Gun Cleaning... Is this a considerable practice?

S

Sheriff Gotcha

New member
Firstly, brand spanking new to guns and the whole process. And I did look up other cleaning threads, but found nothing really as to what I was looking to.

Semi (Glock) Cleaning

Revolver Cleaning

Basically, I am looking for a "KISS" ish method for cleaning my guns and this seems to be the most simple method ever. I've watched a few videos with different methods and they all seem like a simple process. However, if I am able to get all the products in one with the Ballistol, that just makes my life even easier.

The gun(s) in question will be mainly for range use and HD (hopefully not necessary of course)... and will be kept in the safe until I go to the range which will be about once a month. Pretty much more stored than shot.

My only concern is that my gun isn't a Glock and I know they are pretty tough and reliable (as every gun SHOULD be) and they also can run dry as hell. I'm concerned that since my gun is NOT a Glock this may not be a viable cleaning method. Is that true? Is this a reasonable way to clean my handguns?
 
Cleaning guns, in general, is a pretty simple and easy process, and new guns come with "how to" manuals that you can follow. Some folks, for reasons I don't fully understand, make it hard and time consuming, insisting on taking the gun apart and making every part surgically clean. In some cases, it seems to be a result of old GIs or Marines imagining a sergeant standing over them.

Barrel cleaning need involve nothing more than a couple of passes with a bronze brush, then a patch wet with something like Hoppes or (my favorite) G96 Gun Treatment. Use a wet patch to wipe down any dirt or carbon then oil the friction areas like slide rails on autos or cylinder ratchet and mechanism in revolvers. Just a few drops will be all that is needed, not quarts of oil or super lubes. A very light coat of oil will prevent rusting of steel parts.

Guns will work for a long time without any cleaning at all, but note that if you fire military surplus ammo that some of it has the old type of priming compound that can corrode (rust) the barrel if not cleaned immediately. The best way to avoid that is to use only new commercial ammo, at least until you become more experienced.

Jim
 
Some of how you clean depends on how frequently you shoot and the type of handgun. For the most part, cleaning is a simple process, but some folks can take anything to an extreme.

When we used to shoot a lot (2-3 times/week) there was a deep, aluminum "turkey tray" in the garage filled halfway with Hoppe's cleaner. At the end of the day, grips were removed, semi's field-stripped and the metal parts put into the tray overnight. A few strokes of a bore brush and a few strokes on action parts with a G.I. "toothbrush" did the job. Wipe down, re-lubricate, assemble and you're done.

Clean guns before storing them. I've found that cleaning is greatly eased if you take a Bore-Snake® along and run it through a still warm bore at the range. For self-defense guns, I always advocate a through cleaning and oiling before storing them away. That way, they're clean and lubricated and should be reliable in a crunch. Strictly range-use guns can be brushed out and wiped down with a cleaner but given only periodic detailed cleanings.
 
The type of gun I am concerned about is an FNX-9. However, I am also saving up for a S&W 686p so that is why I also included the Revolver video.

For only planning to go to the range once or twice a month this method seems like a legitimate and super simple/easy way to clean my guns. I just was unsure if it was good for Glocks due to their low maintenance requirements or if it was passable for other pistols as well.
 
After every visit to the range I drop my guns in a pail of WD-40 and let sit for 15 minutes or so. I hang the guns to drip off the oil then disassemble for cleaning. On the autos I apply a even amount of Tetra gun grease to the slides and oil everything else. If it slides use grease; if it rotates use oil.:D
 
I do mostly shoot Glocks, which require only four-five small drops of oil for the entire job. I keep WD-40 away from my firearms. I generally use Butch's Bore Shine mixed with Kroil for bores and for general cleaning; however, Simple Green works great on frames and as a general degreaser.

I use Mobil 1, 15w50, exclusively, for lubing my firearms. Doubt anything exists that'll do a better job @ lubing.

I rarely shoot my blued 1911s, but do occasionally wipe them off with a chamois soaked in Rustpruf.
 
In answer to your question. The Semi auto video is a good example of a simple field strip and clean. Use that method and you will be fine. As (or if) you become more involved you may develop your own methods.

As for products I use Ballistol. I also use break free CLP and other products. Here again Ballistol is a good place to start. There are lots of good products out there but if you want to start with just the one that would be fine. As a lube it would be a good idea to keep a good quality gun oil around also.

Follow the owners manual as to where to oil and remember a little oil is plenty.
 
No KISS for gun cleaning, clean them very good to prevent any problems. I clean my guns like they will be in storeage.

I spend about a hour on each gun.

You have to scrub the barrel with lead remover, then spray CLP oil, wipe the trigger area/trigger housing of dirt/lead. Clean the magazine, and the slide.

I use tooth picks/plastic tooth pick hooks to clean the extractor area.
 
James K said:
Barrel cleaning need involve nothing more than a couple of passes with a bronze brush, then a patch wet with something like Hoppes or (my favorite) G96 Gun Treatment. Use a wet patch to wipe down any dirt or carbon then oil the friction areas like slide rails on autos or cylinder ratchet and mechanism in revolvers. Just a few drops will be all that is needed, not quarts of oil or super lubes. A very light coat of oil will prevent rusting of steel parts.
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Do you use G96 spray or is there a liquid? I have it in a spray can.
 
I only have 2 pistols that I clean, my SR9c and LC9. They are both specifically for self defense carry so I take very good care of them. After every range visit I strip them and meticulously clean every part. I use Ballistoil as well. It seems to work well.

I figure a gun that I will carry and possibly use to defend my life I should take care of. Guns that only get shot at the range rarely get cleaned.
 
I clean my working guns about twice a year. I've come to the understanding that over-cleaning often does more harm than good. It doesn't matter if I shoot it once or twenty times in the next six months, one Saturday, I'll get a wild hair and clean them all.

This guy runs his Glock for 15K rounds between cleaning. I'm not nearly that bad, but when I was doing a lot of shooting (600 rounds per day), I'd take my pistol apart each night and clean it. Then, when I slacked off the bulk ammo purchases I decided that if it would run one day with 600 rounds, it would probably run 6 months on less ammo than that.

I quit cleaning them so much and haven't noticed any difference at all, except my Hoppe's bill has gone down.
 
PawPaw said:
I quit cleaning them so much and haven't noticed any difference at all, except my Hoppe's bill has gone down.
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To each his own. I prefer my carry guns to be squeaky clean and show it. Besides the basic principle that a clean gun will be more reliable, there's a "street smart" reason for it, a lesson learned from a friend.

If there is a shooting in a public place and someone saw you draw your weapon in preparing to defend yourself, expect that the police will want to examine your gun. A clean bore and clean weapon will be easily assessed as not involved where a dirty or questionable gun might be cause to detain you.
 
The processes illustrated are pretty good.

I go a little further - about every 5,000 rds thru a gun -- and strip it down to a bare frame vs a typical field strip for cleaning ( for some guns that is every few months / some not so much )...and clean and inspect all parts of the gun / replace springs, etc ...and then lube and re-assemble / but I like the process of doing that as well / and have educated myself with DVD's, some buddies, etc on how to do it properly.

To each his own ...but I clean my guns every time I shoot them ( I have about 20 S&W revolvers / and about 15 or so semi-auto handguns ) ...and while I don't shoot them all every month ...the ones I do shoot / get cleaned and everything in the safe gets cleaned at least once a year even if I have not fired it / but most everything gets fired a little / some get fired every week.
 
I guess it is a habit from the military, but every time I shoot one of my guns it gets field stripped and cleaned. Even if I only fire one round.
 
BigJimP said:
The processes illustrated are pretty good.

I go a little further - about every 5,000 rds thru a gun -- and strip it down to a bare frame vs a typical field strip for cleaning ( for some guns that is every few months / some not so much )...and clean and inspect all parts of the gun / replace springs, etc ...and then lube and re-assemble / but I like the process of doing that as well / and have educated myself with DVD's, some buddies, etc on how to do it properly.

To each his own ...but I clean my guns every time I shoot them ( I have about 20 S&W revolvers / and about 15 or so semi-auto handguns ) ...and while I don't shoot them all every month ...the ones I do shoot / get cleaned and everything in the safe gets cleaned at least once a year even if I have not fired it / but most everything gets fired a little / some get fired every week
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Yea I am brand spanking new to this hobby/sport so I would have a bit of a ways to go to learn about taking down the firing mechanism and such... It's good to hear that the methods in the video are good though, that makes the cleaning process that much easier for me. Especially since I have no real place to clean them, like a work bench or shed area.
 
James K said:
In some cases, it seems to be a result of old GIs or Marines imagining a sergeant standing over them.
Click to expand...

That made me laugh at myself since I am a Marine and it does seem that way.

Skimp said:
I drop my guns in a pail of WD-40 and let sit for 15 minutes or so.
Click to expand...

That didn't make me laugh, ok, well maybe a little. Dropping an entire firearm into any lubricant will soak all the parts and unless you plan on taking the gun all the way apart to clean off the excess from each internal piece this should be avoided.
 
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Some ranges will let you clean guns there ...some don't ...depends ( and some guys don't pick up their garbage ...which is why some ranges don't let you do it there )....

A couple of portable saw horses....and a small sheet of 3/4" plywood ...and cover it with an old bath towel / pick one up at a garage sale or whatever....and a few solvents - and you are ready to rock and roll. When the towel gets scrungy after 3 or 4 months ....wash it out by hand in the sink with a little detergent / put it outside to dry for a few hours...use it forever... You can clean guns in the garage, on the back patio ...or wherever you have room ...( inside if you have room ). Be careful of some of these solvents ...some of them give off some fumes big time...and some don't --- and if you spill them on a wood table, or on carpet...its not a good thing ...

Don't buy a "cleaning kit" ....you need a rod, some bore brushes...and that's about all ( or use "bore snakes" ) ...a good general solvent ( Hoppes, Shooters Choice, whatever ), a good copper remover ( Barnes CR-10 or whatever ), a good lube ( Break Free or whatever )...and maybe a light oil ( like Rem Oil in a spray ) ....and some cleaning patches...and some Q tips ( go to Costco or wherever - big boxes ) ...an old toothbrush ....

Sure its nice to have a dedicated shop ...for cleaning, the gun safe, reloading...etc ....but not everyone has the room for that stuff. Got to use what you have...
 
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