Posted on 07/19/2004 4:17:47 PM PDT by Mr. Mojo
Is it important to clean your guns? Why? How clean is clean?
I have asked, and been asked these questions for decades.
I am not a gunsmith, but I do have a general knowledge of what makes a gun tick - and what makes it stop ticking. When I wore the uniform of the United States Military, I was taught that my weapon (we never called them guns; there was a punishment for that slip of the tongue) was my best friend. Take care of it, and it will take care of you.
I cleaned all mine right by the book. I only had one malfunction that I can recall and fortunately that one wasn't life-threatening. Some M-16s did malfunction, and cost some young men their lives. That doesn't speak well for our Superpower technology, since the ugly old Kalashnikov AK-47, used by our enemies around the world, would have kept on shooting under nasty circumstances.
Since I am not a gunsmith, I always refused to work other people's guns, except for a special friend. My experience in that area taught me that in over half the cases of malfunction of a gun, all it needed was a good cleaning.
I always loved the aroma of Hoppe's No. 9 gun cleaning solvent, even more than Chanel No. 5. My basement still has that lingering aroma. I have used it by the gallon, and for years it did a good job for me. Even so, when a center-fire rifle had been shot 20 or 30 times without cleaning, it took 20 minutes of scrubbing with a bronze wire brush and about 20 patches to get the bore sparkling clean again. Believe me, a gun with carbon and metal deposits in the lands and grooves will not shoot a tight group.
Things have changed. There are some "new-age" solvents available that work much faster. One is Extreme Clean by Shooter's Choice. Another is Bore Cleaning Foam from Break Free. A third is made by Bore Tech and is called Eliminator.
These cleaners are very strong and you absolutely MUST read the cautions on the labels, since the solvents will attack the metal fish of your gun if left in the bore too long. But they will clean a dirty bore in a fraction of the time it takes with the old reliable Hoppe's.
A clean bore shoots more accurately, but most shooters stop here and do nothing else to the gun except to wipe down the exterior metal finish. The carbon deposits, under extreme pressure, permeate every nook and cranny in the trigger mechanism and in the ejection port. These must be cleaned as well.
A spray product known as Gun Scrubber should be sprayed into hard-to-get-to places and allowed to drain. After that, these mechanisms must be lightly lubricated after cleaning. A toothbrush with stiff bristles will get out more crud from tight places.
How often to clean? A .22 rimfire can go 100 shots without cleaning. The exceptions are the .22 magnum and the .17 calibers, which should be cleaned after every 30 to 40 shots because they leave copper deposits in the bore. For center-fires, I like to clean after 20 shots. Shotgun bores should be cleaned after each use.
Fail to clean these guns and - sooner or later - they will fail you, especially the semi-automatics which need lots of TLC.
finger on the trigger.
*sigh*
you don't intend to destroy that poor kitten do you?
On the cleaning note, one pistol I've had problems cleaning was my Taurus pt-945. The damn firing pin assembly won't disassemble. Anyone have one of these cheap 45's?
Yes. The thin film of gun oil that makes the action work so smooth will turn to gum after a period of time. Some semi-auto pistols are sensitive to this. Clean it out and re-oil now and then. Also, rust will form under the best of circumstances if a firearm is left to sit.
;<)
I would bet more guns are damaged by cleaning than any other single cause.
If they don't try Brownell's gunsmithing supplies ,hell try them first they are probably the folks who sold the stuff to cylinder & slide in the first place.
waiting for the voice of reason...only took 25 posts.
waiting for the voice of reason...only took 25 posts.
Gun Scrubber is identical to the Brakecleen (get the TCE version) found at auto parts stores for 1/3 the price.
Some M-16s did malfunction, and cost some young men their lives.
Forget all of this fancy $hit and buy an "ugly old AK47". The commie rifle is plenty accurate out to 200m and is fun to shoot. The mags(30rnd) are cheap, readily available and will last forever. Ammo is still less than 15cts per round. These rifles DO NOT JAM! They will not let you down.
I'm an M1-A .308 guy (20 rnd mags).
Thanks, for the info!
Mil surplus 7.62x39 is about half the price you quote. I think now you can get 1000 rounds for about $80.
One quart each: Kerosene, Paint Thinner, DexronIII, and Acetone.
IMO, the acetone is not optional. It really helps to cut the crud, particularly the plastic residue from shotshell wads.
C.E.Harris did come up with a good recipe, I like it too.
Should clean your rifles and pistols also.
I think I like the Macon Telegraph.
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