What is Your Cleaning Routine?

[Jason Freeland]

As I was doing my post range cleaning a bit ago, I wondered what the rest of you did for cleaning? I use CLP and these sponges called Swab-its, which aren't cheap but do an awesome job Buy Swab-its® Swabs - Foam Cleaning Swabs - Gun Cleaning Products . You can get them bore sized and just sponges on a stick for getting down into the action. I haven't found anything else that really gets into the nooks and crannies like these do. Any other products you would recommend? I've tried to make cleaning a definitive ritual that goes with shooting and never leave it to the next day. It's too easy to keep putting it off if you do.

 

[big green chopper]

For many years, I did as I was taught, clean everything with CLP after shooting. Now days, I clean less but when I do I don't mess around. I strip, throw the parts in a bucket of solvent get out my 100% brass brushes and fire up the air compressor. I run solvent down the barrel and do a wet bore brush then blow it out with the air hose. Pull my parts out, brush them, blow them dry with the air hose, slap a couple drops of CLP on the friction points. Then I re-visit the barrel with a clean patch with some CLP just to leave a light film for storage. OH yeah, and I use q-tips for the gas ports in the bcg and bolt. The brass never leaves a mark. The solvent is safe for nitride and NMC finishes, and my BC and Bolt never get scratched up to accommodate more carbon build up. There are a couple rifles I have that need more and less cleaning. Gas guns almost always need more.

 

[HiredHand]

Switched to the Rogers Advanced Gun cleaning system for cleaning. I like that it doesn’t require patches or chemicals with strong odors. It does a really good job of cleaning without tons of effort.

https://www.okshooters.com/threads/rogers-advanced-gun-cleaning-system.313490/

 

[xseler]

I use bore snakes and Q-Tips with Lucas CLP. Canned air (the kind used in an office) is used to get the CLP into/out of places a Q-Tips won't go. Then, a quick wipe with a microfiber cloth. Has worked well for me!



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[mr ed]

Shoot'em til they start jamming, then hose with carburetor or brake cleaner, then the air hose treatment til dry. a shot of Ballistal a little air hose and they are good for quite a while.
When I was young and had time on my hands they got the full tear down deep clean you guys talk about.
Now I'm old, if and when I get to go shoot. It's off to the range, shoot some, race home, give a quick clean, throw them in the safe until a month or two when I get to do it over again.
My problem is lack of time. My wife says I do the same work now as I did in years past but it takes me twice as long to do it.
Tomorrow will be my first free day in a couple months I think. But alas, I have no ammo loaded up. and don't want to waste the factory stuff.

Tomorrow sound like a good day for reloading !

 

[FrankNmac]

I watched this hickok45 cleaning video about ten years ago and started using his technique to clean all of my guns. It is relaxing for me to clean a gun after I take it out to the range and I clean them every time. This process has kept my guns well-protected, good looking, and functioning properly.

A few differences from hickok45's process are I don't use alcohol on the Q-tips (buy them cheap in bulk at Dollar Tree, where I also buy the toothbrushes I use.)

I don't use an aerosol can of Ballistol, but buy the non-aerosol cans of Ballistol and pour the liquid into a small spray bottle. Less waste, better control of the spray, and the Ballistol lasts longer and and is less expensive than buying it in aerosol cans.

I also use a microfiber cloth that has a light residue of Ballistol on it from use (I use one for a few months and then change it out for a new one and start using it) instead of paper towels when I wipe down the outside of the barrel and slide before I reassemble the gun.

 

[Jason Freeland]

I watched this hickok45 cleaning video about ten years ago and started using his technique to clean all of my guns. It is relaxing for me to clean a gun after I take it out to the range and I clean them every time. This process has kept my guns well-protected, good looking, and functioning properly.

A few differences from hickok45's process are I don't use alcohol on the Q-tips (buy them cheap in bulk at Dollar Tree, where I also buy the toothbrushes I use.)

I don't use an aerosol can of Ballistol, but buy the non-aerosol cans of Ballistol and pour the liquid into a small spray bottle. Less waste, better control of the spray, and the Ballistol lasts longer and and is less expensive than buying it in aerosol cans.

I also use a microfiber cloth that has a light residue of Ballistol on it from use (I use one for a few months and then change it out for a new one and start using it) instead of paper towels when I wipe down the outside of the barrel and slide before I reassemble the gun.

I used to use Ballistol, but my wife complained about the smell. Does the non aerosol stuff smell as bad? The CLP I use works as well honestly, don't know if I will switch back.

 

[El Pablo]

Shoot'em til they start jamming, then hose with carburetor or brake cleaner, then the air hose treatment til dry. a shot of Ballistal a little air hose and they are good for quite a while.
When I was young and had time on my hands they got the full tear down deep clean you guys talk about.
Now I'm old, if and when I get to go shoot. It's off to the range, shoot some, race home, give a quick clean, throw them in the safe until a month or two when I get to do it over again.
My problem is lack of time. My wife says I do the same work now as I did in years past but it takes me twice as long to do it.
Tomorrow will be my first free day in a couple months I think. But alas, I have no ammo loaded up. and don't want to waste the factory stuff.

Tomorrow sound like a good day for reloading !

I love non chlorinated brake cleaner. Been my go to for 15 years.

 

[druryj]

Dishwasher for my poly pistols. Make sure you put some of that blue "rinser-helper" stuff so you don't leave water spots on 'em.

 

[FrankNmac]

I used to use Ballistol, but my wife complained about the smell. Does the non aerosol stuff smell as bad? The CLP I use works as well honestly, don't know if I will switch back.

I don't have any problem with that issue. Let me clarify that...I am referencing having a wife!

I have heard some folks saying they don't like the smell of Ballistol, but it isn't something I notice as being offensive.