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Over Cleaning?!?

HiCapHiCap Member Posts: 77 ✭✭
edited July 2002 in Ask the Experts
I have recently heard people talk about "over cleaning" a weapon and all the problems it can cuase.

Call me old fashioned, but I clean all my weapons every time I put a round through them. Whether I just dump a quick clip at a lunch time range session to break up a stressful day, or if I run several hundred rounds through them at a serious training session. Either way I break them down and do a thorough cleaning.

Corosion is corosion, right? Why wait for it to happen?

Anybody ever heard a legitimate argument against cleaning every time?
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Comments

  • SSG ZAGSSG ZAG Member Posts: 211 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    As a military shooting instructor, the weapons I work with get cleaned, scrubbed and generally gone over, way,way more than the average privatly owned firearm. No adverse affects yet have come from cleaning these weapons, however, I have seen some trouble from certain cleaning 'practices'. Vigorous bore brushing actually leaving some of the brass from the brush in the barrel, too much lube can always cause probs, mostly from the dirt that the extra lube attracts. All in all, does a firearm HAVE to be cleaned every time it's fired? No, should you? Maybe. Do I? Yes
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  • NighthawkNighthawk Member Posts: 12,022 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I know what you mean I do the same thing.I dont do my 22 rimefires like that because they say not to.I do know they recommend good cleaning rods so you dont damage the crown of your rifle.Its harder on semi automatic rifles and lever/pump. Because you have to clean from the end of the barrel.I just take time and clean at a slow easy pace.Rust is a bad enemy but so is damaging the crown of your weapon.


    Good Luck.

    Rugster
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  • idsman75idsman75 Member Posts: 13,398 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Why are .22 rimfires more sensitive?
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  • will270winwill270win Member Posts: 4,845
    edited November -1
    Using to many solvents when you clean can be bad at times. Scrubbing with stuff like brake parts cleaner and carb cleaner removes the teflon buildup from shooters weapons who use CLP. I don't see how there could be such a thing as over-cleaning unless maybe using the wrong cleaning solutions. Some will disagree but I trust my experience as a former armorer.


    ~Secret Select Society Of Suave Stylish Smoking Jackets~
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  • mballaimballai Member Posts: 1,280 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I was told that Glocks should only be cleaned once in awhile, but disassembled and cleaned out once a year. There's probably some sense to that sort of thinking.

    My worst experience with any gun was a 1911 range gun rental. The gun was obviously well past filthy and needed cleaning and oiling. If I needed that gun for self defense in that condition, I would have used it as a club.

    Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead
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  • nmyersnmyers Member Posts: 16,887 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My experience has been that the most destructive and widespread practice is cleaning guns from the muzzle end without a muzzle guide. The cleaning rod, especially an aluminum rod, will pick up bits of grit that will quickly wear away the bore, and destroy the accuracy of the gun.

    Clean guns from the breech whenever possible; otherwise, use a muzzle guide.

    Neal
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  • doomsknight62doomsknight62 Member Posts: 239 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I don't know about the rest of you Glock owners, but I clean my Glock 21 after every usage. Sometimes, under heavy usage at the range, I will even run a bore brush through the barrel after every 50 rounds, just to be safe. Cleaning and lubricating, though, are two different things. You just don't want so much lubricant that it collects dirt.
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  • airborneairborne Member Posts: 1,728 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My rule of thumb is if it's a firearm that I shoot on a regular/weekly basis I may not clean, just wipe down after a shooting session. If it's one I take out of the vault to shoot, and know I probably will not shoot again for some time, I will thoroughly clean after firing.

    B - BreatheR - RelaxA - AimS - SightS - Squeeze
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  • HiCapHiCap Member Posts: 77 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hey Airborne; How did you get three rules of thumb with only two thumbs?!? Just kidding!

    I do appreciate all the responses, though. As usual, some very good advice.

    I feel better that I'm doing the right thing. Clean is good!

    Thanks agian.
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  • airborneairborne Member Posts: 1,728 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My secret, seriously really do not know, for some reason appeared that it did not take my response so I reentered. Believe me it was not intentional.

    Yes, agree with you HiCap there is alot of useful information to be found here. Be careful it can become habit forming.

    B - BreatheR - RelaxA - AimS - SightS - Squeeze
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