Cleaning after range time - Page 2

friesepferd · November 1st, 2007, 05:59 PM

ditto

broknindarkagain · November 1st, 2007, 06:06 PM

Like I said above, I took out my safety since it was kinda iffy. It was pretty filthy so I scrubbed it clean, oiled it, and it was 100% smoother and easier to operate.

I then got bored and decided to do the same with the trigger, hammer, and firing pin. Now all together the gun feels like new, a good cleaning made a world of difference. My trigger pull is much smoother, both DA and SA....hammer is a lot smoother to pull back, safety isn't stiff anymore...

This was the first time I ever broke down a pistol beyond field stripping it. I was kinda nurvous about doing it, but I was able to get everything back to normal. I tested it with a few snap caps and everything checked out fine.

ttpete · November 1st, 2007, 08:23 PM

I clean as needed. More often if I'm shooting lubed lead bullets. When I shot .30 caliber high power matches with a Garand, I cleaned bore and chamber after every match, but nothing else until the end of the year. Removing the action makes the bedding looser every time it's done. I never had a malfunction because of this.

Just a few thoughts about cleaning, things I learned over the 50 years I've been shooting.

The M16 type toothbrushes are excellent. Especially the small brush. Brownells has them. Get a half dozen, you'll find other uses for them.

Get some 6 inch cotton swab sticks from a surgical/sickroom supply house. They have wooden sticks and aren't flexible like Q tips. Break the sticks off the dirty ones, and use the sharp ends to dig out crud without scratching the metal.

I use acetone or lacquer thinner as a solvent. Home Depot carries these, but make sure whatever is used doesn't react with any plastic on the weapon.

I like plastic coated cleaning rods. Dewey makes the best. Aluminum rods will imbed grit in the metal and wear the bore. Use the best bore brushes available, brass only, no stainless. Most of the cheaper ones are really wimpy. A good brush will be really hard to push through the barrel. A Bore Snake is good for a quick clean.

I have always used Hoppe's oil. Personal preference, it's never let me down. For slide rails, I use an extemely light Teflon loaded grease I got from a Ford parts department years ago. Slicker than deer guts on a brass doorknob....

Another nice thing to have is a "Rig Rag". It's sold by Rig, and is a piece of sheepskin that is treated with Rig grease. It makes wiping a gun down before storage quick and easy. I keep one on the shelf inside the safe in a plastic bag.

Cupcake · November 1st, 2007, 08:25 PM

I field strip and clean that baby good every time I shoot (pretty much all you can do with an XD). Then I have the urge to shoot it again to make sure that everything works. This requires another cleaning. It never ends.

goldshellback · November 2nd, 2007, 08:27 AM

I'm a field stripper kinda shooter myself. I break 'em down after the range EVERY TIME. Every once in a while, every few months, my firearms will get a "dunking" and good breakdown. I wanna take care of the tools that help take care of me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by limatunes

I'm EXTREMELY obsessive about my bore. If that thing isn't shining like a mirror it's not clear enough. I'll scrub it for an hour if I have to.

Lima......as a husband and a"field-stripper" I must ask, do you compare JD's house cleaning chores to you bores?

I had too.....couldn't help it. I luv ya both!

Hawk · November 2nd, 2007, 12:21 PM

When I was in the military we used to take our rifles in the shower with us and clean them with shaving cream. I have no idea why it works but you could never find a spec of residue on or in the rifle afterward. You can flame away all you want, but be forewarned that this was the practice of at least the entire battalion of one of the finest infantry brigades in the U.S. Army.

Now I would never even think of cleaning my firearms like that... I have no rational reason why I wouldn't, its just that I cringe at the thought.

Superhouse 15 · November 2nd, 2007, 07:15 PM

I normally detail strip my CCW stuff after shooting it. I work in a gunshop and range, so I have a whole workbench at my disposal and basically all the lubes, goo, and chemicals I want. Small investment of my time is all it is, and I like doing it.

wmhawth · November 2nd, 2007, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawk

When I was in the military we used to take our rifles in the shower with us and clean them with shaving cream. I have no idea why it works but you could never find a spec of residue on or in the rifle afterward. You can flame away all you want, but be forewarned that this was the practice of at least the entire battalion of one of the finest infantry brigades in the U.S. Army.

Now I would never even think of cleaning my firearms like that... I have no rational reason why I wouldn't, its just that I cringe at the thought.

We used to do the shower thing with our rifles too. Never tried the shaving cream thing though. My guns nowadays don't get the shower treatment, course they don't get covered in Ft Benning mud either.

Anubis · November 3rd, 2007, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by broknindarkagain

How do you clean your gun after you shoot it? Do you just take off the slide and do a basic solvent/lube job? Or do you completely break everything down and scrub it clean?

I detail strip every time. For cleaning and lubrication, of course, but equally for inspection because I rotate my 3 pistols between range and self-defense duty. Since my life could theoretically depend on the carry pistol functioning, I must know that every part was not broken or damaged the last time I used it, and that the pistol still passes the function tests specified in the manual.

dgg9 · November 3rd, 2007, 01:41 PM

For this purpose, I have at least two of any gun I would carry (G17, G19): primary CCW gun, and a second practice gun.

The actual CCW gun, once broken in and tested thoroughly, stays clean and low round count. A couple times a year I shoot out the carry ammo and put a few hundred rounds in it for good measure. But then it gets cleaned thoroughly and stays that way for another 4 - 6 months.

The second G19 or G17 is the practice gun: used at the range and in training classes. Being Glocks, I let them run 1,000 rds before doing anything. Then they get thoroughly cleaned and lightly relubed.

November 1st, 2007, 06:06 PM	#12
broknindarkagain Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atlanta Area, Georgia Posts: 394	Like I said above, I took out my safety since it was kinda iffy. It was pretty filthy so I scrubbed it clean, oiled it, and it was 100% smoother and easier to operate. I then got bored and decided to do the same with the trigger, hammer, and firing pin. Now all together the gun feels like new, a good cleaning made a world of difference. My trigger pull is much smoother, both DA and SA....hammer is a lot smoother to pull back, safety isn't stiff anymore... This was the first time I ever broke down a pistol beyond field stripping it. I was kinda nurvous about doing it, but I was able to get everything back to normal. I tested it with a few snap caps and everything checked out fine. __________________ "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Taurus PT111 Pro 9mm

November 1st, 2007, 08:23 PM	#13
ttpete Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Mich Posts: 333	I clean as needed. More often if I'm shooting lubed lead bullets. When I shot .30 caliber high power matches with a Garand, I cleaned bore and chamber after every match, but nothing else until the end of the year. Removing the action makes the bedding looser every time it's done. I never had a malfunction because of this. Just a few thoughts about cleaning, things I learned over the 50 years I've been shooting. The M16 type toothbrushes are excellent. Especially the small brush. Brownells has them. Get a half dozen, you'll find other uses for them. Get some 6 inch cotton swab sticks from a surgical/sickroom supply house. They have wooden sticks and aren't flexible like Q tips. Break the sticks off the dirty ones, and use the sharp ends to dig out crud without scratching the metal. I use acetone or lacquer thinner as a solvent. Home Depot carries these, but make sure whatever is used doesn't react with any plastic on the weapon. I like plastic coated cleaning rods. Dewey makes the best. Aluminum rods will imbed grit in the metal and wear the bore. Use the best bore brushes available, brass only, no stainless. Most of the cheaper ones are really wimpy. A good brush will be really hard to push through the barrel. A Bore Snake is good for a quick clean. I have always used Hoppe's oil. Personal preference, it's never let me down. For slide rails, I use an extemely light Teflon loaded grease I got from a Ford parts department years ago. Slicker than deer guts on a brass doorknob.... Another nice thing to have is a "Rig Rag". It's sold by Rig, and is a piece of sheepskin that is treated with Rig grease. It makes wiping a gun down before storage quick and easy. I keep one on the shelf inside the safe in a plastic bag. __________________ NRA Benefactor member Michigan Antique Arms Collectors life member Ohio Gun Collectors member Opinions expressed here are based upon Michigan state law ONLY. Other state laws may differ. Know and observe your local laws.

November 1st, 2007, 08:25 PM	#14
Cupcake VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,730	I field strip and clean that baby good every time I shoot (pretty much all you can do with an XD). Then I have the urge to shoot it again to make sure that everything works. This requires another cleaning. It never ends. __________________ Stupidity is not a crime...so you are free to go.

November 2nd, 2007, 07:15 PM	#17
Superhouse 15 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 986	Detail Strip I normally detail strip my CCW stuff after shooting it. I work in a gunshop and range, so I have a whole workbench at my disposal and basically all the lubes, goo, and chemicals I want. Small investment of my time is all it is, and I like doing it.

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November 1st, 2007, 05:59 PM	#11
friesepferd Distinguished Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: what used to be the state of Franklin (look it up) Posts: 1,719	ditto

November 2nd, 2007, 12:21 PM	#16
Hawk Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Jacksonville Florida Posts: 93	When I was in the military we used to take our rifles in the shower with us and clean them with shaving cream. I have no idea why it works but you could never find a spec of residue on or in the rifle afterward. You can flame away all you want, but be forewarned that this was the practice of at least the entire battalion of one of the finest infantry brigades in the U.S. Army. Now I would never even think of cleaning my firearms like that... I have no rational reason why I wouldn't, its just that I cringe at the thought.

November 3rd, 2007, 01:41 PM	#20
dgg9 Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: philadelphia Posts: 357	For this purpose, I have at least two of any gun I would carry (G17, G19): primary CCW gun, and a second practice gun. The actual CCW gun, once broken in and tested thoroughly, stays clean and low round count. A couple times a year I shoot out the carry ammo and put a few hundred rounds in it for good measure. But then it gets cleaned thoroughly and stays that way for another 4 - 6 months. The second G19 or G17 is the practice gun: used at the range and in training classes. Being Glocks, I let them run 1,000 rds before doing anything. Then they get thoroughly cleaned and lightly relubed.