How often do you clean your gun?

[DatBoyChamp]

Fairly new gun owner here . I have the Hellcat Pro and Echelon 4.5F Comp . Hellcat Pro probably has about 300 rounds through it and the Echelon about 200. I have yet to clean either gun and have been to the range about 4 times shooting a little over a 100 rounds each time . I always hear a rule of thumb is to clean your gun after EVERY range visit but does that matter on the amount of rounds you shoot ? Or even if i only shoot 50 rounds i should clean it soon as i get home ? On the other hand i hear people go 500+ rounds to 1000+ rounds before cleaning with no known issues . If any of you guys own either gun. How often do you clean it and how many rounds are normally put through it before you clean it ? I plan on cleaning both tomorrow ( Friday ) because i plan to add red dot optics to both and go to the range on Saturday morning to zero them in. Thanks in advance for any responses

 

[Onewolf426]

Fairly new gun owner here . I have the Hellcat Pro and Echelon 4.5F Comp . Hellcat Pro probably has about 300 rounds through it and the Echelon about 200. I have yet to clean either gun and have been to the range about 4 times shooting a little over a 100 rounds each time . I always hear a rule of thumb is to clean your gun after EVERY range visit but does that matter on the amount of rounds you shoot ? Or even if i only shoot 50 rounds i should clean it soon as i get home ? On the other hand i hear people go 500+ rounds to 1000+ rounds before cleaning with no known issues . If any of you guys own either gun. How often do you clean it and how many rounds are normally put through it before you clean it ? I plan on cleaning both tomorrow ( Friday ) because i plan to add red dot optics to both and go to the range on Saturday morning to zero them in. Thanks in advance for any responses

While it may not be mandatory, it is a good idea to do so after every range visit. While you are stripping, cleaning and lubricating, it gives you the chance to go over everything and maybe catch something before it becomes a serious issue. Preventative Maintenance. It can also be therapeutic.

 

[mikep]

I clean my after each range trip. It may not be necessary to clean it that often but it would bother me putting them away dirty.
You’re about to get a lot of different answers!

 

[Old_Me]

While it may not be mandatory, it is a good idea to do so after every range visit. While you are stripping, cleaning and lubricating, it gives you the chance to go over everything and maybe catch something before it becomes a serious issue. Preventative Maintenance. It can also be therapeutic.

for me, after every range visit as well.

 

[Kcredsox26]

I clean after every range trip. Not always as soon as I get home. But sometimes depends how many we took to the range. I'll clean a couple that night. Couple more next day. All that said....if its a gun I carry. Gets cleaned before I carry it again. Just to know everything is in working order

 

[MrMichaelActual]

Hey there Champ. I would say and probably most folks will, that you should clean after the range. The effects of shooting will vary a lot by ammo type and polymer vs steel gun etc. No matter what, when you clean after you shoot you will see a lot of crud that you need to get. You want your gun to operate flawlessly when called upon and the best way to ensure that is to take hella good care of it, keep it clean and be very familiar with it. I would add that a lot of us will breakdown and clean our guns after buying them prior to shooting, just because you never know. Some guns are packed with various products upon production and storage.

I will admit that due to timing I sometimes shoot then remove from rotation and store for a weekend cleaning day, but I am blessed to have multiple guns, about 1% of what some of these dudes have, but more than one. I would just get in the habit of cleaning it. Read the manuals, you have a 'plastic' gun and a steel gun... the lube needs are different after cleaning.

 

[Annihilator]

After every shooting session here, and always on a new gun before shooting it

 

[Pitdogg2]

Before I ever use a new firearm or a used firearm I've bought AND after any shooting session. Whether it's 5 shots or 500 I keep a good clean and lubricated firearm.

 

[Lo-Profile]

My EDC gets cleaned monthly, fired or not.
New guns cleaned before shooting.
Everything else gets cleaned at least twice a year or as needed after a range visit.

 

[Lab4Us]

Same as above for me. Every time they’re fired, regardless of round count, and any new gun before firing even once. I also have a hard time not cleaning them same day I fire them, though I have managed to wait until next morning a time or two - over many, many years .

 

[Belt Fed]

I need a gun to clean.

 

[BassCliff]

Hi,

I guess I'm quite a bit lazier than most. My "range toys" get cleaned every third or fourth trip, 150 - 400 rounds. My carry guns and bedside guns get cleaned after every use. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[TEXASforLIFE]

There's 1gun i shot 10 years ago and still haven't cleaned it

 

[Warrior9(Ret)]

After every visit to the range. Clean AND inspect. Plus it’s therapeutic
( Not like PVT Plye from the Full Metal Jacket movie)

 

[hworth18]

Cleaning after the range is good wind down therapy for me. It gives me a chance to inspect the firearm for any issues and is just relaxing.

 

[DaveOHCPC]

Therapy giving the beautiful machines the care they deserve. Oh and keeping it fully functional and reliable is a thing too I guess lol

 

[MrMichaelActual]

I need a gun to clean.

Your the dang 1%

 

[Lock n' Load]

For me, it's a thorough initial cleaning before first use, another one after each use, weekly inspection for the EDC I'm carrying, and monthly inspection for touchups on the rest of my collection. A habit ingrained in me by my Dad and it's worked for me so far.

 

[Sld1959]

Depends. After every range trip. Wiped down with a waxy rag after carrying every night. Then anything carried is stripped down and cleaned well on a monthly basis.

 

[Belt Fed]

Your the dang 1%

IKR.