Do you clean your carry gun or do you not bother?
- Thread starter greenr18
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TanklessPro
Member
I wipe mine down every week or so.
Jackal
Member
I blow off the lint/dust (pocket gun). Thats about it.
ACP
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Well, I practice once or twice a week with my carry guns, and I clean them meticulously after each outing, so I chose "only if I've shot it."
I assume everyone here checks the tire air pressure, oil and coolant in their automobile, tire tread depth, brake pad thickness, steering fluid, brake fluid, etc. Why? Because you drive 65mph in the thing with friends and family, and if something blows or seizes up you could be badly hurt.
The same holds true for the firearm you stake your life on daily.
I assume everyone here checks the tire air pressure, oil and coolant in their automobile, tire tread depth, brake pad thickness, steering fluid, brake fluid, etc. Why? Because you drive 65mph in the thing with friends and family, and if something blows or seizes up you could be badly hurt.
The same holds true for the firearm you stake your life on daily.
billybob44
Contributing Member
Different clean for different times...
I usually shoot my EDC 3 or 4 times a year..Gets standard field strip+ clean then..
Probably once a week gets "Dusted" off...
I usually shoot my EDC 3 or 4 times a year..Gets standard field strip+ clean then..
Probably once a week gets "Dusted" off...
Gottahaveone
Member
What the ...heck...kind of question is that? OF COURSE I clean my carry gun. I depend on it to save my bacon if things get bad, why the heck would I reduce my chances of it working when I most need it by neglecting common maintenance?
I used to only clean my carry gun after shooting more than "a few" rounds (idk call it over 150) or when I didn't think I'd be shooting it again for awhile (let's say a month or more).
Now I pretty much clean carry guns the same day I shoot them...just a quick field strip with a boresnake and a few patches wipe-down cleaner/lube. I don't think it's necessary really but why not.
This is highly abnormal (daily cleaning)
Now I pretty much clean carry guns the same day I shoot them...just a quick field strip with a boresnake and a few patches wipe-down cleaner/lube. I don't think it's necessary really but why not.
This is highly abnormal (daily cleaning)
i clean mine after i fire it before i carry it again. I have heard stories of someone being accused of pulling their gun and firing it at someone when they did not. Cops roll up and check your gun. A cleaned gun don't lie if it comes down to proving you did not fire.
That seems a bit far fetched.
Even if that were to happen, can you cite any examples of police investigators or expert witnesses or whomever inspecting a gun from an alleged firing and determining innocent based on observing that there is no way it had been fired since it was cleaned??
chicharrones
needs more ammo
Every few weeks my pocket gun that has seen the most use gets blown out with a compressor. If the oil and grease are contaminated, I wipe all that off and re-lube.
Wearing machine washed clothing sure gets a lot of lint into guns. I wonder how much better dry cleaned clothes would be?
Wearing machine washed clothing sure gets a lot of lint into guns. I wonder how much better dry cleaned clothes would be?
BearBrimstone
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I am lazy when it comes to cleaning my carry gun. I try to clean it every time I fire it but that is about it.
No cites, as I said i have heard stories. Was brought up by instructor at the CCW class. I would think a lab could form an opinion though if a gun had been fired if it came down to proving something in court. Just putting it out there as something to think about.
ny32182
Member
Usually I clean it after every time I shoot it, just for kicks, which isn't very often.
Clean it "daily"? Is that for people with rust-prone guns in super humid environments?
That is why they invented plastic frames and nitride finishes.
Realistically, at the rate I shoot the actual carry gun, it would be years before it would really "need" cleaning.
Clean it "daily"? Is that for people with rust-prone guns in super humid environments?
That is why they invented plastic frames and nitride finishes.
Realistically, at the rate I shoot the actual carry gun, it would be years before it would really "need" cleaning.
Wipe down and inspect
If I haven't fired i , it gets a good wipe down once a week and a full visual inspection, and I also change out the ammo. (that gets fired off next time I am at the range).
When I do go to the range with the carry gun, it usually gets shot for 25 rounds to check sights and full function. After that it gets a really good clean and back into the carry holster.
Its clean, fully functional and loaded with new ammo and gives an feeling of added security.
If I haven't fired i , it gets a good wipe down once a week and a full visual inspection, and I also change out the ammo. (that gets fired off next time I am at the range).
When I do go to the range with the carry gun, it usually gets shot for 25 rounds to check sights and full function. After that it gets a really good clean and back into the carry holster.
Its clean, fully functional and loaded with new ammo and gives an feeling of added security.
Schwing
Member
I usually carry a revolver. It gets a good cleaning any time I shoot it or when it gets covered in lint. Basically, it isn't very often.
IMHO more wear and tear is given to handguns cleaning them than shooting them. I do have to add, however, that when I do carry a semi-auto it gets the lint cleaned off and receives a fresh coat of oil far more regularly. Lint in the action makes for a bad day if you ever need to use it.
IMHO more wear and tear is given to handguns cleaning them than shooting them. I do have to add, however, that when I do carry a semi-auto it gets the lint cleaned off and receives a fresh coat of oil far more regularly. Lint in the action makes for a bad day if you ever need to use it.
GBExpat
Member
I usually clean it only after I have fired it.
I periodically clean it with compressed air and an eezox-rag external wipe-down.
I periodically clean it with compressed air and an eezox-rag external wipe-down.
Ranger Roberts
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I wipe it down every week or so. I clean it after I fire it 99% of the time. The exceptions are times where I put two mags or so down range. If that's the case sometimes it'll wait until the weekend to get cleaned.
More than half of "cleaning" a firearm is inspecting every part for abnormal wear or damage. If you're not doing that then one day you will be very surprised when your gun fails to feed, fire or eject.
Most people don't regularly detail strip their firearms to inspect every part.
FYI there is absolutely no reason to change the ammo out every week.
As a former combat vet I know the importance of keeping your weapons clean and lubricated. I am anal about mine. They get cleaned if I only fire one shot. They get checked every few weeks to see if they need to be lubed again. I have a small collection so I cannot lubricate them all every month but if I choose to carry a gun that has not been carried for a while, I will disassemble it and clean and lube it.
I am somewhat anal about cleaning guns for two reasons. The first is reliability and the second is that I often trade or sell my guns so I like to keep them in as new condition as much as possible. I have a ton of cleaning and lubrication items. A full set of dental picks to get into those hard to reach places, various brushes, swaps, and anything else I can use to clean my guns.
I actually enjoy cleaning my guns after a range day. I find it relaxing. Probably because it reminded me of surviving the day in combat, sitting on my cot and cleaning my M16 and 1911. Cleaning my weapons mean I made it through another day.
I am somewhat anal about cleaning guns for two reasons. The first is reliability and the second is that I often trade or sell my guns so I like to keep them in as new condition as much as possible. I have a ton of cleaning and lubrication items. A full set of dental picks to get into those hard to reach places, various brushes, swaps, and anything else I can use to clean my guns.
I actually enjoy cleaning my guns after a range day. I find it relaxing. Probably because it reminded me of surviving the day in combat, sitting on my cot and cleaning my M16 and 1911. Cleaning my weapons mean I made it through another day.
Warp, checking guns after a shooting is pretty much standard with internal affairs investigators. If there were 10 LEOs at a shooting scene one finds out who shot by checking guns. A dirty gun by itself doesnt determine guilt or innocence but a clean gun clears you.
Added:
At least that's where I learned to do it when someone alleges somebody shot at them.
Added:
At least that's where I learned to do it when someone alleges somebody shot at them.
Last edited:
JohnBiltz
Member
I don't think the poll means a thing. If you only clean it after you shoot it and only fire it once a year that is very different from someone who shoots it weekly and cleans it after shooting. There is also a world of difference between cleaning daily and every once in a while.
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