Clean or dirty handguns?

I clean mine after every range session regardless of round count.


I am just curious though to why would a gun shoot better with some fouling rather then being to squeaky clean as some here have mentioned.:confused:
 
I'm fairly confident that if you shoot jacketed rounds and non-corrosive ammo then you could get away with never cleaning the barrel. Me? I'm to damn anal about my guns. They get cleaned when I shoot them.
 
Me too...
I'm fairly confident that if you shoot jacketed rounds and non-corrosive ammo then you could get away with never cleaning the barrel. Me? I'm to damn anal about my guns. They get cleaned when I shoot them.
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I read a scary article once where they talked about corrosion that occurs over time because of electrolysis that takes place between two dissimilar metals; such as copper and steel. As I recall, this electrolysis could be accelerated by conditions such as humidity/moisture, salts,---?

I'm sure there is a member out there with more scientific knowledge than this simple redneck, who could more accurately explain this insidious occurrence. Might even scare some of us into cleaning our barrels more often.:eek: Or not.:rolleyes:

I'm not real ambitious about cleaning guns, and mine function amazingly well. I do a lot of douche downs with Rem-Oil, and blast offs with canned air or even the air hose. Bores--- every now and then.

I've had gunsmiths tell me there's been more barrels worn out by cleaning than by shooting. And I know that many guns have wound up in the shop because some disaster occurred during amateur dis-assembly.

I admire anyone who takes good care of their things, whether it be guns, tools, cars, etc... I also appreciate equipment that can take a lickin and keep on tickin. Not all guns are destined to become priceless heirlooms. jd
 
A clean handgun is better than a dirty one -- You can always duplicate clean and insure proper function, but a dirty firearm can gum things up and hamper function.
Plus, I bought my guns for SD reasons & I try to reduce any possible problems so if called upon, my gun working is not an issue -- dirty guns fail more than clean ones
 
After reading your comments, thanks

I have thought alot about what all you guys have said. I used to brush my bores and clean them to a mirror finish after each day at the range, but I think I will try meeting the issue half way.... I am going to try less brushing and scrubbing, and just clean with a wad and a little oil, to get rid of the corrosive gunk and not worry so much about the mirror job :D I have worried in the past that too much brushing might 'kill it with kindness' wear out the rifling and stuff, so I am glad I asked the question in the first place :D

I will try not to be so anal, in future, but of course I will keep an eye on things and clean it well (the bores) if it needs it, but not quite so thuroughly, so often :eek:

Thanks for your input guys:cool:
 
More guns ruined by cleaning? That might be the case from military guns that were cleaned on a daily basis by disinterested recruits with steel rods from the muzzle end. If you expect me to believe that a gun that fires chunks of copper wrapped lead down the bore at huge temperatures and pressures at jet velocities, will be damaged by a cotton patch dipped in solvent, I am sorry I don't believe it. Sounds like a contrived excuse to me. Like saying seatbelts are dangerous because they will not let you be thrown clear of a bad wreck. Now if you are inept and clumsy to a huge extent and tear your gun apart without knowing what you are doing using the wrong tools all the time, and maybe use a dry steel brush on your bore for a half an hour, that is not "cleaning", that is abusing it.
 
all primers are corrosive, not cleaning will turn to pitting in your barrel.
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Don't tell that to my guns that have sat for more than a month or two between cleanings. I'd hate for them to suddenly turn rusty where they aren't. Are you serious?

I am just curious though to why would a gun shoot better with some fouling rather then being to squeaky clean as some here have mentioned.
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djohn,

In rimfires it typically has to do with the bullet lubes used. It usually takes some fouling to get enough lube built up for the barrel to settle in.

As I said, I've never really noticed this shooting jacketed bullets in centerfire handguns, but now I think I have a time or two with lead bullets. But it could have been my imagination at the time too.

In centerfire rifles, it is pretty common, and again, the theory being the consistency of the fouling and the bore, AFAIK.
 
I can agree with 'foulingshots'(as mentioned by Tom2) before a shoot but I also clean mine after one. I also still believe in seasoning a black powder barrel. Fouling shots on some b/p weapons are critical and the POI will change without them depending on the I.D. of your bore and O.D. of your projectile. IMO same would probably hold true on the accuracy of a pistol. If you`ve got a loose barrel to the O.D. of bullet your shooting than 'fouling shots' could improve your accuracy. The further distance you shoot the more this is evident.
 
We were just talking about the barrel. Again, I rarely clean the barrel unless I was shooting a lot of lead, and NOT FMJ/TMJ/JHP/ETC... But, as for the rest of the gun, I know that the moving parts need some attention. I usually spray it real quick with "Gun Scrub" to get the powder residue, dirt, etc... off. Then I lube it all back up, wipe down the excess, and put her back in her case. I've had many of my guns for 20-30 years and they fire as if they were brand new. And there's NO pitting in the barrels. No corrosion. No rust.
 
christcorp

Thats right, I am only asking about the bore..... the rest of my gun(s) get the old scrubby-dub-dub when they get home from the range & sparkle like new pins, before I drool on them and tuck them into their beds (in the safe)

Might try what someone said in another thread, that is to shoot half a dozen FMJ's at the end of a session, to take any "big bits" out of the bore left behind after shooting lots of lead in the session. I do use those molly/teflon/colored lead projectiles but a few FMJ's might be a good cleaning regeme :D
 
When cleaning the bore I use the nylon brush.I don't like the steel brush, it seems a bit harsh on the barrel.
 
Same ^

I use nylon, unless there is lead or copper debris in the barrel, then I use brass/bronze whatever it is, not steel :eek::D
 
p-990 that’s right they are corrosive. Take it for what its worth. I don't clean my to much either, just stating a fact... So take a deep breath everything will be okay.
 
Well, there's the otheraspect of cleaning my guns:

After a stressful work week, cleaning my guns is relaxing and a way to "get away" for a few moments. I like the smell of Hoppe's #9, and think of my grandfather showing me how to clean hisguns.

I guess it's become somewhat of a ritual.
 
As for the people that keep a loaded gun in the home or do CCW, do you trust your life to a cruddy gun?
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Yes. If I didn't trust my gun to work when it was cruddy I wouldn't trust it to work when I needed it. A defensive gun should work with a little grunge in and on it. without any trouble. My $.02
 
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