Am I the only person who cleans his guns?

B

BigShep85

New member
Not too long ago I traded for a couple pistols one I intended on keeping and one to sale, and when I recieved them while in great shape they were filthy, I mean dirty to the point that I was amazed somebody would let anything they owned get that dirty, (This guy was the original purchaser of both pistols) so I took them home cleaned them really good and they looked like new the one I kept (4506) went by the bed and the other is gone now glad to send it off in cleaned and like new shape.
Now A couple weeks ago I bought a used rifle an AR 15 off a guy and he sent it to me, great looking gun no scratches scuffs on the mags or furniture etc, I took it out to the range and sighted it in and the bolt a time or two didnt go all the way forward. Forward assist fixed that no problem so I took it home to clean it and I was amazed AGAIN at how filthy this gun was I had never seen a gun that dirty before and I see ALOT of guns, even the before mentioned pistols wasnt this dirty I wouldn't be surprised if this gun had never been cleaned.

Am I the only person who cleans their guns at all? I enjoy cleaning my guns but don't clean them after every range trip or sometimes even after a few range trips (depending on rounds count) but I have never seen guns this dirty and this was two seperate people on two seperate occasions. Am I the only one this happens to?
I am just looking for fellow firing liners feedback on this, I feel like this kinda wears a gun out quicker and leads to malfunctions or parts to break but thats just my opinion I guess.
 
No you are not, I clean me guns every time I shoot with them, 5 shots, 50 shots, doesn't matter, they get cleaned.
A clean and maintained gun is a reliable gun, not to mention that we spend quite a few dollars on them, only logical to take care of the "investment.

Hans
 
I clean mine periodicly regardless if i have fired them or not. I pull the bolts and if the bore looks dusty it gets a patch.
 
BigShep, the way some folks talk around here, it seems as though they're more likely to wear them out from cleaning, rather than from shooting. :D
 
Hmmm--an extension to this is how dirty guns are even when you purchase them new. My bushie was filled with debris when I bought it--and it turns out the factory can send up to nearly a 100 rounds through it prior to shipping (I called and that's what they told me) and do not clean it before it goes out the door.

Many pistols I've looked at at one of my local shops have obvious dirt in the barrels and chambers and sometimes ooze oil. My understanding is that these guns are generally test-fired with only a round or two before shipping from the factory. I've suspected that what is passed as NIB is sometimes really demo or returned. But then I have to admit that I've been burned so many times by retailers that I tend to be suspicious of everyone.
 
I don't clean them as much as I should. My hunting rifles get cleaned after season. I may only shoot them 3-4 times during season. I guess my problem is I don't shoot enough, not that I don't clean enough:(
 
Cleaning

I clean all my guns every time I shoot them and give them an occasional wipe down if they sit too long between outings.
 
A couple weeks ago I bought a used rifle an AR 15 off a guy and he sent it to me, great looking gun no scratches scuffs on the mags or furniture etc, I took it out to the range and sighted it in and the bolt a time or two didnt go all the way forward. Forward assist fixed that no problem so I took it home to clean it and I was amazed AGAIN at how filthy this gun was I had never seen a gun that dirty before and I see ALOT of guns, even the before mentioned pistols wasnt this dirty I wouldn't be surprised if this gun had never been cleaned.
Click to expand...

I might be a rare breed but I actually enjoy cleaning my guns.
I make it a part of my ritual each and every time I visit the range.
Having said that, I also break down and clean any new guns prior to shooting them, especially if it's a gun I buy "used".
 
I see buying used guns like I see buying used cars - if the owner knows they are going to keep them a long time, they will likely take care of them. If the owner likes to buy, sell, buy sell, they may not take as good of care of them.

I think most people clean there guns.. they just keep them in the safe at home so you don't see them.

I like buying used guns. I figure nothing is free, though. The lower price comes at requiring a little reconditioning. :)
 
Being a former Marine I make sure my all firearms or ready to pass inspection. I go through my safe every month or two with an oily rag just to check everything and wipe it down. That rifle that has not been shot in years could need to go to work at a moments notice.

I love buying dirty old used guns at bargain prices, even if the used gun is clean it get torn down, cleaned and inspected when I get it home. There are a lot of great old neglected guns out there that just need a little TLC.
 
Funny story along the same lines as the OP.

I was in a pawn shop and noticed a 20ga. Remington 1100 marked at $75. Interested, I asked the owner why it was so cheap. He told me that the previous owner couldn't get it to work, so he sold it. I bought it, took it out and tried to fire it. He was right. The gun wouldn't cycle.

I took the gun home, tore it apart, cleaned everything with hot water. I re-oiled it and took it back out to the range. I now own a $75 model 1100 that works perfectly!

I'm glad the original owner and the pawn shop didn't take the time to clean it!
 
I have a friend who's idea of cleaning his glock is shooting it more because it "cleans itself, then i just whip it down with a rag".

An I have another friend who actually cleans them, he just doesn't disassemble them and because of that he misses probably 50% of the cleaning.

I think that most guns are made so they really don't need it, so they don't get cleaned. sure they get gritty and dirty, but they keep working unless its a finicky semi auto.
 
Some people just don't take care of their stuff. Doesn't matter if it's their vehicle, home, personal hygene, firearms......

Lazyness? Ignorance?

IDK I'm a big fan of prventitive maintenance. Somr people are in the "run it till it fails, then fix it" camp.
 
If it is my Semi I might not clean it the same day but does get cleaned within a few days. But if it is my revolver which is my EDC I would clean as soon as I got home from the range.
 
I have to confess that I haven't cleaned any of my guns since 2011!
Click to expand...

LOL now that's funny.

I have to admit that I am one that does not clean a rifle or pistol the min. I walk in the door or even a month later. Matter of fact some have not been cleaned since 2005 (Ruger P-97 that I can think of, safe queen out of production).

So here's the routine, once a year each and every one is cleaned and inspected reguardless if it has been used or not.

Second, for target rifles they are left in a used condition untill accuracy starts to fall off and then cleaned. For hunting rifles they are cleaned prior to being taken out to check the scope and then left as is for hunting. For pistols they are cleaned the night before they go to the range to be used.

This works for me, no additional fouling shots, no question on weither the gun has or has not been cleaned. Sorry, too many rifles and pistols to clean all the time it would be a full time job.

Good luck on however and how often you do it.
Jim
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top