Rifle Cleaning Experiment

**HKGuns** · 02-28-24, 13:58

I normally clean my rifles after every trip to the range. (Que the OCD comments....)

Usually, I'm not in a rush to clean them, so I leave the cased guns sitting out so I remember they need to be cleaned. They could sit there for 3 days or up to 3 weeks before I got around to actually cleaning them.

When I got home from the range yesterday, I took the two rifles directly to my bench and ran solvent through them and let them sit, while I did other things for a couple of hours.

They cleaned up so easily I don't think I even had to run more than 4 patches down them and they were bore-scope spotless.

I've let the solvent sit overnight in rifles after sitting for a week or so in their cases, they were still difficult to get clean.

The big change, that made a huge difference, was doing it immediately after firing.

This may not be news to some. I knew it would probably be better, I was just amazed at how much better doing it this way actually was........

Continue to not clean your guns, that isn't the point of this information. If you do keep your guns clean, this may be worth trying if you haven't.

**markm** · 02-28-24, 14:03

I went through a phase of patching some CLP into the bore before bagging up the guns to leave. I mean, they were still warm. It did seem to work better. If I shot alone, I'd still do this.

**SteyrAUG** · 02-28-24, 16:54

I was shooting with a SWAT group that literally put their MP5s muzzle down in 5 gallon buckets of mineral spirits. Came back later, ran a burst through them and declared them clean.

**Honest Abe** · 02-29-24, 01:50

We love to shoot, but we HATE TO CLEAN! I will try a patch down the bore as soon as I get home from the range....I am usually so fatigued from lugging gear and shooting...the last thing I feel like doing is running a solvent patch down the bore!

**titsonritz** · 02-29-24, 02:28

Just be sure your solvent is not ammonia based or is can cause damage to your bore by soaking it for extended periods of time. You’re okay with mild stuff like CLP or Hoppe’s No. 9.

https://www.rifleshootermag.com/edit...20shown%20here.

**SteyrAUG** · 02-29-24, 02:39

Originally Posted by Honest Abe

We love to shoot, but we HATE TO CLEAN! I will try a patch down the bore as soon as I get home from the range....I am usually so fatigued from lugging gear and shooting...the last thing I feel like doing is running a solvent patch down the bore!

LOL. I was probably 12 when after a range day with my dad and his buddies they all drop their crap on the table on the back patio and then go get a beer. Typically I was cleaning 8-10 rifles (AR-15s, M-16A1s, HK-91s, one guys damn Mini 14, M-10s and such).

The upside is I knew my way around military firearms pretty well but man I smelled like Hoppes and CLP.

**triggerjerk** · 02-29-24, 05:49

I'm old fashioned and wet patch, wet brush, dry patch, wet patch until only light gray/blue on last patch. Finish with a couple or 3 dry patches. Trick is to spray brake cleaner on brush between brushings. Just a little until it drips clear. Shake brush and set aside while patching. It'll be dry by the time you finish dry/wet patching. This way you don't reintroduce brush crud on next brushing. Went from a baker's dozen reps to a couple or 3 to get clean enough. Shooter's Choice. Werks for me. Fwiw...

**mark5pt56** · 02-29-24, 06:01

Horse, Saddle, Man--the concept is older than the example I found but you ge the point.

“First the horse, then the saddle, then the man.” -old cavalryman’s creed

https://www.moore.army.mil/armor/eAR...ne-Leonard.pdf