Cleaning.....
- Thread starter Annihilator
- Start date
Keystone19250
SAINT
Don’t own a sonic cleaner and I enjoy the hands on approach.
Jfal
Professional
I get the zen thing for some of us regarding cleaning...but I don't get that excited about it in general. Was going to start reloading over the last few years, but decided against it due to market conditions the last 2 years. Had I gone that route, I would have purchased a sonic cleaner for casings, and then used it for gun parts as-needed...my god the sonic cleaners made by gun industry manufacturers cost more than double the sonic cleaners made for "other" industries....hemming and hawing...leaning against buying one. But holy moly does an AR get dirty after 300 rounds...need a jackhammer for the bolt.
I use a sonic cleaner fairly often. Cheapo from Harbor Freight. Works “good nuff”. I like cleaning my guns so they only get the sonic treatment if they’re super caked on.
I don’t have a routine for it. When it looks icky it gets cleaned
. Well, except for the AR and 1911.
Tinyman
Custom
Quick analogy:
Mow the grass, park the mower when done. Go inside and leave the grass all over the sidewlk and driveway. Let the grass be alone under & on top of your mower. Don't bother changing the oil or cleaning the air filter.
Difference in firearms?
Shoot the gun. Go home from the range and head for the beers. Leave the grime and gunk inside / outside of your gun. Don't bother? Not me. Cleaning is a part of enjoying my hobby. Not saying it's right or mandatory for everyone, but I need to do it to possibly save my life or Mrs Tinyman. The few minutes spent are just part of the whole.
Mow the grass, park the mower when done. Go inside and leave the grass all over the sidewlk and driveway. Let the grass be alone under & on top of your mower. Don't bother changing the oil or cleaning the air filter.
Difference in firearms?
Shoot the gun. Go home from the range and head for the beers. Leave the grime and gunk inside / outside of your gun. Don't bother? Not me. Cleaning is a part of enjoying my hobby. Not saying it's right or mandatory for everyone, but I need to do it to possibly save my life or Mrs Tinyman. The few minutes spent are just part of the whole.
Bassbob
Emissary
I am extremely uncomfortable if any of my guns are dirty. I can thank my dad for that. His rule was they never get put away dirty.
My only exception is if it is going to be a whole weekend of shooting or something and especially if multiple firearms are involved. Then I may not clean what I shoot on Saturday until I am done with them on Sunday, etc..
I actually enjoy cleaning them.
Bear007
Custom
Like a few others here I enjoy cleaning my guns. Clean em after each range trip. Hunting rifle gets wiped down each day when I get home just because of condensate, rain or snow and then completely cleaned after the season.
@TSiWRX ,
I too keep the ole 870 cleaned and lubed for the same reason. I keep a Rem Oil pump spray and micro cloth with the stored guns to wipe them after handling as I return them to there spots. 1 or 2 pumps on the cloth is all it takes.
@TSiWRX ,
I too keep the ole 870 cleaned and lubed for the same reason. I keep a Rem Oil pump spray and micro cloth with the stored guns to wipe them after handling as I return them to there spots. 1 or 2 pumps on the cloth is all it takes.
Old_Me
SAINT
i was putting together a complete Dillon set up, the 550c, and held off, as dies are on back order.
of late, i have been putting together a Lee press, model still to be determined, complete, and it is of course cheaper than the Dillon.
however, i was at the bait shop where i buy some of my guns, and all my reloaded ammo.
that guy still cannot get all that he needs, and frankly, i just hate the fact to invest into any name brand press, and not be able to actually get into the reloading. i'd only be able to de-cap and clean/polish the brass....then twiddle my thumbs for components.
but hey,,,,,,i'd have my set up, before the next apocalyptic rising...!!!!!
Check out Midway USA for reloading supplies. They usually have the major brand dies and other components in stock.
Old_Me
SAINT
yes, i have them, and Natchezz, and a couple of other places. right now thier Lee press ( a particular model) is about $40 higher than Natchez was, and Natchez sold out....
i am actually awaiting a new credit card (no interest for 9 months) to buy everything i want.
Jfal
Professional
Check out Titan Reloading. They have an actual retail outlet near me, which is about 3 blocks from the Lee factory in WI. They have a lot of Lee in stock...worth looking. No idea on prices...
www.titanreloading.com
You can, and it's among the recommended ways to do so by the likes of Chad Albrecht at SOTAR - but that would be considered "deep cleaning."
The lugs should be the focus of a routine cleaning/examination. The body/face should be examined around the cam pin hole (bolt failures usually shows cracks here) and firing pin hole (egging of the hole), but a quick wipe there will usually suffice. You'll want to check how the ejector looks and its spring tension (subjective) as well, and both are definitely less messy to do with a clean bolt-face (removal is made easier by a specialized vise/tool). Extractor removal and cleaning (with subsequent visual and tactile inspection of the extractor teeth) is elementary and necessary, of-course.
The bolt-tail is often the focus of way too much effort by many AR shooters. That area is self-cleaning, and the painstaking scrubbing/scraping not only un-necessary, but also the potential cause of further problems (the bolt-tail dimension is actually a gaugeable failure point). Assuming the bolt is not problematic to begin with (which makes the double assumption that the shooter does not have the gauges to verify that the bolt-tail is within spec), on routine cleaning, simply wipe off the carbon there and call it a day, realizing that hot gasses under high pressure will be taking care of that area upon each cycle. As-such, I would not purchase -or use- an ultrasonic cleaner expressly because you want the bolt-tail sparkling clean.
Thanks!
I've had really good luck with Bull Frog's "Rusthunter" wipes on my 870. Applied on a yearly basis (and after range-outings or classes: just a quick wipe-down), I've yet to see any issues.
Old_Me
SAINT
yeah thanks, i found the Lee pro 4000 for about the same price as Natchez. all i want to reload is 45 ACP.
i still have to wait for that new credit card, before i can actually order one up, then all the extras like scale, vibrating cleaner, media, etc,etc.
Bear007
Custom
The biggest rust spot I have is from about 35 years ago on the outside of the barrel. Went duck hunting from a salt water blind on the Chesapeake Bay. Didn't get home until the following day and the salty mist was already eating into a small part of the barrel in the gun case. Young and dumb back then, should of had my oil with me.Thanks!
I've had really good luck with Bull Frog's "Rusthunter" wipes on my 870. Applied on a yearly basis (and after range-outings or classes: just a quick wipe-down), I've yet to see any issues.
Ranger715
Elite
When I notice dust and lint building up around the trigger and hammer of my carry gun, I give it a wipe down and lube it up. I clean the barrel, etc. if I've shot more than a couple hundred rounds or so since the last time. Or maybe I'll just run a patch through to make sure there's some protection against rust. But the days of thorough scrubbings after every trip to the range are over.
More important to me is a routine inspection/function check of the firing pin, extractor, etc. I've had those break on me without knowing on three different guns. Never had a gun fail because it was a little dirty.
More important to me is a routine inspection/function check of the firing pin, extractor, etc. I've had those break on me without knowing on three different guns. Never had a gun fail because it was a little dirty.
Annihilator
Emissary
My dad was the opposite, he always cleaned them later or would con me or my brother into doing it for him…
Bassbob
Emissary
I'm under no illusion that it's necessary to clean after every trip to the range. I just like them clean.