Gun Cleaning

I spent the afternoon cleaning a few pistols. It has been several days since I shot them. If I am going to carry a gun, I want it absolutely clean, but if I have been running and gunning, I often just want to deposit the range bag in the gun room and get back to them later. I'm not obsessive about it like some. I might detail strip a given pistol once a year, perhaps more often if it sees frequent use.

Years ago, corrosive ammunition required that firearms be cleaned immediately. Modern ammunition gives a shooter a bit more latitude. I sometimes use a bore snake for a quick clean up. I'll remove the magazine and run it up through the magwell and into the barrel, exiting the muzzle. This helps give the feed ramp a quick clean as well. Most of the time though, I will field strip the gun and use a bronze brush followed by a brass jag to push Break free impregnated cotton patches through the bore. I might use a stiff stainless steel chamber brush if the barrel is really dirty. Once done, I relubricate and reassemble the gun. Finally, I wipe down the outside with an oil soaked chamois.