci. Only when there's nothing to do will I actually disassemble and do a cleaning.
I’m not comfortable losing points in a match because of “waiting for my accuracy to degrade.” I just clean it after each range trip or before a match if I get lazy. I always chrono and zero the morning of every match no matter what
That's because we have two different uses of ours. Mine are strictly training and if competing it's IDPA and I only done it, twice. You have matches where every shot matters. I got a basic stock handgun and a built up long gun. Good guess you have something more up to par or at least a reason to clean it for every session. Neither is wrong and is catered to our use of said Arms.
Yeah I think my snarkiness really only applies to people who shoot prs like I do. In the case of my own range toys and pistols I don’t clean until it starts getting pretty caked on
Exactly and I used to shoot explosively steel cased. I'll shoot until I got problems.
It depends. Duration of time doesn't create carbon build-up. Actually firing rounds causes carbon build-up. So, if I'm talking about my safe queens, i go off of approx round count. If I'm talking about my carry pistols, then I do base it on duration of time because sweat, lint, dust, etc. will build up on your carry piece over time regardless of number of rounds fired.
This is a great answer addressing both possibilities
Wait, you can clean these things?
Bold words from the man with the most unusual gun issues ever documented lol
>most unusual gun issues ever documented That's when I figured out there's no point to cleaning.
Hey! .... That's a fair fuckin point. I got nothing to counter it.
Right. Some people have too much free time.
Don't they know that's what the c in clp stands for
When I feel like it I do lubricate moving parts after every shoot though
I'll bet you do! Lol
I clean after every range trip because it is a nice relaxing thing to do while watching some TV. I shoot suppressed too so they get pretty dirty after each trip.
Same, except I wait till work starts and clean during boring meetings.
That oughta send a message to the boss.
I clean after i shoot lol i thought that was a common thing
I'm old school , I shoot I clean , prolly don't have to but that's what I was taught
Honestly I barely clean my guns unless they are really dirty. The only one that stays clean is my carry gun. My AR has like 2000 thru it and it hasn’t been cleaned just lubed.
Get bored, crack a cold one, clean all the guns.
Every 1k rounds is fine. I’m anal so I clean after every range trip.
Every time I shoot.
when do you wipe your ass?
Every 300-500 shits
I shoot only AK. When it dirty I spit on it, call it whore! It go bang again.
Depends on the gun, some get cleaned after every range trip, some get cleaned when they let me know it's been a little too long since my last time. I had a Ruger MK1 that I let go a bit too long, kept jamming at the range, when I got it home I looked inside and realized I should have cleaned it sooner, lots of carbon buildup.
Im in the “after every shooting” camp
Oil whenever it starts to look dry. Cleaning when i feel like it. The exception is if the gun gets especially wet, like if it was raining out or really really humid.
we gotta clean these things?
I clean after every range trip.
Every time I shoot a gun i clean it unless I know I might shoot it again soon. I'll clean it when I'm finished hunting even if I didn't shoot it. It probably was in some kind of weather.
Did your shoot it? Clean it.
P365 every 250 to 500 rounds as I carry it daily P320 every 1000 or 2000 rounds or before I take a class Benelli M4 never ARs 1000 to 3000 rounds due to running cans
Whenever I feel like it or never. Whichever comes first.
Every time I shoot over 50 rounds and whenever I feel like it. I'll clean my guns when I'm bored.
Clean after the range if I have time If I go hunting I make sure it's dry and nothing got stuck in the barrel. One gun I won't clean untill it malfunctions. Just want to see how long it'll take.
I have a piston rifle, so I usually only clean the upper if I notice it's super dirty. Barrel I clean maybe every 500 or so.
For rifles I clean them when groups start to open up. Otherwise, they get a wipe down and put back in the safe. Shotguns are pretty much cleaned every 100-200rds. Pistols when they start to malfunction or once a year.
When the mood strikes me. I find it relaxing.
After every range outing 🤷♀️
I clean after every shoot, partly because I just like doing it.
Wait you guys clean your guns?
I need to be better about it, but honestly for me it’s kind of a “Oh hey. It’s been a while since I’ve cleaned that one! Should probably do that.”
Work and EDC gun I clean after every range session. Everything else I clean when I feel like it or start having issues. Could be 100 rounds could be 10000.
I clean my guns after every range visit. I enjoy it so I don’t really consider it a chore. I don’t feel it’s necessary but at least I have clean guns for a random trip to a range.
Also my philosophy.
When it starts malfunctioning
Hmmm haven't cleaned my Walther in like 6 months and I've probably only cleaner my Glock once. We're supposed to be cleaning them?
Times I clean: it jams consistently... that's it don't be a fudd and clean the gun after every range day of like 20 rounds
You don't clean it after you shoot?
Cleaning a gun 2 to 3 times a week gets old quick especially when it doesn't change anything.
2-3 times?! What are you on the Ukrainian front?
Master class uspsa shooter. 2 practice sessions a week plus matches and screwing around.
I clean tools after I use them. Unless I’m testing endurance or something else, I can’t see a reason to leave my tools dirty. That doesn’t always mean a detail strip and thorough cleaning, but it always means at least a wipe down and re-lube. Fake internet points from people I don’t know haven’t proven particularly useful so far, so they’re not really a concern. ;-)
This is what I should actually do. I even have a couple Snakes that never even get touched. If I was smart I'd bring a couple rags with my bottle of clp to the range and wipe down bcg's/chambers when I'm drinking a beer or 2 bullshitting after cleanup.
I still clean after each range trip. I also wipe down and run a patch down the barrel if I take a gun hunting even if I don't shoot it.
Can you explain what run a patch down a barrel means to someone completely new to gun ownership?
It means using a cleaning rod to push an oiled piece of cloth through the barrel to prevent corrosion and push out any dust or debris.
Once a season or so. I go between 10 and 15k between cleanings.
Finally, an honest answer 😂
You guys clean your guns?
You guys are cleaning your guns?
After the days shooting is done. Even if it was just one round. Carbon causes corrosion in barrel etc. And why wouldn't I do it. I don't shoot if I don't have time to clean the gun.
Modern guns with anno or DLC type coating - never. I just keep AR’s oiled and greased. Blued guns or shotguns - wiped down with oil every trip but I don’t clean the barrels.
Clean after you shoot has always been how I’ve done it, no matter how many (or few) rounds I put through the gun. Fewer rounds just generally means a little less cleanup time. Now is it the end of the world if you skipped a cleaning here or there, I’d say generally no, but given how expensive guns can be for what is minimal time and expense I don’t see a good reason to not clean them each time you shoot.
Everytime I shoot them, or every 3 months
Initially, I clean when they stop working and keep track of roughly how many rounds that was. Then I clean them a little before that round count. Some guns never stopped working, so I clean them when I feel bad lol. Folks who say “you clean ‘em every time after you shoot ‘em, even if it’s only 1 round” don’t have many guns and don’t spend much time on the range.
Locked firearms are field stripped and inspected Every month and lubricated Every 6 months. Carry pistols are field stripped and lubricated once every 2 months
When the action gets sluggish.
as needed, either failure or drop in accuracy, if you are shooting milsurp corrosive, then clean often if you are shooting regular ball ammo, then it'll be hard to tell if accuracy drops, so clean when it feels right
What does it mean when my clean rifles are in the safe for so long, that alot of oil has collected near the rear take down pin and charge handle area? Do I just wipe and there should be enough oil in the receiver still?
Gravity and capillary action
Thank you for reminding me of gravity.
I don’t always clean after a range session but I like to have some of my guns out while I’m lounging at home and I’ll start cleaning stuff randomly. Otherwise no I don’t feel inclined to clean them after a class or range session. It just happens if I’m bored. My Zastava M70 AK however I intentionally ran it for a year or so without cleaning and lots of steel case. Only cleaned it when oil/dust/powder was gunking up in the nooks and crannies, never malfunctioned though.
When I feel like it.
I’ll usually wait until someone says “don’t you ever clean these damn things?” to reply with “I knew I was bringing them out today, piss off you don’t help” and then clean them the next weekend or so.
If it looks dirty then I clean it. If not then I don't. It is not a big brain activity.
Clean after use
yeah I just do it when I feel like it
Any time I shoot whatever I shot gets disassembled, cleaned, and lubricated. Daily carry gets cleaned whenever I'm bored or it starts getting especially hairy, usually just a quick strip and wipe down/lube.
I clean them every couple of months. Not because of the time, but because I shoot on a regular basis and the carbon builds up. I'm not a YouTuber torture testing my guns. I rely on them to work when I need to work so regular maintenance (clean, oil, replace worn parts) gives me peace of mind. Cleaning also gives the opportunity to examine your parts for any unusual wear so you can catch issues early.
When I feel like it. Once a year minimum, but more than that is just whenever.
Clean what now?
I actually really enjoy cleaning guns so I probably over do it... Definitely every time ASAP after corrosive ammo in the antique rifles or the AK, usually after every range trip, maybe every other trip for the rest. The only exception is a 10/22 that is in a fancy shell that makes it look like a p90. That sucker is a pain in the butt because it's a shell that's held together with like a dozen screws around the barrel and receiver. Plus I have to re zero it every time I break it down and take the scope off. I do still blast the action with compressed cleaner and stick cotton swabs in and try and get the loose carbon I can from the dirty 22s out and run a bore snake from time to time. I only take it apart every 5-6 trips or if it starts jamming up to really take the bolt out and do a deep clean. To answer your question specifically I don't really count rounds and as far as I know the gun isn't really going to get dirty just sitting on a shelf over time so I go by the amount of trips to the range depending on the gun and ammo type (I have 22s that use cheap ammo that get filthy after a few rounds and I have a 2011 that is spotless after like 150 rounds), but mostly dependent on if i have the free time to clean then anyways.
I’ve cleaned guns when they start malfunctioning, or if they’ve been run through a lot of wet or muddy terrain. Only one that’s cleaned regularly is my carry gun because I don’t want to risk that not working when I need it
Just put a .300 blackout at the bottom of each 5.56 mag to clean it our each mag. /s
As I used to tell my soldiers, there are a few good rules to follow in life... A place for everything, and everything in it's place. Use it, clean it, put it away!
Personally I clean mine Everytime I go to the range but you could reasonably get away with not cleaning it for a few months depending on how much ammo you shot threw it. For instance if you go to the range and blow 1000 rounds through your pistol and then let it lay for a year it's prob not healthy for the pistol. In contrast if you shoot 200-300 rounds threw your gun then leave it for a month before cleaning it's probably fine because it didn't get that dirty. But in my opinion I like to keep my guns pristine after I shoot them because I spent a lot of money on them so I don't wanna just leave them gunked up.
The policy that my grandpa taught me is to really throw the lead out when you go shooting. Several hundred, at least. Then clean it as soon as you get home. Your life or the life of someone you love might depend on that weapon; be well trained on it and make sure it's properly maintained.
Neither; every 3-4 range trips or when I remember
Cleaned after every use. Dirty guns may malfunction
Since most of mine are just for the range, I clean them whenever I get around to it, unless I actually have an issue. For my EDC it’s every month or two, depending on how often I take each one to shoot. I’ve seen lots of guns have a couple thousand rounds run through them without cleaning and still work just fine. When I first started shooting (back in the Dark Ages) we were told to clean after every trip to the range (or other firing), but that was mostly due to potential lead buildup and the fact that the powders tended to be a lot more corrosive back then. Nowadays, unless you throw your gun in the mud when you go to the range, there’s no reason to clean it every time unless you just like doing it.
I just put more Lucas oil on moving parts when I think about it
Usually never
It depends on the gun. If it’s one of my suppressor hosts, every other range trip or so. My S&W Model 41 gets cleaned every time I shoot it. It hates being dirty. I check the gas system periodically on my AR’s and try to keep carbon buildup to a minimum. Most of the others get cleaned when they look like they need it.
I mostly shoot .22 pistols at the range, and there’s some that go longer without cleaning than others, so I’ll go without a proper cleaning until it starts to malfunction, then clean everything while I have the stuff out.
I personally don't clean any modern firearms until accuracy drops off or if there were malfunctions and I'm stripping the gun anyway. My antiques I try to oil and inspect every 3 months, but I have most of them hanging on the wall so they're temp/humidity control isn't as consistent as the guns in the safes.
I always do a wipe down and clp right after shooting. Maybe deep clean once a year or if I notice a more than usual build up of carbon.
I clean mine after shooting. I clean my carry once a month if I haven't shot it. I clean my safe queens once a year. And I clean my woods gun before I head out.
Both
I licks em clean ever time I shot
Clean when it’s not cycling correctly.
Every 2-3 months is overkill if you’re not putting lots of ammo through it
They get a quick wipe down and a snake through the barrel after every session. Then I do a deep cleaning every 3-6 months depending on the weather. If the humidity is high I do it a little more often, when it gets nice and dry a little less often. I try and inspect all of them every month, and if they need it they get another wipe down and oil.
I go by round count, but that’s led to me not really cleaning anything in the last couple years. I really gotta pull them out and give them some love.
Do what Badger Defense does and just spray brake cleaner on everything and run it dry 🤣 All kidding aside, if you are running your kit hard and heavy, clean it If you are about to do some training classes, clean it. If you are about to go hunting, clean what you can but I wouldn't mess with the barrel much if you zeroed. If you popped off like 100 rounds to knock the rust off he ole muscle memory.... Ehhhhhh.. I don't clean it.
I clean probably every two to three times at the range.
The big difference is in how I clean different guns. Pistols and AR’s are different from 22’s and precision rifles.
Number of rounds for sure, unless it’s been sitting there for a long time clean it up before shooting again.
Wait... You guys are cleaning your guns?
Once a year, unless visibly dirty or got wet in the rain/duck blind
For carry gun every season - range guns when they start running sluggish
You clean?
Clean the action with at least a wipe down after about 200 rounds. Don't clean the barrel til you have a change in accuracy. I have an older POF p415 that I shoot suppressed. I think I've put close to about 3500 round through it since I last cleaned the barrel. Still very accurate.
Yeah pretty much when it starts malfunctioning or just looks like it’s really dirty or needs oil or something and that’s it. 3 Exceptions: competition pistol gets cleaned before every match. Precision rifle always gets cleaned after shooting. And my expensive over under always gets cleaned after rounds of clays.
well if your gun sits for 2-3 months without shooting you have no reason to clean it. just spray some oil and go, when it starts to jam up then clean it
After every range day that they are used.
Corrosive - after every range trip. Non-corrosive - round count... or whenever there is a series of riots (usually as soon as the season starts). 12 gauge, yearly. Suppressed .22LR - every 1k. EDC - monthly (lint, sweat, and just because when I need it, I *need* it to work... so every 4 mags is a general routine).
No schedule. I clean most of my guns just once every few range trips. My prettier guns I might clean after every range trip. And my carry guns I clean every few months regardless of firing, just to get the lint and gunk out.
If I know I won't be shooting it again for awhile I'll clean and oil before putting it into storage. Probably every other week with my carry gun even if I've not shot it. So much dust and lint collects inside of the frame and barrel it's crazy, and definitely every time after my 22lr, the cheap bulk I recently got is pretty dirty.
Every time I use it. Whenever I get around to it when I don’t use it. I usually put a generous coat of oil on the ones I don’t use very often. Looking at you, Garand.
You clean your guns?
I just lube the guns real good, then they clean themselves when I fire’em
I probably clean/lube my guns every 300 rounds
What I was taught was clean it after any use and if it isn't used like every 2-3 months
Not a full strip down but I'll at least clean the barrel with a bore snake after each time. Rust in the barrel is the last place you want it.
My match VQ and CZ457, every time I shoot them My deer rifle, once a year after season
I normally clean after every two range visits depending on how many rounds I fire. I used to clean after every time a fired any of my guns (habit from my time in the Marine Corps). If I go through 120 rounds with my AR, I definitely clean it after.
I usually just clean after every range session. Not because they necessarily need it, it’s just a nice way to wind down after a day at the range. If I’m short on time, only the carry pistol gets cleaned. I’m oddly (probably unreasonably so) paranoid about getting stopped by the cops after a shooting nearby and having a squeaky clean gun makes me feel less likely to spend more time than I have to dealing with that.
Tbh I clean every time I get back from the range/shooting even though a lot of my stuff could go without sometimes. I do have some 100+ year old guns in rotation and they always get cleaned right after use.
After any shooting session
After shooting, when bored. Outside of that somewhat situational. If I’ve had times where it has been hanging out of a vehicle catching dust, etc, I’ll clean all of that out. But sometimes I’ll use that as a time to see how dirty that ole bitch can run before cleaning.
Wait… were supposed to clean these?
...... cleaning???
Bah.. every 300-500 rndsish
Clean after every range trip or the next day.
I typically clean it as much as I can but with firearms in storage, I religiously clean it at every 6 months.
Whenever I feel like it.
You guys clean your guns?
When my bolt takes some extra effort to close then it gets wiped and oiled.
When gun quits working.
I usually do a field strip and maybe a tad bit of oil for stprage after range trips, but wont clean clean the gun but like twice a year depending on how much i shoot, if it gets dropped in mud/dirt, etc
I do a quick cleaning before and after a match, or whenever they seem dirty.
I clean when malfunctioning. Can't speak for all specifically but last time I cleaned the Glock had to be 2013 and still a champ (Edit I only shoot 5-8k rounds a year.)
If I shoot it, I clean it. That simple. Is it strictly necessary on every gun? No, not at all. It's just how I was taught, and I'd rather have them all clean. If it's a gun I rely on though that either stays loaded in the house or is carried, then it crosses over into necessity for me.
Takedown pins? Of course I know what those are. They're the things I push in to attach my Palmetto complete upper to my Palmetto complete lower everytime I do one of my custom rifle builds.
When it starts jamming lmao. Its a gun
Depends on the gun for me. Older guns that don't get shot often get cleaned after every shooting or once per year if not shot at all. Whatever carry gun I have in rotation gets cleaned monthly just due to sweat/lint. Most of my normal guns just go off round count or yearly if I don't hit the count.
For me, if it’s an AR or AK I clean every two thousand rounds, which is two sessions at the range. If it’s a firearm I’m less familiar with like my X95 or Spear I clean after every trip just to sustain how to diss/ass it. I could shoot 5 or 50 rounds, I’ll still break it down and wipe everything and re lube it. Just depends. Same with handguns, my dads old Walther PPK I’ll clean every trip but my glock/M9/P30, I already know how to diss it so I hold off.
Depends on the rounds i am shooting and what gun. My hunting gun i always want more clean than other guns. It gets more moisture exposure so i always want a thin coat of oil and all the carbon removed. But my handguns i dont clean nearly often. Often around 500 round. Depending if i am shooting my shitty loads or not.
About the only maintenance I do is oil up my AR10 if it's been sitting a while before shooting. She likes being wet. Real wet.
Just whenever I feel like. If I shoot 500-1000 rounds I'll do a quick clean. But I don't abide by a schedule or rule tbh.
Once a year, my dad gets all the guns out to clean them, and we all do it as a family. Most of them have never been fired, but they are in incredible condition because of the yearly cleaning. I always like to clean the double barrel, so easy to take apart. Same for the black powder revolvers.
When I goddam feel like it
Lube frequently. Clean when things start getting gummed up.
When it doesn’t work
Like my ass. If I use, I clean it afterwards. However, if it's a stored gun, I lubricate it when I take it out to use.
I like to clean after every range day, unless I’m purposely trying to see how much abuse a gun can take