I'm sure most everyone here faithfully cleans and lubes any firearm after shooting it, but an incident this morning prompted me to post a reminder to the few who may not know (or get a little lazy) that any reglularly carried CC or OC weapon should be stripped, cleaned and lubed at least once every two weeks whether it's been fired or not.
My neighbor called this morning and wanted a little company for some regular range practice with our CC's; and since you can't carry in a Texas place of worship, we said a quick prayer and headed to the local shooting range about a mile down the road. After posting a couple of fresh targets, he went first with his Glock 26 for some quick point-shooting, but it misfed after the first shot and bit the next round. Quickly clearing the jam, he got off three or four more rounds before it misfed and jammed again. While I don't own one, a Glock is a very respectable piece that's not prone to that kind of boo-boo; and since he was using pretty decent Winchester ammo, I asked him if he had cleaned the gun recently. He said it had been about a month and a half since he last fired it, but had thoroughly cleaned it afterwards and didn't figure it needed cleaning after that because all he'd been doing was carrying it around in his IWB holster (kept tucked and protected under his shirt) tail since then.
Deciding we'd better do a trophy inspection on it to find the problem, the first sign of trouble happened when he cleared the bit round, pushed the magazine relase, and nothing happened - uh oh. While holding the release in, it took some pretty substantial fingernail pressure for him to drag the magazine out. When he laid it on the shooting bench and field-stripped it, the problem became apparent to the point that my stomach got a little queezy - I could literally smell the stench coming from inside the gun. Peeking inside - eeeeeuuuuuuuwwwww, there was hair, what looked like talcum powder from dry skin flakes, and the slide rails and magazine release were coated with some unidentifiable form of soft, smelly body cheese - uggggghhh.
OC weapons need to be regularly cleaned (whether fired or not) from eventual buildup of fine dust contamination, but today's experience was sad witness to how much nastier a gun can get from being carried next to the body all day for many days in a row. mfg:
May I inquire as to what his IWB holster is, that so much of his body end up in his gun?
I've been stuck going a month between range trips and never found that much dirt in the gun, just a fine layer of dust. And Glocks are well known for being able to handle the dirt. Then again, I pretty much never oil my Glocks, and when I do it's just one half drop at the connector and trigger bar; my experience has been that those that are over lubed will hold onto the dirt, while Glocks that are dry will by design "clean" themselves.
First, I can guarantee this Glock did NOT clean itself. Second, after seeing what came out of his IWB holster, there's just some things you decide not to explore any farther. I wouldn't have wanted to inspect the holster without first hitting it with a flame-thrower.
My neighbor is one of those very large, profusely sweating, extremely hairy people that confirms Neanderthals did not go extinct as we've been taught. Part of the stench I smelled could have been coming from my neighbor as well as his nasty gun - OMG, maybe he's a cross-bred sasquach??
The point of the reminder wasn't meant as a reference to the weapon or neighbor with questionable personal hygene. Instead, it was to remind that a weapon that remains closed and holstered can still become contaminated to the point of becoming inoperable after a long period of time, and that it's a very good idea to disassemble and clean your CC on a regular and frequent basis - especially when your life may very well depend on it someday. Take care of that which takes care of you.
I check and inspect my firearm every morning before carrying for the day...check the rails for lube, check the mag to see if it drops and inserts smoothly. I generally clean it every 10-14 days...depending on activity. If it gets dirty/dusty, wet or sweated on, it gets stripped down clean....lessons learned from years of service.
Quick story: the guy I relieved in Afghanistan never left the FOB. Never cleaned his weapon. Never drew his weapon...never loaded a mag...never cleared it. When I was helping him pack, he tried to disassemble it for cleaning. It was so dirty and nasty, the slide would not pull back. He had dirt build up on the back of the hammer, and the inside of the mag well looked like sandpaper. I was shocked and appalled. He was involuntarily deployed and was returning to home station to retire. Fortunately, no one depended on him for anything, and that included his primary job, much less defending himself.
Quick story: the guy I relieved in Afghanistan never left the FOB. Never cleaned his weapon. Never drew his weapon...never loaded a mag...never cleared it. When I was helping him pack, he tried to disassemble it for cleaning. It was so dirty and nasty, the slide would not pull back. He had dirt build up on the back of the hammer, and the inside of the mag well looked like sandpaper. I was shocked and appalled. He was involuntarily deployed and was returning to home station to retire. Fortunately, no one depended on him for anything, and that included his primary job, much less defending himself.
My guess is that he's been the same way his whole career. Always relying on someone else to play CYA, then wondering why when things go to hell in a hand basket there is no one there to back you up.
I have a habit of once a week when Im just sitting in the throne room of since I unholster to sit down on the throne I field strip and clean it a bit with paper towels. Once found a dead bug stuck in the frame....ugh. Plus all the link and crud that get in there its good to swipe it out and drop of oil if needed. This also goes for my wheelies too, dirt has a way of getting under the hammer....
I clean mine only after shooting alot. I don't see how it go full of hair, nails dirt ect??? Unless he's a Gorilla or something? Mine stays clean until I dirty it up with gunpowder?? I wear a tank top between me and my holster. When it's to hot for my Glock I pocket carry my Mustang. Stays clean also.
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Generally after every range trip...except when I run less than 100 rounds through them. As my last range trip (2wks ago) was with some work people, I ended up shooting a few other firearms, so haven't given my own a cleaning yet.
My IWB (Crossbreed QwikClip) is substantial enough that I don't have any issues, even in the 100 degree summer heat. Plus, my Glock & Kel-tec run well even when slightly soiled.
Your friend might want to think about taking a few more showers during the week. Thanks for the visual though.
My cleaning is done a soon as possible after any shooting, but once a week I field strip and blow out my carry, with a light lube on the barrel and slides. The .380 rides in my pocket, so a small amount of lint happens, the .45 rides in an IWB where only the hammer spur touches me occasionally. I don't even want to know where your friend was carrying.
Ive carried guns for weeks and weeks in the Texas summer in a three year old Smary Carry and never had anything that nasty before. I wasnt aware a human being could get a gun that nasty.
I don't clean my guns the Corps way anymore. I feel that a little carbon is acceptable in my AR. For my 1911, I usually take it down for a field strip and wipe everything down, and relube. After firing only 50 rounds or so I take it down and make sure the barrel is clean, and the feed ramp is cleaned of residue and call it good.
My Glocks get the same. About every six months I do a complete take down and detail clean.
I clean mine after shooting (usually a couple times a month) and then wipe it down as needed. I don't like to see anything on my EDC, so if there is lint or dust on it, it gets cleaned.
Gack! Okay, I'm feeling a little queasy now too! Sheesh!
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