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by Skiprr
Tue Nov 25, 2008 8:54 pm
Forum: General Gun, Shooting & Equipment Discussion
Topic: How long does it take to clean your pistol's, ARs etc.
Replies: 32
Views: 3477

Re: How long does it take to clean your pistol's, ARs etc.

I dunno if I can arrive at an average. On the 1911s, if it's a non-stainless steel frame, I always remove the grips to make sure those little rust hidey-places are handled. I only do that every once in a while on aluminum and stainless frames. I always toothbrush-down the slide and frame in addition to cleaning the barrel. Every second or third cleaning, I'll pull the firing pin and spring and clean that area. About every 10 times or so, I'll do an almost-detailed-strip.

And truth be told, after shooting any handgun I usually come home, strip it, wipe down aforementioned areas, and plop the barrel in a tupperware tub of Hoppe's #9 and let it soak a while. That could be an hour's bath, or overnight. I don't have to use brass brushes if I do that.

So actual time spent standing there cleaning is close to WEC: I'd say 10 to 30 minutes per handgun, depending on the amount of work they're in for. (I wonder how the folks who have ultrasonic cleaners will respond to this thread.)

Stoner rifles are a different animal for me. Even with my handy-dandy Otis snake, I never feel like I've gotten the barrel clean. I'd much rather clean larger calibers: I can get cleaning tools through 'em easier, and I can get a better idea from looking down the barrel if it's clean or not. That, and I always feel like I haven't paid enough attention to the chamber lugs; and I stick the long pipe cleaner down the gas tube and hope it's clear. I just don't enjoy cleaning ARs, and 30 minutes would be fast for me. So I guess I'd better estimate 40 minutes.

Shotguns have a big, easily-accessible barrel. Too, I don't think I'm as meticulous with the shotguns (no autoloaders...yet; I may become more fastidious if I ever buy that Benelli ;-) ). So, in general, 15 minutes and a shotty is function-tested and in the safe.

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