This guy gets it. Nothing more stress free than putting some old tunes on and cracking a beer and cleaning your gun after a day of hunting or shooting👍 my dad does the same thing tinkering with old boat motors which I don't find therapeutic after work because I'm a mechanic lol I'd rather clean ALL my guns.🤣
Exactly! Everytime! that when I go to the Gun Range, I clean my rifles after use. And Yearly I clean them all. And yes, I do find it therapeutic. I only have six. Takes me a good hour to clean them all. Is there Gun Cleaning music out there? lol
That's just my dad's hobby though, just like old cars my dad loves restoring old boats from the 60s and 70s. You don't want to know how many times I'd go to Pennsylvania with him with the tilt bed peterbilt just to find a piece of junk that's been sitting on a rotten trailer for 50 years and I'm like don't buy that boat dad...next time I see him it's completely restored and looks like just like it did in 1964🤣he's got 4 now and we're like dad please don't buy another boat. I guess every man has to have a hobby that he enjoys to keep himself sane in this crazy world😏
I'm glad this is something I picked up naturally. I've cleaned my guns regularly since I was a kid and only had a 20gauge, a 4-10, and a .22 LR pump rifle. Even used to clean my lazy dad's pistols (model 19-3 and old Derringers)
Reminds me of my childhood and Dad taking us to the range and then coming home, going out on the backyard porch with a bottle of Hoppes solvent and cleaning the guns. Dad's gone now, but he instilled this habit in me and my brother that has lasted a lifetime.
Same all points. My Dad's gone now too. The lessons he taught me I've passed down to my son, daughter and grandson. Both of us were very lucky to have our Dad's!
Those memories are a legacy left with you to carry. The little things we often over look is the time we had with our fathers. Mine is gone, but I have the memories of riding with him to his work in the summer time. I am a gun owner and enjoy cleaning mine. Some I may not be use to, but I do have a gun smith for that reason.
Also, in the military, you’re much more likely to be an environment like swamps, snow, mud, dirt, sand, etc., than you are on the typical shooting range, so it’s even more important you constantly clean all your weapons and gear.
Cleaning is part of inspection. You won’t know if a part is bent, buckled, distorted, cracked or worn if you don’t open it up and root around with a stick a bit.
Memories…~13 years old cleaning the shotguns on the kitchen table with my dad after pheasant hunting all day. Now my dad has passed and at 62, I still feel like a 13 year old kid when cleaning my guns. The smell of the old Hobbs #9 solvent and gun oil always brings back some great memories of those times I had with him. I still have the same two shotguns in my safe. Mine, the trusty Remington 870 “Wingmaster” and my Dad’s Remington 1100. They both get broken down, cleaned, and oiled at least once a year. Even though it’s been over 40 years since either one has been shot.
Good afternoon Sir Hickok! You ask, "why are you not cleaning your gun?" Well, I'll tell ya...: The reason I'm not cleaning my gun (s) is because they haven't been fired since the last time I cleaned and inspected them. I hope you find this acceptable. And I thank you wholeheartedly for all that you do for all us in the gun owner/CCW community. 👍
3 reasons I clean every time: 1. I want to be certain I’ve done everything I can to ensure it’s ready to go. 2. Spent too many years in the Army and it shall be clean. 3. I like clean things. My house, clothes, work.
It’s funny, I just sat down from cleaning mine and see this video! It’s good for the longevity of the arm, and yes I agree wholeheartedly about the readiness.
Mr. Hickok , you kinda wear the mantle of Elmer Keith for this generation. I have been a long time subscriber, but I missed a lot of your early episodes. Thank you for doing what you do Sir. Cheers From California 🔥
My attitude exactly about cleaning my firearms. I learned it from my grandfather before I ever thought about going into the military. The most memorable failure to fire that I ever had was on the 600 yd line at Quantico in 1964 in a run-up match to the Inter-Service Championship Rifle Match with the M14 National Match rifle. About halfway through my string of fire my rifle "popped" and my face was filled with sparks and fumes. I called the range officer (who was a marine) for permission to leave the line with a disable weapon. I carried my rifle, muzzle pointed up, to the AMU Armorer for inspection. He opened the bolt and ejected the empty brass and inspected to the rifle. While he was doing that I picked up the piece of brass. The armorer found no problem with the rifle and gave it back to me to continue firing. As I walked away I was inspecting the piece of brass. I finally found the problem no one would have ever anticipated and was a complete surprise to us all. I never had heard of it before and never again since. There was no flash hole in the brass between the primer and the powder. Whoda thunk it? That's why I got a face full of sparks. I returned to the firing line and asked the range officer for additional time but he denied my request because the rifle wasn't disabled. So I asked him for an additional two sighter shots and he denied that, too. A marine range officer and an army shooter. Anyway the lesson I learned and that stuck with me was that the most perfectly designed and maintained weapon can malfunction at any time for the most unimaginable reason.
Thirty years US Army, your weapon is cleaned daily when you take it afield or when ever you fire it. Take care of it like your life depends on it, it might.
Holdover from the days of corrosive primers. I've ranted about the evils of USGI parkerized cleaning rods on many forums. The sections rarely line up, the Parkerizing is very abrasive. Probably why M1 Garands have so much muzzle wear as the guides were rarely used. US military ammo discontinued corrosive primers in 30-06 and .45 ACP by 1955. Non-corrosive primers, cleaner burning powders (not counting 'Nam-era 5.56!) plus chrome-lined bores. But troops need to be kept busy and get to know their weapons intimately. Modern sporting firearms? More bores have been ruined by improper and/or over-cleaning than shooting or non-cleaning.
Totally agree. Every time I get some range time I head to the bench and do a cleaning and inspection. As noted by others, it's therapeutic as well as good policy. On one of my range days a couple of acquaintances showed up and were having a good time and then his pistol started having issues. FTE, FTF, just plain sluggish. He asked for some assistance, upon inspection the pistol had never been cleaned, not ever. A Berreta in .40 S&W. I gave it a quick scrub and lube to get him by. He explained that he was told by the counter commando he bought it from that he'd not need to clean it but once every few thousand rounds, so he didn't, then forgot about it. It might have gotten him killed or injured if he needed to protect himself and the thing did what it did at the range. He was misinformed, then remained ignorant. You can fix ignorance with some knowledge, wisdom is knowing how to use the knowledge.
Yes sir!!! I’m a firm believer in making sure that my firearms are cleaned and maintained after going to the range, and yes even my AK and Glock!!! I enjoy watching the channel thanks for great content!!
This is a very timely message - I just finished cleaning my Colt Competition .45ACP after firing about 170 rounds through it this afternoon. It took about 25 minutes and I enjoyed it immensely. 😜 Cleaning my guns after a range session is as good for me as it is for the guns.
Completely agree. My military service time just compels me to clean my firearms after use. Occasionally, as you do, I might be tired after a long day at the range or out hunting, so it might wait until the next day, but not longer. One point I have stopped worrying about, however, is trying to clean copper deposits out of my centrefire rifle barrels. After cleaning with bore solvent/brushes and then Ballistol, I leave it at that and I just don't bother trying to remove the copper. From everything authoritative I've read and watched, including advice from the long range precision crowd, if you clean the copper deposits and then go out again and have to fire a few "fouling" rounds before competition, all one is doing is simply laying down the copper once again over the minute imperfections in the barrel, in order to have the rifle's full potential for precision come back. The same holds true for a hunting rifle. So what's the point of that? The copper is serving to coat or seal over the imperfections in the barrel, so why mess with a helpful side-effect factor of copper jacketing that is only helping the rifle's precision, to say nothing of the unnecessary time, money and effort expended in cleaning it out.
Retired military. Always maintained my weapons to the upmost ability. Range day is a bummer after if I bring a variety of toys. I usually clean them the following week.
People who don't clean their guns are crazy! And, yes, I've known a few. My guns are immaculately clean, and I take a great deal of pride in that. Great video!
I used to work at a shotgun range. The rental guns where Binellis and they got wiped down with an oiled rag and oil sprayed in action periodically. They just kept working and that is that.
I have everything in my safes on a cleaning cycle. Sure, even the old milsurp, guns rarely used, everything is in the rotation. If it gets fired, it gets cleaner usually the same day. If the gun fails, I do not want it to be for the sake of needing to be cleaned. Firearms for defense, they get cleaned regularly, even if not fired. My Dad was a WW2 vet, I picked that up from him. I spent 28yrs in the Army, more of the same. As an old guy, more of the same.
A friend of mine gave me his mil-surp, bolt-action rifle to clean a full year after he last fired it, I was blown away at how dry and hard the fouling was in the bore. If you're too lazy to thoroughly clean you firearm, at the very least, run a few solvent patches down the bore and chamber until you're strong enough to give it a good cleaning.
My father taught me to inspect and run a brush and patch before going out and a thorough cleaning after every time we went out shooting or hunting. It has become a meditative experience. One that has added to my overall familiarity and comfort with my firearms.
Same thing applies to maintaining your vehicle. Some people put off oil changes, worn tires, exhaust etc. then say that brand of vehicle is junk when it crashes and ends up in major repairs.
Like others have said, cleaning inspecting and lubricating is therapeutic. If you're going to keep is for self defense you want it in tip top condition.
Let me give you my perspective on this. I was a competitive pistol shooter for many many years and got to shoot with some of the best world class shooters. I know two of them who rarely clean their guns. They might add a little oil to it before the match and that was it. It was just never a concern of theirs. And my gunsmith told me that as soon as you fire the first shot on a clean gun it is now a dirty gun. He wasn’t too concerned about cleaning my gun after every use. He said you need to know basically how many rounds you can shoot through it before it quits working. I would rather have a gun. I could shoot 1000 rounds through before it malfunctions compared to a gun that only shoots 50 rounds before it malfunctions. It’s good information to know.
Sitting down with an old western on a Sunday with the smell of hoppies #9 in the air... Just brings me back to my youth and some of my best childhood memories. Keep em clean and they might just save your life.
Please also mention the silly myth INVENTED by self-appointed teen gun experts on the TOOOOB: that you do not need to clean a brand new gun before using it. They insist that ANY new gun should work perfectly with ANY ammunition RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX without any cleaning or lubrication, regardless of the Owner's Manual directions! They LOVE IT when a new gun fails somehow so that they can sound smart to have something to criticize about a new gun they are reviewing. This foolish myth never existed before the TOOOB, and any "Old Timer" will explain that guns are shipped nearly DRY of oil so the packaging is not soiled. There is also thick "assembly grease" on new guns for rust-proofing in a box that might sit for years in a warehouse, and this MUST be cleaned out for reliable use of the gun, as this grease attracts factory grit and metal shavings inside. EVEN new guns need cleaning and lubrication.........................elsullo
Especially those making asses of themselves decrying Turkish made shotguns. Hey mate, clean the thing and inspect EVERY new firearm... there could be a fault waiting to kill you in ANY firearm, not only "old" ones!.
We all let it slide occasionally, but shouldn’t for long. I was once browsing in a gun shop, looking at micro 9’s, hoping to find something that could truly fit in a front pocket, and the store owner offered his carry 9 for me to try. He dropped the mag, handed it to me, I racked the slide to be sure it was unloaded, and the slide would not return to battery because of all the pocket lint. He admitted it hadn’t been out of the Kydex holster in over a year. You can over oil, but you can’t over clean.
When I get new (or used) ,first thing is breakdown and clean. Reassemble and then I function test. Then I load 5 rounds and fire. Then run bore snake . Wipe down with silicone rag and I'm ready to go. Every month visually inspect, correct any issues and cary on. Been doing this for 25 or so years and ain't had no problems yet. Of course if I find issues, they get corrected. Even my gun safe 'queens' get fired and cleaning at least twice a year. Look at how many older (40 to 60 years or older) still function. I really love my old lever rifles Smooth as butter. They don't look new, just good! Thanks for video '45
I collect M1 carbines, but I once bought a universal 11inch Enforcer Pistol, and I mounted an '03-A3 springfield front sight and pinned it, so the front collar could not be removed, so I never took it apart to be cleaned, since 1978. . . I just brush out the mag well, lube the bolt. . . and it runs like a champ on ball ammo. . .
I work 10 hours a day, including time spent commuting it's even more. I have projects to do around the house, and still try to have at least a little while to spend with my family each day. Free time is almost nonexistent to me. God willing I have enough time to put a few mags through the AK with my friends one weekend, I certainly don't have time to spend a half hour stripping it down and cleaning it after every time I use it. Sure I clean it once in a while, but wait till it's quite dirty (which is one of the many reasons I do like the platform so much). With that being said, I do make a point to clean and maintain my EDC because my life could depend on it. But for a toy that I have just for the fun of taking it out once in a while, it wouldn't be the end of the world if it was so dirty that it hung up on me (which has never once happened to me in the decade+ I've had it, and probably only been cleaned 3 or 4 times ever).
I keep mine “fairly” clean, but not military requirement clean. But if my targets were shooting back it would be different. My standards for carry guns are higher than for plinkers.
As a RSO I have encountered a variety of failures to fire. The main one is a dirty firing pin ' tunnel '. Then dirty chambers. Dirty magazine etc. One day I had a brand new Glock firing the odd burst. Turns out the entire firearm still had grease on it. So the firing pin would get stuck forward and exposed, resulting in a slam fire effect. A light application of kerosene to the firing pin hole helps loosen carbon. But no more than 5 drops.
Theres “new gun owner with a white glove” clean, and then there’s “eh, shoot a bit of CLP up in that bizz and call it done” clean. … We’re all on a journey from the former to the latter.
Good talk Mr Hickok, i clean all my firarms around every month if i have not used them. I clean my guns everytime i go shoot and as soon as i get back home. This includes my AK and SKS which so many people tout as not needed. cheers
I clean my firearms after most shooting sessions. Unless it's a really low round count, I pretty much clean them every time I shoot them. If nothing else, I think taking them apart and cleaning them familiarizes you with the firearm to a greater extent and I find myself wondering if it makes you a better shooter as well.
I agree a clean gun is a godly gun. Although when I was in Nam over 55 years ago, I can't recall cleaning the old 1911 that much. A little bug repellent poured into the rails, rack it a few times, blow grit out of the mag well and wipe the mag on my trousers, see daylight through the bore, that was about it.
@@dinoscungilli6390 LSA was not always readily available, but bug juice was always at hand. The use of repellent poured on the bolts of pre forward assist M16's was also prevalent.
BION my go-to complaint for years was the discontinued use of corrosive chlorate primers in ammo. Corrosively primed ammo encourages cleaning discipline. In my dottage I enjoy not cleaning my guns after every time I shoot them.
Benefits of cleaning guns: 1. Inspection could reveal worn, cracked, or broken parts; 2. Prevents corrosion; 3. Lubrication for cycling; 4. Peace of mind; 5. Pride; and 6. Resale value.
As a guy who carries a 45 caliber 5 inch 1911, I make sure the pistol is always lubricated, but I don’t tear it down and clean it every time I shoot it. I keep track of how much ammo I shoot. After 500 or 600 rounds, then I will take the whole pistol down and give it a FULL detail cleaning.
Cleaning and lubricating. I will never understand why people do not thoroughly oil their firearms. I am not saying cake it in grease, but it is a piece of machinery that primarily relies on metal to metal contact. You may think it attracts fouling but that fouling would be there on the dry surfaces and have no lubrication which is going to eat and wear those surfaces soo much faster than if it is contaminated oil or grease.
Retired Sergeant First Class here. AK's can go for a bit before they jam from being dirty. The AR/M16 family of rifles will also go for a long time before it jams from being dirty IF you keep the dust cover closed. That's a great thing in case you get into an extended firefight. I know it happened in Afghanistan. Having said that, clean the rifle every chance you get. It will not only save you, it will save your battle buddies around you. Any platoon sergeant worth a damn is going to make sure you clean your weapon AFTER the crew served machine guns are cleaned, and they'll inspect them too. This is how you keep your guys alive and in the fight. If you're a civilian? Guns are expensive, and they're only a durable good to the extent that you clean them and maintain them.
Curious timing of this video. Today I deep cleaned and lubricated two pistols I haven't fired in several years. They were cleaned after I last shot them, but the time in the safe caused me to want to do a thorough cleaning because I am planning to take them out for a work out in the next couple days. Afterwards you bet they will both get a deep cleaning and lubrication before I put them back into the safe.
Keeping them clean and oiled insures their longevity and provides the opportunity to inspect for loose screws, wear, etc and if it’s a .22 it is essential for its proper function.
I don’t clean some of my guns because 1. They don’t need it 2. I want to find their limits I clean my Benelli trap/sporting clays gun once a year at the end of the season (1200+ rounds) and it never hiccups I cleaned and greased my 19x once, after the first couple hundred rounds through it. Not sure how many it has now, but it’s been a few years of range trips and four matches of USPSA. It also doesn’t care In all my years of civilian shooting, I’ve seen an exponential amount more problems from guns not being shot and having old oil gumming up the actions than I have from guns being too dirty. Your mileage may vary of course, if you’re in the military or maybe even different environments. Just stating my experience
Not cleaning guns is a way for me to learn to trust them. Every gun I trust can go 1000 rounds without cleaning or malfunctioning. With that said., I only carry clean guns. The dirty ones are range only.
I clean my guns but I almost never take them apart to do it which would possibly make me guilty of not truly cleaning them. Ever since I had a bad experience with a P85 Ruger 34 years ago I have had a huge phobia of disassembling and trying to successfully reassemble firearms.
I have a bad case of OCD😊 for most of the 65 years of my life. I am more likely to wear out my guns cleaning them than shooting😮 I will walk 50 yards to pick up one pine cone. Good exercise.
Had AR 180 that was very nice and kept very clean and a 303 jungle in prestine condition for a used one 😀 and a FN 49 that was very interesting 😳 by the markings of the rifle
I clean em after every range session before the carbon hardens on them. Then they go in the safe ready for the next use. Grandpa taught me that. When I inherited his 1915 Favorite, it was rust free and ready to go. Same with my 1920 Arisaka Type 38 I got from my dad...clean, lubed and ready to go.
On the range I visit there is a Bulgarian AK (civilian model, Arsenal SAR M9F), which is between 150 to 200 thousand rounds and it literally never gets any maintenance, nor cleaning. Still functions flawlessly though. I have the exact same rifle and clean it after every session. But the fact is that range gun is operating as is, thousands of thousands of rounds.
As a veteran, I clean my carry gun after every range session, and every week or two. Leather holsters leave crud, plus dust, etc. I lose my mind when I finish shooting and clean My tools, but others , eh it'll be alright, I'll get to it sometime this week!
I clean after every shooting session. It's mostly because I enjoy the process, even though the guns themselves may not necessarily "need" it that often.
Depends on the firearm, I had a HK, and if you cleaned the barrel it was not accurate till you had at least 30-40 rounds through it, so during match season I did not clean it.
Years of training, when you shoot it you immediately clean it. Also cleaning a weapon lets you inspect for areas that may become a problem in the future. If you're not cleaning your weapon, you can't find a potential problem before it rears its head and bites you.
1778... British Army encamped in North East America.... "Private ! How's yer whistle?" Proper response was "Dry as a whistle Sergeant Major" The 'whistle' was the sound made when pursing your lips and blowing thru the hole in the frizzen, or the hole between the cap hole, and the breech... Both would make a 'swooshing noise' that ensured the powder fire/cap fire tunnel was clear to ignite the charge in the breech. " Sergeant...I'm going to go and wet my whistle" This was literally meaning that their firearm was non-working, as the 'whistle was corrupted by moisture, and that they were going to take some time off to let it dry out.... Meaning go to a Pub or Bar until further notice. "Wet your whistle" meant to sabotage your firearm, in order to go drink, in those days. By the 20th Century, it simply meant to go drink... tmyk
Some people worry about costs of cleaning guns. I use paint thinner and mineral oil to save lots of money. My guns all function properly and no corrosion.
Want cheap cleaner, diesel fuel, cleans and leaves an oily film after it evaporates protecting the metal. In the field most military guns get cleaned that way because the fuel is available.
I use Marvel Mystery Oil and mineral spirits. Paraffin in the Marvel provides protection from moisture. A bit of isopropyl in the mix will remove salt from fingerprints. A dollop of Lucas or STP will keep your oil from draining off the surfaces. Mix Lubriplate with STP and put it in a squeeze bottle for applying to sliding parts.
Hickok45 sir... If you ever look to hire a firearms cleaner dude and random helper... I'm up for it 🤷🏼♂️ I'm the same way, cleaning guns is fun to me.
The Old Marine in me has difficulty going to bed if my weapon is not clean. I want to know my gun is clean and in good condition, my life is worth the 10 minutes or so it takes me to clean my gun.
My good ARMY training demands that my guns get cleaned after every trip to the range, one round or one hundred. Besides, it's like cuddling after $ex. You get to check it out, ensure nothing is broken, and everyone is still friends.
Depends on the gun? I own 2 .357 revolvers, a S&W 686 and a Chiappi Rhino. The S&W does not need cleaning every time even shooting wadcutters. Usually I just wipe it down, every so often a thoroughly cleaning and oiling. The thing is like new, and still tight, after 10k rounds with perfunctory cleaning. The Chiappi? Great gun, but shooting wadcutters will foul it up in no time at all. I end each session with a couple of fouling shots of FMJ .38SP, and a quick scrub with the brass brush every other session.
These days it seems not cleaning your gun is a badge of honor for new shooters. My dad always taught me to clean my gun after every range session regardless of the number of rounds shot. That was 55 years ago and I still clean them after every use today. Aws for failures, my strangest failure was with a Springfield M1A during a DCM match. I was doing the prone slow fire portion and after a few shots the gun acted funny and the bolt didn't act right. Here somehow, the little pin on the extractor fell out and all the extractor parts fell out on the ground. That was the only time it happened and it never happened again after that. I have no idea what could have caused it.
I’m with you on this I’m not taking any chances so i just wish the other people who don’t clean their tools good luck and i wonder what their home looks like 🤔?
I would really appreciate if every video that included shooting firearms included cleaning them after that. Long time ago, when I served in the Israeli army and after that worked as a security contractor I have spent much more time cleaning weapons than shooting weapons. You would shoot several hundred rounds in a short exercise and then spend a lot of time cleaning the weapon, especially if it's a long stroke piston type, like a MAG or a Galil (an AK knockoff). You are sort of better off with an AR as far as cleaning goes because there's less of a soot buildup and nothing rusts, but you still need to take it apart and make sure everything is in working order. As a soldier you also drag the guns through mud and sand and water on a regular basis, so you have to clean it even when you don't shoot them. I really think cleaning should be a part of every gun review. It would influence my weapons choices no matter if I was a civilian or a soldier. It's a very underappreciated area of the weapons design. Cleaning an AR and cleaning a Galil are night and day, and after having to do it every night for several months you know which gun you would rather have.
Well, I was in the military, and cleaned my weapons so they had not one speck of anything on them. I am no older, and do not clean them as much. Todays powders and primers are not as dirty or corrosive as they were 30 years ago, so I do not believe they need to be cleaned as much. With new cleaning and preserving fluids, I think they will be just fine. They work when I need them.
I ALWAYS clean my stuff w/in 24hrs after returning from the range.... & I'll take half an afternoon doing it (my wife makes me clean them in the garage to keep the solvent smell out of the house..) Additionally, if new/commercial ammo is available (99% of the time it is), I'll use that vs. surplus/corrosive ammo; albeit when I do, I'll squirt windex down the bore & action before I leave the range.
I don’t know any other way. Guess I learned it from watching daddy when I was a kid. I maintain my firearms whether they are used or not. They are machines. Never forget that.
Cleaning, inspecting and maintaining your firearms is not only essential, but therapeutic. Thanks for the clip, Hickok45!!
This guy gets it. Nothing more stress free than putting some old tunes on and cracking a beer and cleaning your gun after a day of hunting or shooting👍 my dad does the same thing tinkering with old boat motors which I don't find therapeutic after work because I'm a mechanic lol I'd rather clean ALL my guns.🤣
Exactly! Everytime! that when I go to the Gun Range, I clean my rifles after use. And Yearly I clean them all. And yes, I do find it therapeutic. I only have six. Takes me a good hour to clean them all. Is there Gun Cleaning music out there? lol
That's just my dad's hobby though, just like old cars my dad loves restoring old boats from the 60s and 70s. You don't want to know how many times I'd go to Pennsylvania with him with the tilt bed peterbilt just to find a piece of junk that's been sitting on a rotten trailer for 50 years and I'm like don't buy that boat dad...next time I see him it's completely restored and looks like just like it did in 1964🤣he's got 4 now and we're like dad please don't buy another boat. I guess every man has to have a hobby that he enjoys to keep himself sane in this crazy world😏
It also makes for a milder discussion while cleaning your gun. 😊
I'm glad this is something I picked up naturally. I've cleaned my guns regularly since I was a kid and only had a 20gauge, a 4-10, and a .22 LR pump rifle. Even used to clean my lazy dad's pistols (model 19-3 and old Derringers)
Guns are too expensive to not take care of them
Laziness is the only reason someone wouldn't keep their guns clean.
Cleaning is fundamental.
In the field, there are times when you have to pick between, eating, sleeping, or cleaning. Which is more fundamental for you?
Reminds me of my childhood and Dad taking us to the range and then coming home, going out on the backyard porch with a bottle of Hoppes solvent and cleaning the guns. Dad's gone now, but he instilled this habit in me and my brother that has lasted a lifetime.
Same all points. My Dad's gone now too. The lessons he taught me I've passed down to my son, daughter and grandson. Both of us were very lucky to have our Dad's!
@@Moses1973count yourself fortunate I never knew mine he left before I was born
Those memories are a legacy left with you to carry. The little things we often over look is the time we had with our fathers. Mine is gone, but I have the memories of riding with him to his work in the summer time. I am a gun owner and enjoy cleaning mine. Some I may not be use to, but I do have a gun smith for that reason.
yes, my dad, too
Also, in the military, you’re much more likely to be an environment like swamps, snow, mud, dirt, sand, etc., than you are on the typical shooting range, so it’s even more important you constantly clean all your weapons and gear.
Cleaning is part of inspection. You won’t know if a part is bent, buckled, distorted, cracked or worn if you don’t open it up and root around with a stick a bit.
That includes any new firearm.
@ absolutely.
Same thought process behind washing dirtbikes and ATVs. You never know what problem may be hiding under all that dirt and grime.
@@rogerw3818 guns are like bikes, if your gonna ride em your gonna wreck em 😅
Memories…~13 years old cleaning the shotguns on the kitchen table with my dad after pheasant hunting all day. Now my dad has passed and at 62, I still feel like a 13 year old kid when cleaning my guns. The smell of the old Hobbs #9 solvent and gun oil always brings back some great memories of those times I had with him. I still have the same two shotguns in my safe. Mine, the trusty Remington 870 “Wingmaster” and my Dad’s Remington 1100. They both get broken down, cleaned, and oiled at least once a year. Even though it’s been over 40 years since either one has been shot.
This is just how I feel
Good afternoon Sir Hickok!
You ask, "why are you not cleaning your gun?"
Well, I'll tell ya...:
The reason I'm not cleaning my gun (s) is because they haven't been fired since the last time I cleaned and inspected them.
I hope you find this acceptable. And I thank you wholeheartedly for all that you do for all us in the gun owner/CCW community. 👍
Why are you not firing your gun? 😂
3 reasons I clean every time:
1. I want to be certain I’ve done everything I can to ensure it’s ready to go.
2. Spent too many years in the Army and it shall be clean.
3. I like clean things. My house, clothes, work.
It’s funny, I just sat down from cleaning mine and see this video! It’s good for the longevity of the arm, and yes I agree wholeheartedly about the readiness.
I agree 💯👍
Mr. Hickok , you kinda wear the mantle of Elmer Keith for this generation. I have been a long time subscriber, but I missed a lot of your early episodes. Thank you for doing what you do Sir.
Cheers From California 🔥
Cleanliness is next to Godliness and, boy, you better get religious. 👍
My attitude exactly about cleaning my firearms. I learned it from my grandfather before I ever thought about going into the military. The most memorable failure to fire that I ever had was on the 600 yd line at Quantico in 1964 in a run-up match to the Inter-Service Championship Rifle Match with the M14 National Match rifle. About halfway through my string of fire my rifle "popped" and my face was filled with sparks and fumes. I called the range officer (who was a marine) for permission to leave the line with a disable weapon. I carried my rifle, muzzle pointed up, to the AMU Armorer for inspection. He opened the bolt and ejected the empty brass and inspected to the rifle. While he was doing that I picked up the piece of brass. The armorer found no problem with the rifle and gave it back to me to continue firing. As I walked away I was inspecting the piece of brass. I finally found the problem no one would have ever anticipated and was a complete surprise to us all. I never had heard of it before and never again since. There was no flash hole in the brass between the primer and the powder. Whoda thunk it? That's why I got a face full of sparks. I returned to the firing line and asked the range officer for additional time but he denied my request because the rifle wasn't disabled. So I asked him for an additional two sighter shots and he denied that, too. A marine range officer and an army shooter. Anyway the lesson I learned and that stuck with me was that the most perfectly designed and maintained weapon can malfunction at any time for the most unimaginable reason.
Thirty years US Army, your weapon is cleaned daily when you take it afield or when ever you fire it. Take care of it like your life depends on it, it might.
It does
"AMEN BROTHER " !!
Don't be lazy, clean your guns!
Holdover from the days of corrosive primers. I've ranted about the evils of USGI parkerized cleaning rods on many forums. The sections rarely line up, the Parkerizing is very abrasive. Probably why M1 Garands have so much muzzle wear as the guides were rarely used. US military ammo discontinued corrosive primers in 30-06 and .45 ACP by 1955. Non-corrosive primers, cleaner burning powders (not counting 'Nam-era 5.56!) plus chrome-lined bores. But troops need to be kept busy and get to know their weapons intimately.
Modern sporting firearms? More bores have been ruined by improper and/or over-cleaning than shooting or non-cleaning.
Thank you
This. Especially if it's a range toy and not something my life depends on.
Totally agree. Every time I get some range time I head to the bench and do a cleaning and inspection. As noted by others, it's therapeutic as well as good policy. On one of my range days a couple of acquaintances showed up and were having a good time and then his pistol started having issues. FTE, FTF, just plain sluggish. He asked for some assistance, upon inspection the pistol had never been cleaned, not ever. A Berreta in .40 S&W. I gave it a quick scrub and lube to get him by. He explained that he was told by the counter commando he bought it from that he'd not need to clean it but once every few thousand rounds, so he didn't, then forgot about it. It might have gotten him killed or injured if he needed to protect himself and the thing did what it did at the range. He was misinformed, then remained ignorant. You can fix ignorance with some knowledge, wisdom is knowing how to use the knowledge.
Yes sir!!! I’m a firm believer in making sure that my firearms are cleaned and maintained after going to the range, and yes even my AK and Glock!!! I enjoy watching the channel thanks for great content!!
Words of wisdom.
This is a very timely message - I just finished cleaning my Colt Competition .45ACP after firing about 170 rounds through it this afternoon. It took about 25 minutes and I enjoyed it immensely. 😜 Cleaning my guns after a range session is as good for me as it is for the guns.
Completely agree. My military service time just compels me to clean my firearms after use. Occasionally, as you do, I might be tired after a long day at the range or out hunting, so it might wait until the next day, but not longer. One point I have stopped worrying about, however, is trying to clean copper deposits out of my centrefire rifle barrels. After cleaning with bore solvent/brushes and then Ballistol, I leave it at that and I just don't bother trying to remove the copper. From everything authoritative I've read and watched, including advice from the long range precision crowd, if you clean the copper deposits and then go out again and have to fire a few "fouling" rounds before competition, all one is doing is simply laying down the copper once again over the minute imperfections in the barrel, in order to have the rifle's full potential for precision come back. The same holds true for a hunting rifle. So what's the point of that? The copper is serving to coat or seal over the imperfections in the barrel, so why mess with a helpful side-effect factor of copper jacketing that is only helping the rifle's precision, to say nothing of the unnecessary time, money and effort expended in cleaning it out.
Retired military. Always maintained my weapons to the upmost ability. Range day is a bummer after if I bring a variety of toys. I usually clean them the following week.
It’s utmost
People who don't clean their guns are crazy! And, yes, I've known a few. My guns are immaculately clean, and I take a great deal of pride in that. Great video!
I used to work at a shotgun range. The rental guns where Binellis and they got wiped down with an oiled rag and oil sprayed in action periodically. They just kept working and that is that.
I have everything in my safes on a cleaning cycle. Sure, even the old milsurp, guns rarely used, everything is in the rotation. If it gets fired, it gets cleaner usually the same day. If the gun fails, I do not want it to be for the sake of needing to be cleaned. Firearms for defense, they get cleaned regularly, even if not fired. My Dad was a WW2 vet, I picked that up from him. I spent 28yrs in the Army, more of the same. As an old guy, more of the same.
Clean all mine at least once a year even if not fired. Go to range cleaned when I get home
grit causes wear, even if the firearm still functions the grit causes wear none the less.
A friend of mine gave me his mil-surp, bolt-action rifle to clean a full year after he last fired it, I was blown away at how dry and hard the fouling was in the bore. If you're too lazy to thoroughly clean you firearm, at the very least, run a few solvent patches down the bore and chamber until you're strong enough to give it a good cleaning.
My father taught me to inspect and run a brush and patch before going out and a thorough cleaning after every time we went out shooting or hunting. It has become a meditative experience. One that has added to my overall familiarity and comfort with my firearms.
Same thing applies to maintaining your vehicle. Some people put off oil changes, worn tires, exhaust etc. then say that brand of vehicle is junk when it crashes and ends up in major repairs.
Like others have said, cleaning inspecting and lubricating is therapeutic. If you're going to keep is for self defense you want it in tip top condition.
Let me give you my perspective on this. I was a competitive pistol shooter for many many years and got to shoot with some of the best world class shooters. I know two of them who rarely clean their guns. They might add a little oil to it before the match and that was it. It was just never a concern of theirs. And my gunsmith told me that as soon as you fire the first shot on a clean gun it is now a dirty gun. He wasn’t too concerned about cleaning my gun after every use. He said you need to know basically how many rounds you can shoot through it before it quits working. I would rather have a gun. I could shoot 1000 rounds through before it malfunctions compared to a gun that only shoots 50 rounds before it malfunctions. It’s good information to know.
Sitting down with an old western on a Sunday with the smell of hoppies #9 in the air... Just brings me back to my youth and some of my best childhood memories. Keep em clean and they might just save your life.
I could probably still clean an M-16 in the dark.
Cleaning also makes you handle your gun more and in ways you normally don't when shooting, it's good to be familiar with it
While it is needed, it is more of a chore to me now than when I started 40+ years ago.
Brake cleaner and Balisol are both offered in a spray can.
Just saying.
@anth5424 no really? I already use that stuff...for a ling time.
Cleaning your weapon is just common sense.
Please also mention the silly myth INVENTED by self-appointed teen gun experts on the TOOOOB: that you do not need to clean a brand new gun before using it. They insist that ANY new gun should work perfectly with ANY ammunition RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX without any cleaning or lubrication, regardless of the Owner's Manual directions! They LOVE IT when a new gun fails somehow so that they can sound smart to have something to criticize about a new gun they are reviewing. This foolish myth never existed before the TOOOB, and any "Old Timer" will explain that guns are shipped nearly DRY of oil so the packaging is not soiled. There is also thick "assembly grease" on new guns for rust-proofing in a box that might sit for years in a warehouse, and this MUST be cleaned out for reliable use of the gun, as this grease attracts factory grit and metal shavings inside. EVEN new guns need cleaning and lubrication.........................elsullo
I wish I had known that I would have done a deeper cleaning sooner with my new weapons before having some fails.
Especially those making asses of themselves decrying Turkish made shotguns.
Hey mate, clean the thing and inspect EVERY new firearm...
there could be a fault waiting to kill you in ANY firearm, not only "old" ones!.
I found cosmoline to n the firing pin channel of my Makarov yesterday. I didn’t know the pin can just drop out. That stuff is hard to get out too!
We all let it slide occasionally, but shouldn’t for long. I was once browsing in a gun shop, looking at micro 9’s, hoping to find something that could truly fit in a front pocket, and the store owner offered his carry 9 for me to try. He dropped the mag, handed it to me, I racked the slide to be sure it was unloaded, and the slide would not return to battery because of all the pocket lint. He admitted it hadn’t been out of the Kydex holster in over a year. You can over oil, but you can’t over clean.
When I get new (or used) ,first thing is breakdown and clean. Reassemble and then I function test. Then I load 5 rounds and fire. Then run bore snake . Wipe down with silicone rag and I'm ready to go. Every month visually inspect, correct any issues and cary on. Been doing this for 25 or so years and ain't had no problems yet. Of course if I find issues, they get corrected. Even my gun safe 'queens' get fired and cleaning at least twice a year. Look at how many older (40 to 60 years or older) still function. I really love my old lever rifles
Smooth as butter. They don't look new, just good! Thanks for video '45
I clean my guns after every trip to the range. The Army instilled this in me.
🤛
I collect M1 carbines, but I once bought a universal 11inch Enforcer Pistol, and I mounted an '03-A3 springfield front sight and pinned it, so the front collar could not be removed, so I never took it apart to be cleaned, since 1978. . . I just brush out the mag well, lube the bolt. . . and it runs like a champ on ball ammo. . .
Weather you depend on it or not, isn't it just good husbandry?......"life is good"😊
I work 10 hours a day, including time spent commuting it's even more. I have projects to do around the house, and still try to have at least a little while to spend with my family each day. Free time is almost nonexistent to me. God willing I have enough time to put a few mags through the AK with my friends one weekend, I certainly don't have time to spend a half hour stripping it down and cleaning it after every time I use it. Sure I clean it once in a while, but wait till it's quite dirty (which is one of the many reasons I do like the platform so much). With that being said, I do make a point to clean and maintain my EDC because my life could depend on it. But for a toy that I have just for the fun of taking it out once in a while, it wouldn't be the end of the world if it was so dirty that it hung up on me (which has never once happened to me in the decade+ I've had it, and probably only been cleaned 3 or 4 times ever).
I don't think that I need to clean my guns because I am too old to worry about it.
I keep mine “fairly” clean, but not military requirement clean. But if my targets were shooting back it would be different. My standards for carry guns are higher than for plinkers.
As a RSO I have encountered a variety of failures to fire. The main one is a dirty firing pin ' tunnel '. Then dirty chambers. Dirty magazine etc. One day I had a brand new Glock firing the odd burst. Turns out the entire firearm still had grease on it. So the firing pin would get stuck forward and exposed, resulting in a slam fire effect.
A light application of kerosene to the firing pin hole helps loosen carbon. But no more than 5 drops.
I was raised, never let the Sun go down on a dirty firearm. Sixty plus years later I still follow that advise.
Your mod 29 is testament on what good cleaning practices do. On the flip side, on oil less is more.
Theres “new gun owner with a white glove” clean, and then there’s “eh, shoot a bit of CLP up in that bizz and call it done” clean. … We’re all on a journey from the former to the latter.
Good talk Mr Hickok, i clean all my firarms around every month if i have not used them. I clean my guns everytime i go shoot and as soon as i get back home. This includes my AK and SKS which so many people tout as not needed. cheers
I clean my firearms after most shooting sessions. Unless it's a really low round count, I pretty much clean them every time I shoot them. If nothing else, I think taking them apart and cleaning them familiarizes you with the firearm to a greater extent and I find myself wondering if it makes you a better shooter as well.
I agree a clean gun is a godly gun. Although when I was in Nam over 55 years ago, I can't recall cleaning the old 1911 that much. A little bug repellent poured into the rails, rack it a few times, blow grit out of the mag well and wipe the mag on my trousers, see daylight through the bore, that was about it.
Wow, bug repellent. Was it hard to get your hands on oil?
@@dinoscungilli6390 LSA was not always readily available, but bug juice was always at hand. The use of repellent poured on the bolts of pre forward assist M16's was also prevalent.
@scotscotty8075 Mc namata.was dem. I'll bet they sabotaged you guys. No oil for the weapons is so bad.
That's one thing they NEVER show in movies, the maintenance of the firearms on the field.
BION my go-to complaint for years was the discontinued use of corrosive chlorate primers in ammo. Corrosively primed ammo encourages cleaning discipline. In my dottage I enjoy not cleaning my guns after every time I shoot them.
Great words of wisdom
When I saw the thumbnail and title, I got a slight chill...like I was in trouble with my dad lol
Thats a good one LoL great post
Benefits of cleaning guns: 1. Inspection could reveal worn, cracked, or broken parts; 2. Prevents corrosion; 3. Lubrication for cycling; 4. Peace of mind; 5. Pride; and 6. Resale value.
As a guy who carries a 45 caliber 5 inch 1911, I make sure the pistol is always lubricated, but I don’t tear it down and clean it every time I shoot it. I keep track of how much ammo I shoot. After 500 or 600 rounds, then I will take the whole pistol down and give it a FULL detail cleaning.
Cleaning and lubricating. I will never understand why people do not thoroughly oil their firearms. I am not saying cake it in grease, but it is a piece of machinery that primarily relies on metal to metal contact. You may think it attracts fouling but that fouling would be there on the dry surfaces and have no lubrication which is going to eat and wear those surfaces soo much faster than if it is contaminated oil or grease.
Retired Sergeant First Class here. AK's can go for a bit before they jam from being dirty. The AR/M16 family of rifles will also go for a long time before it jams from being dirty IF you keep the dust cover closed. That's a great thing in case you get into an extended firefight. I know it happened in Afghanistan. Having said that, clean the rifle every chance you get. It will not only save you, it will save your battle buddies around you. Any platoon sergeant worth a damn is going to make sure you clean your weapon AFTER the crew served machine guns are cleaned, and they'll inspect them too. This is how you keep your guys alive and in the fight. If you're a civilian? Guns are expensive, and they're only a durable good to the extent that you clean them and maintain them.
48 hrs. is the longest I ever waited to clean a gun that's just how I was taught
Bragging about not cleaning a gun is like bragging you never change the oil in your vehicle.
Curious timing of this video. Today I deep cleaned and lubricated two pistols I haven't fired in several years. They were cleaned after I last shot them, but the time in the safe caused me to want to do a thorough cleaning because I am planning to take them out for a work out in the next couple days. Afterwards you bet they will both get a deep cleaning and lubrication before I put them back into the safe.
Always enjoyed cleaning my guns since my dad got me my first Stevens double barrel 410 shotgun at 9 years old. 👍
Appreciate this video Hickok.
Keeping them clean and oiled insures their longevity and provides the opportunity to inspect for loose screws, wear, etc and if it’s a .22 it is essential for its proper function.
Your weapon is your best friend!! Keep it clean, and it will, serve you well. 😮
I don’t clean some of my guns because
1. They don’t need it
2. I want to find their limits
I clean my Benelli trap/sporting clays gun once a year at the end of the season (1200+ rounds) and it never hiccups
I cleaned and greased my 19x once, after the first couple hundred rounds through it. Not sure how many it has now, but it’s been a few years of range trips and four matches of USPSA. It also doesn’t care
In all my years of civilian shooting, I’ve seen an exponential amount more problems from guns not being shot and having old oil gumming up the actions than I have from guns being too dirty.
Your mileage may vary of course, if you’re in the military or maybe even different environments. Just stating my experience
Not cleaning guns is a way for me to learn to trust them.
Every gun I trust can go 1000 rounds without cleaning or malfunctioning. With that said., I only carry clean guns.
The dirty ones are range only.
I couldn't not clean one of my firearms even as a "test." Plus, I get to handle my firearm even more during the cleaning process, always a bonus.
I clean my guns but I almost never take them apart to do it which would possibly make me guilty of not truly cleaning them. Ever since I had a bad experience with a P85 Ruger 34 years ago I have had a huge phobia of disassembling and trying to successfully reassemble firearms.
I have a bad case of OCD😊 for most of the 65 years of my life. I am more likely to wear out my guns cleaning them than shooting😮 I will walk 50 yards to pick up one pine cone. Good exercise.
Teddy Roosevelt said" never let the sun set on a dirty gun".
People are LAZY ....
I clean my gun after EVERY range trip PERIOD.
Had AR 180 that was very nice and kept very clean and a 303 jungle in prestine condition for a used one 😀 and a FN 49 that was very interesting 😳 by the markings of the rifle
Cleaning them up for me is a major part of the range trip. It's not over till they are clean and lubed!!
I clean em after every range session before the carbon hardens on them. Then they go in the safe ready for the next use. Grandpa taught me that. When I inherited his 1915 Favorite, it was rust free and ready to go. Same with my 1920 Arisaka Type 38 I got from my dad...clean, lubed and ready to go.
Corrosion. No mention of Corrosion prevention. Carbon, powder residue attracts moisture.
Mr. Hickok, I totally agree.
On the range I visit there is a Bulgarian AK (civilian model, Arsenal SAR M9F), which is between 150 to 200 thousand rounds and it literally never gets any maintenance, nor cleaning. Still functions flawlessly though. I have the exact same rifle and clean it after every session. But the fact is that range gun is operating as is, thousands of thousands of rounds.
As a veteran, I clean my carry gun after every range session, and every week or two. Leather holsters leave crud, plus dust, etc. I lose my mind when I finish shooting and clean My tools, but others , eh it'll be alright, I'll get to it sometime this week!
I clean after every shooting session. It's mostly because I enjoy the process, even though the guns themselves may not necessarily "need" it that often.
Depends on the firearm, I had a HK, and if you cleaned the barrel it was not accurate till you had at least 30-40 rounds through it, so during match season I did not clean it.
It’s been more than 3 years that I haven’t shot a single bullet sir.
It’s clean loaded and at home.
Years of training, when you shoot it you immediately clean it. Also cleaning a weapon lets you inspect for areas that may become a problem in the future. If you're not cleaning your weapon, you can't find a potential problem before it rears its head and bites you.
This is why I must question the mentality of so many who proudly proclaim that they haven't cleaned their guns in over 5000 rounds.
1778... British Army encamped in North East America....
"Private ! How's yer whistle?" Proper response was "Dry as a whistle Sergeant Major"
The 'whistle' was the sound made when pursing your lips and blowing thru the hole in the frizzen, or the hole between the cap hole, and the breech...
Both would make a 'swooshing noise' that ensured the powder fire/cap fire tunnel was clear to ignite the charge in the breech.
" Sergeant...I'm going to go and wet my whistle"
This was literally meaning that their firearm was non-working, as the 'whistle was corrupted by moisture, and that they were going to take some time off to let it dry out.... Meaning go to a Pub or Bar until further notice.
"Wet your whistle" meant to sabotage your firearm, in order to go drink, in those days.
By the 20th Century, it simply meant to go drink...
tmyk
Some people worry about costs of cleaning guns. I use paint thinner and mineral oil to save lots of money. My guns all function properly and no corrosion.
Want cheap cleaner, diesel fuel, cleans and leaves an oily film after it evaporates protecting the metal. In the field most military guns get cleaned that way because the fuel is available.
I use Marvel Mystery Oil and mineral spirits. Paraffin in the Marvel provides protection from moisture. A bit of isopropyl in the mix will remove salt from fingerprints. A dollop of Lucas or STP will keep your oil from draining off the surfaces. Mix Lubriplate with STP and put it in a squeeze bottle for applying to sliding parts.
Hickok45 sir... If you ever look to hire a firearms cleaner dude and random helper... I'm up for it 🤷🏼♂️ I'm the same way, cleaning guns is fun to me.
The Old Marine in me has difficulty going to bed if my weapon is not clean. I want to know my gun is clean and in good condition, my life is worth the 10 minutes or so it takes me to clean my gun.
My good ARMY training demands that my guns get cleaned after every trip to the range, one round or one hundred. Besides, it's like cuddling after $ex. You get to check it out, ensure nothing is broken, and everyone is still friends.
EXCELLENT ADVICE !!!!!!!!!!!🤠
Depends on the gun? I own 2 .357 revolvers, a S&W 686 and a Chiappi Rhino. The S&W does not need cleaning every time even shooting wadcutters. Usually I just wipe it down, every so often a thoroughly cleaning and oiling. The thing is like new, and still tight, after 10k rounds with perfunctory cleaning.
The Chiappi? Great gun, but shooting wadcutters will foul it up in no time at all. I end each session with a couple of fouling shots of FMJ .38SP, and a quick scrub with the brass brush every other session.
I usually watch your videos while I clean.
These days it seems not cleaning your gun is a badge of honor for new shooters. My dad always taught me to clean my gun after every range session regardless of the number of rounds shot. That was 55 years ago and I still clean them after every use today. Aws for failures, my strangest failure was with a Springfield M1A during a DCM match. I was doing the prone slow fire portion and after a few shots the gun acted funny and the bolt didn't act right. Here somehow, the little pin on the extractor fell out and all the extractor parts fell out on the ground. That was the only time it happened and it never happened again after that. I have no idea what could have caused it.
I’m with you on this I’m not taking any chances so i just wish the other people who don’t clean their tools good luck and i wonder what their home looks like 🤔?
I would really appreciate if every video that included shooting firearms included cleaning them after that.
Long time ago, when I served in the Israeli army and after that worked as a security contractor I have spent much more time cleaning weapons than shooting weapons. You would shoot several hundred rounds in a short exercise and then spend a lot of time cleaning the weapon, especially if it's a long stroke piston type, like a MAG or a Galil (an AK knockoff). You are sort of better off with an AR as far as cleaning goes because there's less of a soot buildup and nothing rusts, but you still need to take it apart and make sure everything is in working order. As a soldier you also drag the guns through mud and sand and water on a regular basis, so you have to clean it even when you don't shoot them.
I really think cleaning should be a part of every gun review. It would influence my weapons choices no matter if I was a civilian or a soldier. It's a very underappreciated area of the weapons design. Cleaning an AR and cleaning a Galil are night and day, and after having to do it every night for several months you know which gun you would rather have.
Well, I was in the military, and cleaned my weapons so they had not one speck of anything on them. I am no older, and do not clean them as much. Todays powders and primers are not as dirty or corrosive as they were 30 years ago, so I do not believe they need to be cleaned as much. With new cleaning and preserving fluids, I think they will be just fine. They work when I need them.
To me, not cleaning my gun's is like not changing the oil in your car/truck.
I ALWAYS clean my stuff w/in 24hrs after returning from the range.... & I'll take half an afternoon doing it (my wife makes me clean them in the garage to keep the solvent smell out of the house..) Additionally, if new/commercial ammo is available (99% of the time it is), I'll use that vs. surplus/corrosive ammo; albeit when I do, I'll squirt windex down the bore & action before I leave the range.
TW25B makes cleaning and operation better than new. Skip the spray can. 👍
I don’t know any other way. Guess I learned it from watching daddy when I was a kid. I maintain my firearms whether they are used or not. They are machines. Never forget that.
I once read a comment of an Iraq veteran who wrote that they cleaned their rifles every day just because of the fine sand dust.