“You’ve gotta clean that gun after EVERY time you shoot it!” Your mother may not have said that, but chances are some trusted mentor in your early days as a shooter did. Sure, cleaning a really gunky gun is important, but in these days of smokeless powder, highly corrosion-resistant gun finishes, and climate-controlled homes, do you really have to clean a gun THAT often? Brownells Gun Techs™ Caleb and Steve say, in a nutshell….. no. Both admit to being typical gunsmiths with a bunch of dirty guns lurking in their gun safes! Steve wipes down the outside and checks for leading in the barrel, but as for a stem-to-stern, thorough bore cleaning? About once or twice a season, he says. Certain shooters DO have to clean their guns after every outing: duck / geese / pheasant hunters, black powder shooters, anybody operating in adversely wet conditions. Certain guns require attentive maintenance like the M1 Garand and M14 (M1A), whose roller systems need frequent cleaning and lubrication. If you get satisfaction from disassembling a gun and thoroughly cleaning it, go ahead – it won’t hurt. But the myth is BUSTED: you typically do not have to clean a gun every time you shoot it.
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I typically take 4 – 5 guns out when target practicing. I religiously cleaned after every usage. As I've aged the "cleaning" has become more of a chore…in fact I've not gone out because of the fact that I "must" clean everything. These days, I haven't been religiously cleaning my rifles as I used to. My "short range" is right outside my door and I'll go out and fire 10 – 20 rounds from my single shots and then "put them up" until the next time. I'll clean them at the end of the Summer.
lazy !
Mine shoot better & get less wear & tear when I dont clean them… to an extent.
I hate shooting a freshly cleaned rifle. I get jams & mis fires. I have never cleaned my edc & its been 4 years & almost 1,000 rounds.
Only a light barrel swab & 1 pass with a bore snake in that time.
Sometimes I’ll clean all of my guns just because I enjoy it. I’ve never come home after shooting & thought “I’m sure it’s not that dirty.” It’s a powerful & critical tool
& should be treated as such.
I was first a hunter growing up and cleaned everything after coming to room temp, unless rained on/wet of course. I keep my tools cleaned to last longer, why not my guns? LSA oil will help the carbon build up on the bolt also. But carbon build up does not magically disappear on any of my guns……..If there is even a 1% chance carbon will stop the gun from firing when I need it too from not cleaning, that is not a chance I am willing to take. Soaking is the way to go with carbon, and Slip 2000 carbon killer is reusable, just save in another container. JMHO
I want to keep my guns as clean as new! Cleanliness is close to Godleyness.
I'm retired from the military. After you're done shooting you clean your weapon. From my military experience it's SOP and ingrained into you. I think, in some way, it's done to demonstrate respect for the weapon. I continue to do this everytime after returning from the range. Before the rifle goes back in the cabinet it's very clean. Is it necessary? Perhaps not but that's what I do.
Most of the gunpowders today are excellent but turn back the clock a little bit and you had corrsive and mildly corrosive ammao so cleaning was pretty important. Now not so much but its a hard habit to break. Now I just go through my stuff every time I change my trucks oil. I know me, I can easily fall into complacency and then a pattern of neglect.
I've probably cleaned my rifle 3 times since i last shot it… i don't get to shoot very often and i like cleaning guns! It's meditative
That said, over-cleaning is nowhere as bad as under-cleaning. I also think Cary guns need more tlc than range guns. Lots of sweat, dust, and grime.
“If it ain’t jammed, don’t clean it.”
I just like to clean my guns.
Just like I like to clean my vinyl records, and polish my guitars, and make tiny precise cuts on my Bonsai even when it’s not necessary.
It relaxes and declutters the mind, and makes me appreciate all their beauty in both form and function.
I was in the military and like most I clean my guns when I shoot them. I inspect them and if there real dirty I give them a thorough cleaning if there not that bad I'll run a bore snake down the barrel and wipe them down good.
I disagree, having shot many round of different calibre in my 13 years military service i have had more stoppage from dirty weapons then a clean one
Rimfire guns require cleaning more often
The only firearms I have, that I clean right after shooting are those in .22 caliber.
Yes I agree is not necessary but…I really enjoy cleaning my guns after a range day. Its fun for me. Greetings from Puerto Rico!
Do you have a video of how to completely clean and AR?
What about brand new guns.
My ruger p95 ran 5k rounds flawlessly without a cleaning or lubricant. Sat dirty in its case after each use for 6 years before it was cleaned. The gun still looks perfect, no corrosion.
Hey guys I’m just got my b@t ghm9 went to the range and about 50 9 mm shells the gun is brand new do I need to clean it or shoul I clean it every 200 rounds
This is going to change, Shooting copper ammo really effects accuracy, 10 shots the accuracy goes
Always clean my 870 after using it as a boat paddle duck hunting.
I have a black powder gun that I have had for over 50 years. Clean it every time it comes back in. I have a 10-22 I keep at the back door for varmints. I clean it once a year…
I can’t picture Caleb doing a mud drill with his rifles, unless he’s wearing a shower cap 😂
They clearly never served in the military
I accidentally read the instructions and then treated my parts with Frog Lube many, many moons ago, and because of this I only have to do a quick wipe down every thousand rounds or so. I don't see any excessive wear at all even though I'm STILL nervous about how dry everything looks. I guess time will tell.
I personally think the ammo your shooting has alot to do with how often or deeply you clean it. I had a freshly clean hand gun and shot 1 box of 50 BrownBear brand 9mm. That was the dirtiest my gun has ever been. You could smell it in the gun.
I use it as an excuse to get in the garage and away from the kids for a few minutes (Hours)
HUUUUGE oversight in not even mentioning cleaning after shooting ammo with corrosive primers.
we were taught to clean because we were told the barrel would corrode. .
Habit from my youth and from the Army – clean my firearms (or assigned firearms) after each use or field excursion/patrol, even if the weapon was not fired. They get dirty and need to be ready the next time you need it. It is a habit I still adhere to 50+ years later. When the M16 was first issued to the Marines in Vietnam, they were apparently told they did not need to clean them after use. They suffered from malfunctions at very “inconvenient” times. Hence we in the Army learned from other’s mistakes. I never had an M16 or XM177E1 (CAR15) malfunction in the field.
It wouldn't hurt to clean it often.
Talk about lazy, what's next? Wiping your ass every other day?
I have a TX22 with 2000 rds theough it…been fully cleaned only twice. Only run a brush and swab through the barrel every 200rds or so.
You should have mentioned that if you know the gun is going to go into storage for a while or if you have used cheap or even corrosive primed ammo, it needs to be cleaned.
Depends on the gun….