Not Cleaning The Bore?

My perspective is completely different than most of you. My first total immersion with firearms was in combat in Vietnam. It didn't take long to learn that a less than clean M-16 (first generation) could be used as a club and little more. I cleaned mine three times a day and I think I am here to tell the tale because I did what I did. I also carried a 1911 and it too became finicky when it was less than clean. Granted, the environment we utilize our guns in are with very little exception, much better than the monsoon swept jungles that were wet and hot during the day and damp and cold at night. And depending upon what part of the country one was in, it could that dark red clay/dust/mud that jams up everything including one's nostrils and ears.

So...old habits die hard. For me, cleaning my guns after each shooting works for me. And if I should wear out or damage a barrel, which hasn't happened is the 40+ years that I have been back home, I know where to buy new barrels and relatively speaking, they are not that expensive. What will you pay for a gun that fails to fire because it is filthy dirty?
 
Being a clean nut that also does them nearly every time I shoot I just realized that I have a Glenfield 22 from the late 60's that has never had a rod down the barrel and still makes same hole shots from a rest.

Being the PITA that it is I may try that on some other rifles I have like my Volquartsen 17HMR that voids the warranty if you use a rod at all so it gets a bore snake cleaning with is a real pain to pull through.

Since cleaning is relaxing I'll keep on doing all pistols and shotguns and most rifles.
 
The is a cost/benefit to everything. Some of us are not so concerned about "cleaning" and it depends on the gun. Lubrication is another matter. If gun shoot well I keep it lubed and wipe it down. Heard interview with Patrick Flanigan, the fastest shotgunner there is, and he cleaned his SX3 every 2,500 to 3,000 rounds. I don't "clean" - i.e. scub the bore unless it is necessary. My .22's have been flawless for many many years with little care other than wipe them down and spray out action and lubricate. I will disassemble semi-autos and wipe them down clean out crud and lubricate with Ballistol.
 
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The bore is just bare steel at that point, possibly with some jacket metal or lead.

There is no rust protection, no protection from galvanic corrosion, etc.
 
45Gunner said:
So...old habits die hard. For me, cleaning my guns after each shooting works for me. And if I should wear out or damage a barrel, which hasn't happened is the 40+ years that I have been back home, I know where to buy new barrels and relatively speaking, they are not that expensive. What will you pay for a gun that fails to fire because it is filthy dirty?
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Well, see now we're talking about 2 different things. I clean my guns regularly, almost always after every time I use them. The cleaning just doesn't include the bore. If you looked at my Ruger M77 MkII you'd never know it wasn't a brand new gun... but the bore hasn't been cleaned since last spring. Even the bore is remarkably clean, but it hasn't "been cleaned". I shoot with Benchmark powder at max loads and it burns incredibly clean. The rest of the gun, the trigger, safety, the outside of the barrel, the bolt, all cleaned and oiled and function checked.

I use Eezox exclusively, in case anyone is interested. It is the best gun care product I've ever seen. I just cleaned a 75 year old 22 that looked like it hadn't been touched in 50 years. It looks, and works, almost new again, inside and out.
 
Thanks again, peetza. I will look into the Eezox.

Thanks, also, to others regarding the functionality issue. A very good point.

My immediate concern, however, is corrosion or chemical damage due to the residue.

Thanks to all -

Monty
 
One of Jeff Cooper' many rules for firearm care and feed was, "Never let the sun set on a dirty gun." I've followed this for 40 + years and have never damaged a barrel by over cleaning.
 
I clean'em once a year whether they need it or not.

I do wipe them down after every outing and will put a drop or two of oil on them as they need it...but that is it. I have guns from my youth that have been given this same treatment and there function and appearance is just like it was more than 30 years ago.
 
i only clean the bore of my .22 a couple of times a year.

On my centerfires that get used fairly often maybe every couple of months.
i do not clean every time I shoot unless it's a gun I don't plan on using again for some time.
 
I fail to see how cleaning your gun to often(if thats possable) harms them. When you clean a gun you always use a bore guide and the jag or brush never Comes all the way out allowing the rod to drop on crown any how.
I clean every time i shoot and i shoot at least 2 times a week. I myself never use a brush in my barrel. Sweets on patch let soak for 5 min run clean,2 more patches with sweets clean one inbetween each patch. Then montana copper killer 2 times clean patch in between each patch,then one patch of rem oil very light coating and then a clean one again and im done with barrel. I shine a light down barrel and when it shines so much it blinds you looking down it im done.:D
I clean my barrel every 15 rounds at range when im shooting any how,so at home clean up goes fast and easy.

I've never understood the compulsion to clean guns...
I don't consider it a compulsion. To me it's like washing your car or your Motorcycle. It's something you just do to keep all in good working order. Does it make a difference? thats like saying 6 of one or half a dozen of the other. To me in my mind it makes a difference. I go out to range next time knowing my gun is clean and ready to go.
Just my 2 cents.
 
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I don't clean 22s every time, nor, it seems, do many other 22 shooters. That is what prompted my original question.
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I don't clean my 22s often at all. If I know I'm not going to shoot one for an extended period I might but we were taught that you don't clean a 22.

Not sure if that is "right" or not but I've practiced rarely cleaning 22 bores for 40+ years and so far so good. :) BTW, I'm not shooting matches so I can't say they wouldn't have been more accurate with more cleaning. maybe they would've benefited from that but no damage over the long haul.
 
When I was younger, I loved cleaning any of my guns. Today, I only like cleaning them. But the habit is so ingrained in me that it's the same as washing my hands before eating or showering every day. I just keep my guns clean. Wouldn't think of putting one away dirty or sticky. It'll be like that next time you grab for it. Nobody has invented self cleaning firearms.

Another good reason to clean them after every use is you get a chance to really inspect it for any defects or damage that you would miss if you just went home & put it away.
 
Don't let the sun set on a dirty gun.
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Never heard it put quite so succintly (of course, the Colonel was pretty good at turning a phrase), but I have practiced that philosophy for a long time.
 
Not cleaning the bore will not hunt it...rifles will often have a 4-8" impact different at 200yds with a clean bore vs dirty. I foul my barrels at the beginning of hunting season and they go uncleaned until season is over often 4-6 months before they are cleaned. Now if i get in a rain storm or real wet environment I will clean when I get home. But I have to foul the barrel again before hunting with it if longer shots are needed. I clean my pistols about every 300 rounds, in between I just wipe them down and spray some dry lube into slide rails after each use. Been doing this for 25yrs no barrel problems.
 
If it is taking too long for you to clean, just grab one of those bore snakes and run it through. Everyone else has said the right stuff so far on ammo use and such...
 
Wow, lots of folks here who don't clean often or, in some cases, practically ever. I'm of the opposite school, I clean after every trip to the range.

I read several posts asking why anyone would clean a .22 more than once or twice a year. Well, I shoot a S & W Model 617 and I average about 200 rounds per week with this gun. I've noticed that after relatively few rounds, carbon buildup in the chambers interferes with easy insertion/extraction of rounds. I'm sure there must be buildup in the bore as well. Cleaning restores the chambers and bores to as new condition and it seldom takes me more than 1/2 hour to render the gun pristine.

As for my other guns, I clean them whether they need it or not.:D But, seriously, the residue from discharged rounds contains lead and a host of other toxic substances. Why should I leave guns around my house knowing that they're contaminated with deadly chemicals?
 
^^^^
Unless you're using the barrel for a straw the amount of lead in there is not going to hurt anyone.

There are lots of deadly chemicals lying around my house. The ones inside the barrel of my guns are of minimal concern. No concern actually.

Plus, it's an easy argument to make that you and those around you are exposed to MORE chemicals if you clean the gun than if you leave it alone.

Besides, as has been mentioned, many of us do not have the opportunity to "foul the bore" before we shoot at live targets. Being that what's in there isn't hurting anything and is in fact necessary for accurate shooting (for anyone who shoots more than 1 round), it doesn't make much sense to remove it just to put it back so the gun will shoot right.
 
mostly a waste of time

If I actually clean one of my guns, I immediately shoot it afterwards to confirm function.

Know what I mean?
 
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