How important is it to clean the gun? (non-corrosive ammo)

[wacki]

I shoot skeet trap a lot as well as .22LR and 38 special. Non of my ammo is surplus of course.

How important is it to clean my guns? I understand dirty guns are far more likely to jam. However, I'm more concerned as to whether or not there be any damage a good cleaning couldn't fix.

Situations I can see myself doing:
Lets say I shoot once a week and go five weeks before cleaning my SP101 or my .22LR AR15. Will that cause any issues to the gun? What if shoot 4 times and store it in the safe for 8 months...

100-125 rounds in my browning gold /week
300-400 rounds in my .22LR AR /week
75-150 rounds in my SP101 / week

 

[GRIZ22]

Lets say I shoot once a week and go five weeks before cleaning my SP101 or my .22LR AR15

How many rounds per week?

 

[wacki]

100-125 rounds in my browning gold /week
300-400 rounds in my .22LR AR /week
75-150 rounds in my SP101 / week

 

[rule303]

The Browning should be cleaned about every 250rds- more or less depending on the ammo, to keep it running properly. My .22s I don't clean the bore until accuracy drops off, depending on the gun, this could be between 200 and 1,000rds. I do clean and lube the action every couple of shooting sessions though. Revolvers, I clean right away if shooting .38's out of a .357, otherwise a general wipe down and oiling every couple of hundred rounds, with a good detail cleaning once a year or so.
Your gun isn't going to get more dirty sitting in the safe, and with modern ammo bore corrosion isn't an issue. So if you're feeling lazy, go ahead and clean it later.

 

[BADUNAME37]

It all depends on how sweaty your hands are when using it, whether it is very humid or damp where they are stored, whether they got wet at all during the last shooting, how much oil coating was left on the gun the last time it was cleaned or wiped down, etc.

I have several guns which have not been cleaned in about five years, they have been shot off and on (perhaps 20 or so rounds on average) and they are still fine.

More than cleaning, I think it is important to wipe them down with a good oily-rag!

 

[GRIZ22]

If you use them as range guns only I'd clean once a week. A carry gun I clean after every use.

The only reason a gun needs to be deatil stripped is because its broken.

Friendly Don't Fire offers good advice as well.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

Even though your primers are listed as non-corrosive, the residue from combustion attracts moisture. And leaving metal in the bore traps the residue, which, over time, will encourage corrosion. Storage in a dry environment helps. I wouldn't be to concerned waiting a few weeks to clean, but if the bore gets leaded it needs cleaned or accuracy will suffer.

 

[GLOOB]

A gun is like a vehicle. If you are shooting it regularly, it doesn't need any special attention. You'll notice what it needs, when it needs it. If you're gonna let it sit for months on end, be sure to clean (or more importantly, to lube) the gun for storage.

 

[goldxdot]

i clean mine after shoopting

 

[shockwave]

I clean my guns after every outing. From what I gather, this probably isn't necessary, but I do it anyway.

The upside is that they always look new and ready for business.

 

[[email protected]]

Not very important in my opinion... shotgun is probably more important than the others... often with a semi-auto if you start to have a cycling problem the solution is a spray a little lube in and around the bolt....

keeping a gun spick and span comes from the military.... for two reasons...

1st:
cleaned and lubed well is the best way to insure the weapon will function when it needs to and in the military this can mean the difference between your or them being dead.

2nd: is just discipline ..... every thing has to be cleaned to ad-nausium, just as important when you are being trained to follow orders which can mean run straight into some guys shooting 1200 rounds a minute at you... they take this to the extreme in the military but for a reason.

I played at those two for a short period a long time ago and really have no need to now... I clean my guns that I shoot when I feel like it.... more when it pleases me than when they actually need it.

 

[MartinS]

They will stop making load noises if you are not careful. Recently seen a Savage bolt gun and a Mossberg 500 fail to extract because of rusty chambers because they were not cleaned after a range trip ONE time. Rather give them a little attention every time I shoot than have that happen.

 

[Jonah71]

i clean mine after shoopting

An old habit that was drilled in me before the age of 10. I doubt if I'll change after almost 50 years.