Pistol Cleaning Guidance/Suggestions

View · by **TheRealSOB** on Sat Nov 03, 2012 3:43 pm

Hey folks,

I just purchased my first handgun (M&P 9mm 4.5 barrel) and I'm wondering what everyone is using or what you recommend for a cleaning kit. There seem to be a ton of options and I'd rather buy something recommended to me rather than try to guess what looks like a quality kit. I've also thought about piecing together a kit rather than buying a full set so I'm kind of all over the place with this and that's why I'm posting here. Also, regarding solvents and oils...I'd like a little guidance on that as well. There are a lot of options on that front (hoppe's, ballistol, rem oil, etc) and I'm curious what you guys recommend for that as well.

Thanks very much in advance. This forum has been a wealth of information for me since joining several months ago.

View · by **rugershooter6823** on Sat Nov 03, 2012 4:16 pm

peiced my kit together. i use mpro7 for cleaner.

Sent from my DROID X2 using Tapatalk 2

View · by **solidgun** on Sat Nov 03, 2012 4:36 pm

I am sure people have their own special formula for getting things clean. I use CLP for modern firearms that I clean and use frequently. I have been using BreakFree CLP for years and go through a gallon a year.

Get some patches, cleaning brush, caliber specific jags, cotton swabs, and use any lubricants sparingly when putting the firearm back together. Light coating will work the best.

View · by **rugersol** on Sat Nov 03, 2012 4:54 pm

View · by **aaron878** on Sat Nov 03, 2012 5:14 pm

Spent a lot of money on cleaning crap, I've come to the conclusion that simple is good, everything else is a waste.

If I was buying again I would get a small rod

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/616296 ... -32-thread

A pointy jag and 2 38 caliber brushes one nylon and one brass, some cotton patches, and a decent all-in-one cleaner and lube (I've been happy with ballistol).

Also a set of receiver brushes (or an old toothbrush) but I like having a brass brush.

All of the kits I've seen have inferior components (nylon jags) and a ton of stuff you don't need.

Otis kits are decent quality, but they're clumsy to use and expensive in my experience.

View · by **Doc Harvey** on Sat Nov 03, 2012 6:16 pm

Froglube, baby!

View · by **TheRealSOB** on Sat Nov 03, 2012 6:47 pm

Wow. Nice. Thanks for all the help. I'll update what I end up with and post how it works out for the rest of the newbs like myself....thanks again.

View · by **XDM45** on Sat Nov 03, 2012 7:05 pm

U use Hoppes 9 for solvant and Breakfree CLR for lubricant. I use a bore snake instead of the typical rod, patch, brush deal... I also clean after every time at the range.

View · by **Ivan45** on Sat Nov 03, 2012 9:02 pm

Breakfree CLP, boresnake, and a brush. Simple, fast, and easy.

View · by **JustinPo** on Sat Nov 03, 2012 10:19 pm

This is all i need for every gun in my house, and they all work great:
basic universal cleaning kit
old white cotton tshirts torn into patches and rags
toothbrushes
qtips
CLP
hoppes No9 copper solvent for the barrel

View · by **XDM45** on Sun Nov 04, 2012 8:02 am

I have a question regarding cleaning the inside of the barrel and the best way to do that....

as noted above, I use Hoppes 9 and BreakFree CLR, but I've never gone inside the barrel, only ran a boresnake through it after each time at the range. I visually check it, but I'd like t know how to clean and lubricate it on the inside and not leave any residue (lead, solvent, lubricant) behind which may cause a problem firing the gun, yet I want the inside of the barrel protected frm rust, etc.

Tips?

View · by **PhilaBOR** on Sun Nov 04, 2012 8:58 am

I wet a brass brush with #9, run it thru barrel 10 times, then cotton swabs until they come out clean. If I can't get it clean, I might run a #9 wetted patch thru. Or repeat the brush, then the dry patches. I tried Bore Snakes and checked afterwards with a patch. Lots of crud left behind by the snake.
Some barrels clean up real nice. My Yugoslav SKS and kel-tec S2000 never clean up.

View · by **aaron878** on Sun Nov 04, 2012 9:02 am

XDM45 wrote:I have a question regarding cleaning the inside of the barrel and the best way to do that....

as noted above, I use Hoppes 9 and BreakFree CLR, but I've never gone inside the barrel, only ran a boresnake through it after each time at the range. I visually check it, but I'd like t know how to clean and lubricate it on the inside and not leave any residue (lead, solvent, lubricant) behind which may cause a problem firing the gun, yet I want the inside of the barrel protected frm rust, etc.

Tips?

Soak barrel in solvent for five minutes, scrub with the bronze brush, run patches until clean, add a small amount of oil to a patch and lightly cost the inside of the barrel. You shouldn't need to oil the barrel of a firearm you shoot regularly, and firing it with a ton of oil in there is a bad idea.

Also, bore snakes are quick and easy, but they don't clean all that well in my opinion. I only use them exclusively, whenever I've shot less than 50 rounds.

View · by **rugersol** on Sun Nov 04, 2012 9:13 am

XDM45 wrote:I have a question regarding cleaning the inside of the barrel and the best way to do that....

different techniques fer different guns ... and ammo ...

fer jacketed ammo in a pistol, ya don't need to clean very often ... and when ya do, there shouldn't be much to clean ... but, if ya insist, ya could do the same as fer cast bullets ...

run flannel patches wet with Remington (40X) "bore cleaner", over jags ... with severe leading, ya may need a mallet to drive the jag thru ... I've had shards of lead come out, that way! ... otherwise, run patches till ya run out, er otherwise don't care to, no more ... the patches over the jags, in a clean bore, should still be tight ... use bigger patches, to get em tighter!

as with any bore, if ya like, run a patch wet with hoppe's ... let it soak several minutes ... if there's no blueish greenish color on the patch, don't bother with more!

run a few dry patches ... then, run a lightly oiled patch

there's also the "lead cloth" ... be careful with blued er nickel finishes!

View · by **XDM45** on Sun Nov 04, 2012 9:56 am

All good advice... let me clarify because I'm look for what I should specifically do with these guns....

My XDm I run FMJ through, 200-500 a time at the range. All new, no reloads. Good quality ammo. Remington, Winchester, MagTech (which is my favorite 45ACP ammo that is impossible to find by the way...), UMC, etc. Usually the day of my shooting afterward or within the week at the most, I clean it as noted in my previous post by using a boresnake through the barrel (no cleaner or anything on the boresnake). I shoot anywhere from 1-2 a month. This is also my carry weapon which sits (for now) in a cheap nylon holster until I can get a better one after my belt purchase.

My Ruger Mark III 2245, I clean the same way, run CCI and other good ammo through it, more rounds per sssion, but still a sameday/same week cleaning with the boresnake etc. Non-carry weapon.

I appreciate all the good advice and hopefully me clarifying what I shoot and how much will help.