How often should a pump shotgun be cleaned? I clean my revolver after every range time which is about 50 rounds. I am talking about a shotgun like the Remington 870 or Mossberg 500. Does once a month sound about right or would U go by how many rounds were fired from it? I can't see cleaning it after shooting 12 or so 00 buck out of it.
Shotgun Cleaning
- Thread starter gdeal
- Start date
OneInTheChamber
New member
I clean it every time; but that isn't needed.
I'd say maybe every 500 rounds if you really don't want to clean it. That should still go keep you out of malfunction/loss or performance.
I'd say maybe every 500 rounds if you really don't want to clean it. That should still go keep you out of malfunction/loss or performance.
Dfariswheel
New member
How often you clean any gun depends on how long you want it to last.
Since I have to buy my own guns, and I'm not independently wealthy, I clean my guns EVERY time they're fired whether it's 100 rounds or ONE round.
NO ONE ever sets out to let their gun or bore rust.
They are always surprised to find rust and pitting, since in almost all cases, "They never had a problem before".
Cleaning a gun is just a normal part of owning one.
There's absolutely no reason NOT to clean it other than carelessness or laziness.
Don't care if they rust, pit, and don't last....don't clean them.
Since I have to buy my own guns, and I'm not independently wealthy, I clean my guns EVERY time they're fired whether it's 100 rounds or ONE round.
NO ONE ever sets out to let their gun or bore rust.
They are always surprised to find rust and pitting, since in almost all cases, "They never had a problem before".
Cleaning a gun is just a normal part of owning one.
There's absolutely no reason NOT to clean it other than carelessness or laziness.
Don't care if they rust, pit, and don't last....don't clean them.
Re:gdeal
I occasionaly visit a local trap range. They have members that go every weekend. They participate in all their events. I have asked them about shotgun cleaning.
The answers varied. Some cleaned their shotguns between rounds of trap. Some at the end of the day. There were some that cleaned their shotguns once or twice a year. These guys shoot autos of all things.
When it comes to shotgun cleaning frequencies there seems to be no clear cut answer. I figure do what makes you happy.
I occasionaly visit a local trap range. They have members that go every weekend. They participate in all their events. I have asked them about shotgun cleaning.
The answers varied. Some cleaned their shotguns between rounds of trap. Some at the end of the day. There were some that cleaned their shotguns once or twice a year. These guys shoot autos of all things.
When it comes to shotgun cleaning frequencies there seems to be no clear cut answer. I figure do what makes you happy.
It depends on the activity I guess. If I am out hunting with them, I will clean them when I get home. If I am out at the trap range, I ususally clean my trap gun 2 or 3 times a year. If it rains or snows I will immediately clean the gun when I get home, but during my summer league I will just clean it at the end of the league unless I see or feel that it needs a cleaning. I say just pay attention to your gun. If it is starting to feel stiff, you definitely need to clean it. I shoot an O/U most of the time, if I open it and see lots of build up, I will clean it, if its just a bit of burned powder residue, I won't clean it after each round. Plus you have to remember, if you are really hitting the birds and you clean the gun, you will take the magic goodness out of it and you might start missing.
My guns get cleaned every time I shoot. My O/U barrels get cleaned immediately after a range session using a boresnake or similar device, then a thorough cleaning when I get home.
Cleaning materials are cheap, guns are not. I have had barrel chambers start to rust after a couple of hours left dirty.
Cleaning materials are cheap, guns are not. I have had barrel chambers start to rust after a couple of hours left dirty.
damage inc
New member
I've heard that you shouldn't brush back and forth with a brush because it will weaken the bristles and eventually they'll break off. Can you go back and forth with patches or should you always go from breech to muzzle?
Dfariswheel
New member
Never reverse a bore brush while it's in the bore.
Always push it all the way through and out before pulling it back.
Reversing the brush in the bore ruins the brush, can get it stuck in the bore, and could conceivably damage the bore.
You can reverse patches in the bore as long as the rod tip holds the patch and won't let it slip off and stick in the bore.
Pumping a patch up and down the bore accomplishes nothing.
The purpose of a patch is to carry bore solvent into and out of the bore.
You can run it down and back out, but repeatedly pumping it up and down serves no real purpose.
Always push it all the way through and out before pulling it back.
Reversing the brush in the bore ruins the brush, can get it stuck in the bore, and could conceivably damage the bore.
You can reverse patches in the bore as long as the rod tip holds the patch and won't let it slip off and stick in the bore.
Pumping a patch up and down the bore accomplishes nothing.
The purpose of a patch is to carry bore solvent into and out of the bore.
You can run it down and back out, but repeatedly pumping it up and down serves no real purpose.
damage inc
New member
I'll keep that in mind. Thank you.
damage inc
New member
So you wipe the exterior with RemOil or BreakFree to prevent rust, but what should you do to preserve and protect the wood stock?
banditt007
New member
I clean mine after everytime i go shooting. Either that day or within the next 2.
I find that some people say that they only clean their guns say every 500 rounds. Does that mean they dont oil them for 500 rounds as well, or they just dont bust out the solvent?
I found that w/ AA's the gun built up nearly no residue and shucked really smooth even after 250 rounds.
Next time i went out i shot remmington gun club, and remmington all purpose loads, and after 100 rounds i could feel the gun get notably stiffer to shuck, finished that day w/ 300 rounds through her and yeah she was getting harder to shuck for sure.
Broke it down that night to clean it and sure enough there was a good amount of visable gunk in there, while w/ the AA's i noticed pretty much nothing.
THis powder residue seems to suck up the oil and make the gun start running dry.
I will still shoot these dirtier shells but may add a drop or so of oil every 100 rounds with them, or atleast try that and see if it helps, or it just builds up the gunk even more.
To each his own, but i like keeping firearms very clean, and oiled.
I find that some people say that they only clean their guns say every 500 rounds. Does that mean they dont oil them for 500 rounds as well, or they just dont bust out the solvent?
I found that w/ AA's the gun built up nearly no residue and shucked really smooth even after 250 rounds.
Next time i went out i shot remmington gun club, and remmington all purpose loads, and after 100 rounds i could feel the gun get notably stiffer to shuck, finished that day w/ 300 rounds through her and yeah she was getting harder to shuck for sure.
Broke it down that night to clean it and sure enough there was a good amount of visable gunk in there, while w/ the AA's i noticed pretty much nothing.
THis powder residue seems to suck up the oil and make the gun start running dry.
I will still shoot these dirtier shells but may add a drop or so of oil every 100 rounds with them, or atleast try that and see if it helps, or it just builds up the gunk even more.
To each his own, but i like keeping firearms very clean, and oiled.
no if there anything like some of my freinds they keep shooting oil in a dirty gun gumming it up. i saw my buddie clean his 870 for the first time around christmas 2005 (ive know the guy since kendergarden) the gun was so cloged the action was jammed and wouldnt slide forward. (on an 870 thats pretty dirty)