How often do you clean 'em ?

[Bill Gunn]

I've been telling myself to get at it for weeks now, and today I started cleaning them all.

There was a few I had to go look for, the 10-22 was stuck in a corner covered with dust, and the "Barn Gun's" had to be brought in.

some of 'em lined up for a scrubbin'

http://pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL2250/777751/13525437/370480302.jpg



How often do you get all yours together, and give 'em a scrubbin', and a wipe down? I clean them when I use them for hunting, but some ain't been shot for better than 10 years!
I never found any rust on mine, I've used Kroil, and WD40 on the outsides, and Shooters Choice & WD40 in the barrels. Like I said, I never found any rust, even in the flintlocks that I use black powder in.
I try to get at mine at least once a year, but I have gone as long as 2.
Darn 45 auto's are tough to get back together if you don't do it for 2 years :p

[LampLighter]

I see you have an early model Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag. I have one too. I got the retro fit kit for mine and took the ringed forearm off, because the newer one sets furthur back.

One the right end, I guess that is the Ruger 10/22. Curious about that sniper -lookin wide forearm rifle in the middle.

I have to purposely foul my Ruger 44 magnum rifle just before the season. It shoots different dirty than that first clean shot. Other than that, I keep them clean. I am especially picky with internal rifling. I believe that total copper removal takes a few days. Run a wet patch of Hoppe's down the barrel, and set it either horizontal or muzzle down on a white paper towel. Each day, run another one. Continue until no more turquoise color.

I think I see a Savage 99 in your pile. If so, does it have the rotary magazine ?

[Bill Gunn]

I see you have an early model Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag.

Close.....
That's just an old 500 I picked up in the early 80's for turkey hunting. They had them on sale for some really dirt cheap price at the local Gun Store, and they included 3 chokes, and the camo shell holder stock.
It shoots those Federal Premium 2 oz buffered 4's really great. Dropped a nice tom DRT at 49 yards. It's a great "Kick Around" gun that I don't have to worry if it gets a scratch, and I don't mind lending that one out to close friends (That's about the only one I'd lend out)...

http://pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL2250/777751/13525437/370483277.jpg

The Blue one...

http://pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL2250/777751/13525437/322867884.jpg

That's a Remington 700 I had blueprinted, and re-barreled with a .22-250 Ack Imp tight neck Hart Barrel.
I made the stock myself starting with a regular hunting stock, and added lead, stainless steel, and fiberglass where it looked like it needed it :)
The gun weighs 32 pounds now, and I've shot many prairie dogs way over 600 yards, and a woodchuck at 725.
It shoots 3 shot groups of 75 grain Berger's like this at 100 yds....

http://pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL2250/777751/13525437/318164788.jpg

The Savage...

1957 EG .308 , yes, it has the brass rotary magazine & counter.

http://pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL2250/777751/13525437/41293622.jpg

It shoots too...

http://pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL2250/777751/13525437/41293448.jpg

If I have a problem with copper, I use Sweet's ...

http://www.cabelas.com/p-0061275229577a.shtml

But you have to be careful with it, and I rarely have to use it other than on prairie dog shoots when going through 100's of rounds a day...

[LampLighter]

This thread and that 99 makes me think of that orange wall, incandesent light, and cow horn of Don's. :(

[billt]

If I have a problem with copper, I use Sweet's

Bill,

Give this stuff a try and you'll give away the Sweets. This stuff is that good.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=225250

When you get it, take a wet patch soaked in the Bore Tech Eliminator and run it through a barrel you just cleaned with the Sweets. I can all but guarantee you it will come out the other end green. Bore Tech is odorless and has no Ammonia. It has rust inhibitors in it and is safe to use in gas operated semi autos. It can't harm your barrel, or any other metal it comes in contact with. It is the only copper remover I now use. Bill T.

[André]

My CF guns get cleaned after each firing,.22 RF 1x/5000 rounds.

[Alan R McDaniel Jr]

Bill, as I've gotten older I have gotten a bit more lax in my cleaning chores (all of them). Each rifle gets cleaned with a few patches and Hoppes after use but I don't worry much about copper fouling any more. I don't shoot enough to give it much thought. All my guns get a good cleaning once a year, inside and out. It takes a day when I can devote myself to the task. I haven't shot my 1911 in probably 4 years so I know it would take me a couple of hours to reassemble it (2 min reassembly time 1 hr 58 min looking for the spring after the first try). I pulled out my Garand the other day and a check of the barrel found it dirty. I don't even remember shooting it. I guess I just came in and put it back in the cabinet with the intention of cleaning it later and life went on.

Lately, aside from serious deer hunting, I have been shooting cast loads a lot, so what I suppose I need to do is run a leading check on those particular rifles.

A lot of things I used to really take seriously in years past just don't seem to be important any more. I wish we all had a trial run on this thing called "Life" so we could do it right. No one would have any excuse on the second time through. It's just too damn short. I've never ruined a rifle by not cleaning it. I have acquired several that I'm sure had never been cleaned since they left the factory (or so it seemed) and after a good scrubbing they shot just fine for the purpose they were intended.

I was raised to keep the bore squeaky clean. On my last visit to my dad's, I pick up on e of his rifles and checked the bore. It was dirty. I looked up at him and he just shook his head and said, "I know, It just doesn't seem to be that important any more". I understood perfectly. When we would get to camp we would fire a "fouling shot" to foul the bore and hunt the next morning. Some years back I started sighting my rifles to a "cold, clean bore". I'd keep the bore oiled and before I left camp I'd run a dry rag or two through the bore to remove all oil. The first shot was the one I was concerned with. Through some experience I found that my "cold, clean bore" shot and my post "fouling shot" shots were the same. At the ranges I hunt and shoot at an inch is really hard to get worked up about when the target is made out of deer hair. I've lost some but it hasn't been because my aim or the rifle was off.

In fact, one time I shot a big ole hog, made a great running shot (hit him high on the point of the shoulder and spined him) after running myself for about 50 yards. I was all proud of myself until I found that the rifle was shooting about a foot and a half off. it was a case of the hog jumping in front of the bullet.

Anyway, Cleaning has become a chore that I do when I get time. I'll give the barrel a squirt of WD40 and wipe it down with a silicon cloth and hit the bore with the same and run a rag through but nothing like I used to do. I like WD40 because of the water displacement. Moisture is our big killer down here and I've never experienced the gumming or dirt problems that some describe. On my purty guns I'll use 3-in-one oil but on my "working" guns I use 30 weight. It gives a good coating and holds up good in rain (wishful thinking). After a day (I've come to call several hours a day) on a tractor or fence line or clearing around blinds or feeders, I'll have plenty of leaves, dirt and bugs (not to mention sweat, water and perhaps a bit of blood [mine]) all in my holster on all over the revolver. I just drop the cylinder, spray with good dose of WD40 , slather on a little 30 wt, wipe it dry and she's ready for another day.

I have a couple of long guns that ride in the truck and they get the same treatment. I have a little Springfield 511 12 ga double barrel cut to 19' that's great for snakes and crawling through javalina tunnels looking for wounded stuff and gets very rough treatment. After an excursion, in which it gets generally used for nearly everything except a firearm, it gets a bath in WD40. It does not come apart like a normal double so I clean it assembled. I try not to shoot it very much because it's like holding the shotgun shell in your hand and hitting the primer with a hammer. It's really brutal with slugs or 3" buckshot.

Oh Well, enough rambling on your gun cleaning thread. I'm just practicing getting up early before school starts. I have committed to driving a (Damn) school bus this year (a decision I hope I don't regret too much) and I'll be on the road by 6:00 every morning. I enjoyed that time years ago when I was young. Maybe if I get in those early morning drives I'll get young again!

Alan

[Bill Gunn]

Great post Alan,
That's the same reason sometimes it's 2 years between cleanings.... Better things to do with what's left of life.
Now I got to get back to it, I was starting to get bad hand cramps yesterday after an hour or so, so I had to quit...


it was a case of the hog jumping in front of the bullet. Alan

:D:D That brings back memories of a few storys that are to funny/strange to tell...
You'd think I was lieing :p:p


I know of at least 3 guys that shot deer by accident :confused::confused::rolleyes:

Driving a school bus......
I'd have to have lost a lot more of my hearing than I have.
These kids today.... I've heard of the older ones being caught having sex on the way home from school :(:o

[Badger]

Bill,

I clean my guns after each range/hunting/ shooting session. I always clean The guns by the end of the day they were fired. Guns in the vault are clean and swabbed in and out with RIG gun grease.

Badger

[dave-t.]

Barnes has a copper solution that impressed me. BL-22 if I recall. Went through the dirrections to the letter, and although I was prepared to repeat, it was showing no more copper. Oiled the barrels inside and out and back in the cases.

The wife gives me "the look" for bringing out a lonely looking gun from time to time and giving it some attention out of the blue.

[Gil Martin]

The guns in storage get a fine film of gun grease inside and out. Works for me. All the best...
Gil

[bugsNbows]

+1 on the Bore Tech Eliminator. It was recommended to me a while back by the gent who owns Stars and Stripes Ammo and loads a lot of Barnes all copper bullets. He was right...it works.