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Re: How do YOU Clean a handgun
Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 9:01 pm
by Sangiovese
Nitpicky, but I'll say it anyway since I don't think it can be overemphasized.
Step 1. Unload it.
Step 2. Move all the ammo to another area.
Step 3. Double check to make sure it didn't reload itself while I was moving the ammo.
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Re: How do YOU Clean a handgun
Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 9:02 pm
by marksiwel
Sangiovese wrote:Nitpicky, but I'll say it anyway since I don't think it can be overemphasized.
Step 1. Unload it.
Step 2. Move all the ammo to another area.
Step 3. Double check to make sure it didn't reload itself while I was moving the ammo.
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Re: How do YOU Clean a handgun
Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 9:07 pm
by karl
I just follow the instructions on the Hoppe's box.
Re: How do YOU Clean a handgun
Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 10:34 pm
by ghostrider
-> general cleaning
# unload
# field strip
# spray with non-toxic, non-aerosol degreaser from Brownells
# scrub bore with bronze brush and either above cleaner or Hoppes #9 if its really dirty, bore snake if its not
# wipe dry
# lubricate with FP-10 (and wipe down blued guns on the outside)
-> gun specific:
# I don't use grease except Brian Enos Slide Glide on the bolt of a Ruger MKII 22 pistol; it seems to resist fouling and keep it running longer than anything else.
# I don't use WD-40 on guns. Ever.
# special water-soluable lube for black powder
# bronze brush to scrub out revolver cylinders
Re: How do YOU Clean a handgun
Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 11:13 pm
by markthenewf
+1 on ghostrider above. I also us a product called 'gun butter' for the small parts to be lubed and then a very, very, light swipe of tetra grease on my main rail.
Re: How do YOU Clean a handgun
Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 2:31 am
by atxgun
Hoppers 9, a brush, paper towels. 'Nuff said.
Re: How do YOU Clean a handgun
Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 9:16 am
by USA1
Just get a Glock . No need for cleaning....From what i've heard.

Re: How do YOU Clean a handgun
Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 9:35 am
by marksiwel
USA1 wrote:Just get a Glock . No need for cleaning....From what i've heard.

Just like the m16 in the 60's right?
Re: How do YOU Clean a handgun
Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 9:38 am
by akhooters7
you mean i am not supposed to use the dishwasher......??

Re: How do YOU Clean a handgun
Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 9:40 am
by Purplehood
I wear my G27 in a Crossbreed IWB holster. Lots of horsey-leather. My white t-shirts constantly shed a very fine, almost powdery lint on the Glock.
Though I haven't shot it since its last cleaning, I decided to break it down for a cleaning as the exterior had a fine white powder all over it. Glad I did, as it looked like that stuff could gunk up the striker.
Re: How do YOU Clean a handgun
Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 9:41 am
by marksiwel
akhooters7 wrote:you mean i am not supposed to use the dishwasher......??

I've wondered about that for years.
Really if you use a Mild Water Temp,no detergent and dry and oil the whole thing, what could go wrong?
Re: How do YOU Clean a handgun
Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 9:53 am
by USA1
I won't mention any names (you know who you are !) but there's a guy that has never cleaned his gun..ever.
I field striped it and was horrified at what i saw.

The inside of the slide looked like the undercarriage of a
1981 Pontiac with a bad oil leak . Its amazing the kind of build up you get after probably close to 1000 rounds with the
only lubricant being the factory grease that came in the gun.
Re: How do YOU Clean a handgun
Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 9:59 am
by akhooters7
i once knew a girl who never changed her oil....... probably looked the same....
Re: How do YOU Clean a handgun
Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 11:14 am
by Pete92FS
I generally follow the instructions in my owner's manuals.

Re: How do YOU Clean a handgun
Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 11:37 am
by mr.72
Pistols:
1. Unload/verify routine, leave the magazine out
2. Field-strip the gun. disassemble down to the slide, barrel, recoil/guide-rod assy, and frame.
3. Spray the bore full of Outers foaming bore cleaner and let it sit during the next procedure
4. Using an old toothbrush, Q-tips, and a piece of an old T-shirt, thoroughly clean every part of the slide, guide rod, recoil spring, and internals of the frame that are accessible with Hoppes #9. Wipe it dry.
5. Move to the barrel. Clean the exterior, feed ramp, etc. of the barrel and chamber thoroughly with Q-tips, rag and toothbrush and Hoppes #9
6. Run a couple of cotton patches soaked in Hoppes #9 through the barrel
7. Bronze-brush the barrel thoroughly and then run a couple more #9 soaked patches through the barrel until the patches come through without a significant amount of black gunk on them
8. Run alternating clean/dry patches with Hoppes #9 patches through the barrel until a clean/dry one comes out clean.
9. Lube according to the manufacturer's instructions with Mobil1 0W20 in an eyedrops bottle and using a Q-tip as necessary.
10. Spray CLP on a clean cotton patch and wipe down all of the metal parts coating with CLP. Run a CLP patch through the bore.
If I bring all three pistols back from a range day, this takes about 30-45 minutes to do all three. I do them in parallel.
I do this pretty much every time I shoot my pistols. My Sigma gets this treatment only if I've shot more than about 50 rounds through it.
My .22 semi-auto rifle (every 1000 rounds or so)
1. Remove receiver from the stock
2. Break down the action as completely as possible
3. Thoroughly clean the action with Hoppes #9 and spray-lube the bolt with CLP
4. Clean the trigger assy and lube friction points with Mobil1 0W20 in an eyedrops bottle
5. Pull a few Hoppes #9-soaked cotton patches through the barrel using my weed-eater line tool
6. Coat the metal parts with a CLP-damp rag for rust prevention (it's stainless)
This is a 10-minute job.
The guns I carry tend to get packed up with lint and require cleaning every couple of weeks even if I don't shoot them.
One tip is to use a little shallow box like you get from an empty case of bottled water as a surface to clean my guns, which keeps the chemicals off of my table top. I also bring along a fine-grit hone and a couple of pieces of 600 and 1000 grit sandpaper to touch up burrs or buff up anything that needs attention while I am cleaning the gun.
I don't have a procedure nailed down yet for my shotgun.
FWIW I don't really trust CLP as a lubricant but I really like it as a rust preventative treatment. I like Mobil1 0W20 for lubrication and Hoppes #9 for cleaning.