How Often is cleaning needed?

[JJ]

I haven't cleaned my AR (Colt 6550) since 2005; I shoot a K or so a year. For a quality AR, this amounts to nothing.

I think the correct answers are:

1. How much of a dirty physical appearance are you willing to tolerate?
2. How much crud will the firearm in question tolerate and still perform reliably?

Even for a quality AK that is a lot of shooting without Cleaning. But then again - this is not likely a gun that you trust your life with so - dont bother cleaning it....

Bad piece of advice and anecdotal nonsense about defensive firearms. Keep it clean if you plan on trusting your life to it.

Thats what the solvent manufacturers want you to believe. I have seen more damage from overcleaning than from not enough.

[mmcnx2]

I'll be the first to admit I'm a little retentive. Everything I own is overly clean, cars, motorcyles, boats, house, guns even the garage. But I beleive I have avoided alot of issues compared to folks who 'ride it hard and put it away wet'.

To each there own, I will continue my ways, it has served me well for 40 years.

[Pinnacle]

Whatever huh? And Seen more damage from cleaning...

All that I have to say is well, it your life, and I hope that someone out there takes advice on not cleaning their gun for what it is worth... Absolutely nothing. I disagree with you on a level that is not suitable for public consumption...

As for damage from cleaning...... That would be doing something incredibly wrong... normally unintetionally.....

Not cleaning your defensive firearm is looking for a problem to happen - well, on purpose.

[JJ]

Whatever huh? And Seen more damage from cleaning...

All that I have to say is well, it your life, and I hope that someone out there takes advice on not cleaning their gun for what it is worth... Absolutely nothing. I disagree with you on a level that is not suitable for public consumption...

As for damage from cleaning...... That would be doing something incredibly wrong... normally unintetionally.....

Not cleaning your defensive firearm is looking for a problem to happen - well, on purpose.

By that rationale, you should change your oil after every turn of the key in your car as well. A gun is nothing more than a machine. It should not need to be cleaned every time it is in use. Routine maintenece should be more than enough.

[Dave Pendleton]

Whatever huh? And Seen more damage from cleaning...

All that I have to say is well, it your life, and I hope that someone out there takes advice on not cleaning their gun for what it is worth... Absolutely nothing. I disagree with you on a level that is not suitable for public consumption...

As for damage from cleaning...... That would be doing something incredibly wrong... normally unintetionally.....

Not cleaning your defensive firearm is looking for a problem to happen - well, on purpose.

This is why I carry a single MRE wherever I go...

[mmcnx2]

By that rationale, you should change your oil after every turn of the key in your car as well. A gun is nothing more than a machine. It should not need to be cleaned every time it is in use. Routine maintenece should be more than enough.

Well not really the same thing, your car has an oil filter. Oil in a car serves two purposes, one obviously lubricant and two transport dirt out the engine and into the filter. Heck even fuel has additives in it to clean the engine as it goes.

So if you put an oil tank, pump and filter on your gun then maybe you would not have to clean it. Or if you come up with a gun powder that cleans as it fires then yes you might be able to avoid some cleaning.

[JJ]

By that rationale, you should change your oil after every turn of the key in your car as well. A gun is nothing more than a machine. It should not need to be cleaned every time it is in use. Routine maintenece should be more than enough.

Well not really the same thing, your car has an oil filter. Oil in a car serves two purposes, one obviously lubricant and two transport dirt out the engine and into the filter. Heck even fuel has additives in it to clean the engine as it goes.

So if you put an oil tank, pump and filter on your gun then maybe you would not have to clean it. Or if you come up with a gun powder that cleans as it fires then yes you might be able to avoid some cleaning.

So you clean and lube your kids bicycle after ever use then as well?

Is that a better analogy?

[mmcnx2]

When we had kids at home with bikes, yup.

I also sharpen my fishing hooks before I use them.

[hammAR]

Not cleaning your defensive firearm is looking for a problem to happen - well, on purpose.

Advice given, end of responsibility..................

[mnmike59]

I won't buy a firearm from anyone that doesn't keep it clean. The grit and dirt in the pistol in use can cause more damage than continual cleaning!
Besides, Cleaning and fondling your firearms is part of the fun in owning one of these fine tools.

[mmcnx2]

I won't buy a firearm from anyone that doesn't keep it clean. The grit and dirt in the pistol in use can cause more damage than continual cleaning!
Besides, Cleaning and fondling your firearms is part of the fun in owning one of these fine tools.

+1

I also had a gunsmith I respect alot tell me that a few drops of oil on the back of the slide of a hot semi auto will leech out a ton of dirt. He suggested after shooting and while the gun is still hot put 2-3 drops of oil on each side of slide and hold the gun muzzle down and let the oil work its way down. It is amazing the crap that drips out, I do that then a quick wipe down befire casing.

[Dave Pendleton]

I won't buy a firearm from anyone that doesn't keep it clean. The grit and dirt in the pistol in use can cause more damage than continual cleaning!
Besides, Cleaning and fondling your firearms is part of the fun in owning one of these fine tools.

+1

I also had a gunsmith I respect alot tell me that a few drops of oil on the back of the slide of a hot semi auto will leech out a ton of dirt. He suggested after shooting and while the gun is still hot put 2-3 drops of oil on each side of slide and hold the gun muzzle down and let the oil work its way down. It is amazing the crap that drips out, I do that then a quick wipe down befire casing.

You actually sit there and wait for to "work it's way down?"

Are you serious?

[mmcnx2]

yup

[Paul]

Thats what the solvent manufacturers want you to believe. I have seen more damage from overcleaning than from not enough.

What kind of damage?

[Pinnacle]

Whatever huh? And Seen more damage from cleaning...

All that I have to say is well, it your life, and I hope that someone out there takes advice on not cleaning their gun for what it is worth... Absolutely nothing. I disagree with you on a level that is not suitable for public consumption...

As for damage from cleaning...... That would be doing something incredibly wrong... normally unintetionally.....

Not cleaning your defensive firearm is looking for a problem to happen - well, on purpose.

By that rationale, you should change your oil after every turn of the key in your car as well. A gun is nothing more than a machine. It should not need to be cleaned every time it is in use. Routine maintenece should be more than enough.

It is called a maintainaince interval. You dont change the oil in the car when you run it, but a handgun in particular is not a machine that you should "carry dirty". It is like I said, takes 10 minutes to clean a firearm, gunshot wounds take a long time to heal, beatings take a long time to recover from, and then there are knives and all of the other nonsense.

Remember, it's your life.... I would hate to read the headline "Homeowner Killed during home invasion, Gun Failed, incident was totally preventable by routine cleaning"

Or here is another one that I love. This gun is a POS, it malfunctions all of the time. "When was the last time that you cleaned it?" Its a Glock, you dont need to clean it.... DUUUHHHHH or better yet, the M4 is self cleaning...... DUUUUHHHHHH

Oh the interval for cleaning a firearm, IS AFTER YOU RUN IT, everytime. Full Stop.