What's your cleaning process?

[KaPantsKey]

I've had my gun for a few months now and have put about 600 rounds through it. Every time I go to the range, I will field strip it, clean it, and lube it. I use Hoppe's solvent to clean and Hoppe's lubricating oil to lube her up.

What is your process?
How often do you completely strip down your gun?


Also, what kind of preventative maintenance do you do? Do you replace parts when they break? Or just replace parts every X,000 rounds.

[Reverenddel]

There is an EXCELLENT article in the "American Rifleman" from the NRA on this very subject this month!

[XD_teethdoctor]

I clean my XDm once a month and every time after I use it.

[Defender28]

I usually clean every time after I shoot. I work in an armory so I use CLP to clean and lubricate.

[quazy50]

I usually clean everytime after I shoot. I used this "snake" thing that apparently is the equivalent of running like 100 brushes and cleaning pads through the barrel with one use. Probably a sales pitch but it does get the thing clean in a hurry.

[Cuda66]

I'll usually pull a boresnake w/ breakfree through quick before I leave the range--time permitting. Lube w/TW25B.

If I'm going for a full cleaning, then I usually use Gunzilla, copper brushes, q-tips, chlorine-free break cleaner...and lube with TW25B.

I change out recoil & firing pin springs every few thousand rounds on carry pistols. Replace mag springs when issues begin to appear.

[JonXD]

So you only need to run a boresnake through once and its clean as can be?

[adwnpinoy]

I clean after every or every other trip of the range:

1) Field Strip

2) Hose down metal parts and innards with CLP

3) Go eat a sandwich

4) Come back 20 minutes later, brush down everything with a nylon brush, and a bronze one for the barrel

5) Wipe down with cotton patches and q-tips for the nooks and crannies

6) Run cotton patches down the barrel till they come out clean

7) Run cotton patch with oil down the barrel

Oil up the rails, trigger mech. and outside of the barrel

9) Reassemble and wipe down with a silicone cloth

Takes about 15 minutes not including sandwich and waiting.

[Cuda66]

Originally Posted by JonXD

So you only need to run a boresnake through once and its clean as can be?

No. IMHO, you'll get it cleaner with a patches & brushes, especially if you've been shooting unjacketed rounds.

The boresnake does do a good job at getting the majority of the crud out, and quickly, though.

Like I said, I use both. The boresnake for quick runthroughs when I don't have time for a thorough cleaning, and the pathces & brushes for thorough cleaning.

[psehorne]

Is anyone using grease? like on the barrel lub / takedown lever and the slide? I use oil everywhere else.