How often should i be cleaning my shotgun ?

[reedbradshaw]

Hello all.

 

Ive got a lanber sporting deluxe and i want to keep it in decent condition.

 

I have a cleaning kit and oil and grease. I normally clean the barrels everytime i use the gun is that ok ?

[Catamong]

I clean my O/U shotgun once or twice a year, more often if it gets wet, (and I use it at least once a week).

 

Gun cleaning is a chore, not a pleasure, as soon as you've fired 2 more shots you're back to square one.

 

Get a life, do fun things in your spare time, like posting on Internet Forums, but don't waste time cleaning guns.

 

Obviously if you've got a semi auto, you've got to keep it clean, otherwise the damn thing will jam up on you.

 

Cat.

[mudpatten]

Keep on cleaning it every time you use it. Nothing wrong with being anally retentive. Like all your kit, look after it and it`ll last a lifetime.

 

Nick.

[AdamHall]

yet same hear i clean mine after every time ive been out with it

Edited November 18, 2008 by AdamHall

[urikastu]

Clean Away reed.

After all I'd rather buy a used gun from you than buy one from cat. Cat I'm surprised you don't shoot with pitted barrels, maybe it's the amount of shooting you do. Lucky you,at least once a week wow

 

I take pride in my guns. Gun cleaning is a pleasure to me, not a chore

Edited November 18, 2008 by urikastu

[Harnser]

I have owned guns for many ,many, years and have never been a gun cleaner . I see guns as a tool of the trade and they need to be kept in good order . I only clean once or twice a year ,but allways after getting wet . I have never had a gun go rusty or not work because it is gunged up . There is a school of thought that says to much cleaning put more wear on a gun than shooting . I am inclined to agree with that . Harnser .

[Catamong]

I have owned guns for many ,many, years and have never been a gun cleaner . I see guns as a tool of the trade and they need to be kept in good order . I only clean once or twice a year ,but allways after getting wet . I have never had a gun go rusty or not work because it is gunged up . There is a school of thought that says to much cleaning put more wear on a gun than shooting . I am inclined to agree with that . Harnser .

 

There speaks the voice of experience.

 

"Pitted barrels" simply don't occur with modern lined bores, I bought a Beretta 682 in 1987 and the internal surface of the bores is still as good as the day I bought it.

 

Urikastu.......I'll bet you're an avid snap cap user..??

 

Cat.

[dogfox]

i pull mine through witha boresnake and some oil after every time i go out, it gives the barrels a longer life and free from internal pitting

[paulos]

I dont clean mine all that often....because I am lazy I do scrub the chambers out fairly regularly though, as they are knacked and rust up within hours of being used

[urikastu]

Urikastu.......I'll bet you're an avid snap cap user..??

 

No need, just keep'em spotless, helps if you ever sell

[George1990]

Cat, to an extent I agree with you. But I quite like my gun, and to take it out of the cabinet and find it's dirty would be an insult. I am sure after a while I will fall in to bad habits... but for now I hold the conviction that if you look after a tool, the tool looks after you :hmm:

[Imperfection]

Everytime here,but it is an auto.

[mossy835]

i just cant be bothered two clean any of mine, and they work fine all the time.

[Markio]

I guess i clean mine every 3rd or 4th time i use them. I find it is tougher to get those last bits off just past the chambers if you don't do it every time but I am lazy that is the main reason it's not done more often.

[Airborne9]

Everytime, Id rather buy a gun that had been cleaned everytime it was used than some rust bucket cleaned once or twice a year

[chris921]

like a car some people will clean it relentlessly some wont bother at all

[Catamong]

Your dodgy SA80 may rust every time you use it, but I'm sorry to say that Beretta's won't rust under normal conditions.

 

There's not a speck of rust on my 20 year old 682, it works faultlessly, every time, I have it checked over by a competent gunsmith every couple of years, but I certainly don't waste my time cleaning it every time I use it, I've got better things to do in my spare time.

 

Cat.

[urikastu]

I suppose that's where we are different, I'm an engineer with 40 years of experience in machining and fitting. So I don't have to pay somebody to strip and clean my babies

[p@cman]

I was taught from an early age to respect, care and look after my gear, so I clean mine every time it's been used.

After all, it only takes a few minutes to clean the gun after using it, so what's the fuss?

[dirtydawk]

I'm with Airborne9 on this one, as an ex REME and still an engineer I understand and recognise the need for a good cleaning and maintenance routine, those of you that abuse your equipment will find it fails you when you least want it too.

It takes only a few minutes to give your shooting iron a pull through and a rub with an oily rag, personally speaking I think its worth the time when you get in.

Others may disagree but opinions are like *********- we all have one!

[12gdaz]

Call me sad but i think a clean gun is a happy gun. Every time for me.

[Peely]

Everytime - gives you a chance to make sure everything is OK when your cleaning it...

[Yellow Bear]

Sorry Guys but I tend to clean every time - too grained in as a youngster when you came back in-

 

Dog, then bag (game), then gun, then you, regardless of how wet and dirty you were.

 

D

[dan browning gts]

i shoot about 3 times a week prob let off about 50 to 100 shots and i do my gun about every 4 weeks but if i go claying i do it every time and nevver had a prob dont think there is note rong with havving a clean gun thow

[Choked]

I clean mine after every shoot. If I am shooting on a Saturday and Sunday, then a quick clean of the barrels on Saturday, then a thorough clean on Sunday - then I go off and clean my car

Edited November 19, 2008 by Choked