Do you clean your carry gun or do you not bother?

[Rio Laxas]

I chose every now and then.

I have a couple of Glocks that I carry, one as a primary and the other as a backup. I usually average about 50 rounds a week through my primary carry weapon, and I often go about 500 rounds between real cleanings (bore brush, patches, etc). I will de-lint them and wipe them down on a weekly basis though. It's amazing how much lint can build up in a bore.

I used to be very conscientious about cleaning after every time that I shoot, but I only really do that with my S&W revolvers and 1911s these days. I cringe to think of my Triple Lock staying dirty, but I'm not nearly as worried about my Glocks.

I'll add that I actually have a phobia about carrying a gun after a detail strip, it gets a mag or cylinder run thru it first.

I agree.

 

[boatdoc173]

just as important a? how often do you change magazines,?

how often do you shuffle the rounds so you do not chamber the same round over and over( a dangerous thing)?

 

[Warp]

just as important a? how often do you change magazines,?

how often do you shuffle the rounds so you do not chamber the same round over and over( a dangerous thing)?

What do you mean by how often do you change the magazines? That by itself is wholly unnecessary.

Rechambering the same round is just a matter of bullet setback, and I don't think it gets dangerous until the naked eye, upon a close look specifically for it, can tell a difference.

But that is a good point and is something to be aware of...chambering the same round many times can potentially push the bullet too far into the case, resulting in dangerously high pressure. Not usually an issue but it could be.

 

[Ignition Override]

OP: Exterior or interior cleaning?

No mention of which type: thorough inside wiping with patches/Q-tips, or simple outside wipes with light oil.
For all of mine, good internal cleaning with Hilco Lube then B. Casey grease on rails, within one-seven days if used just before a trip.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I carry a revolver daily. I shoot it only about 200 rounds a year. I haven't cleaned it in 2 years. I wipe the lint off every now and then.

 

[cfullgraf]

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.

I agree.

Whether typun's comments are true or not, I will not carry a gun, or place a gun in a location for self defense, that has been fired and not cleaned.

 

[Mousegun]

Any time, any place, any where, any time "it" can happen.

If "it" did and you happened to make it through, but your wife, girlfriend or kid didn't, would you be able to carry on knowing you could have made the difference if you just had maintained the device you had the God given right to carry, but didn't????

 

[Warp]

Any time, any place, any where, any time "it" can happen.

If "it" did and you happened to make it through, but your wife, girlfriend or kid didn't, would you be able to carry on knowing you could have made the difference if you just had the device you had the God given right to carry, but didn't????

What?

 

[riceboy72]

An absolute "yes" after shooting, and a wipe down/lube every now and then to get the dust out of the barrel, etc, for whichever gun I've been carrying. I do wipe down the pistol with a silicone rag if I wind up handling one and before it goes back in the safe.

 

[Stonge1812]

I rotate three pistols for CC during a month, and all are wiped down after 'sweaty 'days, etc. I shoot all three during that time, they are then cleaned and inspected. BUT, I do fire a couple of rounds through them to check for function, etc before they go back into service.

 

[Hardtarget]

The gun is carried much more than shot. (duh) If its shot it gets cleaned. It gets a good 'blow out" at work every week/ten days. I'll strip and clean at four to six week intervals. I like doing things with the guns so a clean up is relaxing.

Mark

 

[helitack32f1]

I blow off the lint/dust (pocket gun). Thats about it.

This is me as well, though it is inside the waist band. I have yet to figure out how the heck so much lint and dust can accumulate in such a short period of time!

 

[Fast Frank]

Yeah, everybody has said it already.

I will clean my carry gun if it gets fired, even if it was just one shot.

I don't "Detail Strip", but the slide comes off and it gets a good inspection as I clean it and lube it.

About once a week I gently blow all the dust and lint out with my air hose.

The lube I use works, so the pistol is still Good-To-Go after several months of carry, but several times a year I will give it a clean and inspect.

It's not an unpleasant task, and I consider it very important that the pistol works reliably.

Unlike some of the folks that have posted, I don't test fire after cleaning. I have a high degree of confidence that I can properly assemble my pistol without screwing it up.

 

[Tirod]

Weapons in the military, especially those used in the field, need a daily cleaning to get the environmental rubbish off of them. They aren't cleaned to get the gas residue out of the action so much as sand, twigs, moisture and the resulting gunk that can stop the action.

CCW guns need cleaning on a regular basis - the worst case scenario I've read is a revolver in an ankle holster that jammed at the wrong moment when the action locked up. I was filled with lamb's wool lint from the holster - the side against the leg. Constant movement and that type material created a fog of fibers than got into the action, stuck to the weapon oil, and prevented it from turning the cylinder.

Pocket carried guns are just the same. Leather? Fibers do eventually flake off.

You don't clean it because you shot it, you clean it because life around us is filled with dust, dirt, lint, and all sorts of other contamination. That's what jams actions.

As for constantly chambering the same round over and over, most pro's aren't doing that any more. They go to another box to be fired at the range, as all those rounds have chambering scratches and dings that affect accuracy. Don't wait until you can see setback, just shoot it up at your next range trip and carry knowing you have a fresh round in it that hasn't been subjected to months of sweat and corrosion. Old battered ammo is another malfunction just waiting to happen.

We spend up to $1,500 for a carry gun (1911's, HK P7's, etc.) but when it comes to ammo cheap out because it's "pricey." It's false economy and poor training, too. A cheaper gun in the $500 range would leave a $1000 of self defense ammo that would last for a decade: ten rounds a month of full power ammo to use up the nicked rounds isn't a major expense in that light.

Don't forget to clean it -

 

[mavracer]

the worst case scenario I've read is a revolver in an ankle holster that jammed at the wrong moment when the action locked up. I was filled with lamb's wool lint from the holster - the side against the leg. Constant movement and that type material created a fog of fibers than got into the action, stuck to the weapon oil, and prevented it from turning the cylinder.

I can top that, the place where I shoot had to cut the leather holster off the security guards model 10 Smith when he showed up for requalification, as it had rusted so badly it was stuck in the holster.

 

[HRnightmare]

I wipe it down about every week with a rag and sometimes a thin coat of oil. I live in FL so a gun pressed up against my skin will get sweat and body oil on it 260 days of the year. Even the best quality stainless steel will eventually rust.

I take it apart and clean it about once a month or more even if I do not shoot it in that time frame.

I keep it in either a Alien Gear or Kydex holster and am shocked on how much dirt and debris comes off of it.

Cleaning the gun that my one day save your life or someone else's is like putting gas in your car. If you don't do it EVENTUALLY it will fail on you and likely it will fail when you need it the most.

A wipe down with a rag on the outside, a lightly oiled brush with a cloth or nylon brush on the internals and one or two passes with a snake or rag down the barrel takes....MAYBE 3 minutes.

Personally, there is NO excuse not to except laziness.

 

[Spats McGee]

Here's my dilemma: (1) after I shoot my carry gun, I would like to clean it; but (2) after I clean it, I want to be sure it works properly, which means I want to shoot it.

The compromise by which I basically get neither of the above: (1) I don't immediately shoot it after cleaning (no range at my house); but (2) I also don't clean it after every range trip.

 

[Warp]

I wipe it down about every week with a rag and sometimes a thin coat of oil. I live in FL so a gun pressed up against my skin will get sweat and body oil on it 260 days of the year. Even the best quality stainless steel will eventually rust.

I take it apart and clean it about once a month or more even if I do not shoot it in that time frame.

I keep it in either a Alien Gear or Kydex holster and am shocked on how much dirt and debris comes off of it.

Cleaning the gun that my one day save your life or someone else's is like putting gas in your car. If you don't do it EVENTUALLY it will fail on you and likely it will fail when you need it the most.

A wipe down with a rag on the outside, a lightly oiled brush with a cloth or nylon brush on the internals and one or two passes with a snake or rag down the barrel takes....MAYBE 3 minutes.

Personally, there is NO excuse not to except laziness.

Not really. Putting gas in your car is like putting ammo in your gun.

Cleaning/lubing your gun is more like changing the oil and filter in your car. Of course you have to do it eventually. But how frequently a person does it varies.

 

[Guy B. Meredith]

After about 500 rounds, which can be once a month.

I think I'm going to take typhun's advice and stop being lazy.

 

[Sauer Grapes]

My carry gun seldom gets shot. If I do shoot it, it gets cleaned. Once a month it gets stripped and looked at no matter what.

 

[col.lemat]

As with post #17 mine is a revolver. Over cleaning just ads wear. Shot it years ago, It works. Not looking for a fight or trouble with anyone, if I was it would not be a pistol but more like belt fed. Cleaned it back then after shooting it decades ago and I know it will work and is dependable. If I cant get the job done with six shots something is wrong.

 

[Jed Carter]

I shoot the snot out of my primary carry pistol a G19. I recently shot it without a cleaning just over 2500 rounds without any problems of any kind. I detail stripped it and gave it a proper cleaning, everything was filthy. striker channel, slide rails, frame, barrel feed ramp. Caked on residue, everywhere, still no malfunctions. Got it all cleaned and lubed up, wonder if it still works.

 

[HOWARD J]

Glock 26
Every couple months I put a drop of oil on the slides rails & jack the slide back & forth----take bullets out of one mag & place them in another.
Clean the gun every time I shoot it

 

[Bobson]

Here's my dilemma: (1) after I shoot my carry gun, I would like to clean it; but (2) after I clean it, I want to be sure it works properly, which means I want to shoot it.

Hmm. I was taught to function check using the following steps:

1. Ensure gun is clear/empty. Double-check.
2. Rack the slide
3. Pull the trigger and, after hearing the click, keep it held to the rear
4. With trigger still held to the rear, rack the slide
5. Release the trigger. If it resets, your pistol functions.

Does this not work with all pistols?

 

[Warp]

If all I do to a functioning Glock (or similar) is field strip, that basic function check listed by Bobson is all that is needed and is what I do and am completely satisfied with