How do YOU Clean a handgun

[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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.
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[marksiwel]

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.
.
.
.

[karl]

I just follow the instructions on the Hoppe's box.

[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

[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.

[atxgun]

Hoppers 9, a brush, paper towels. 'Nuff said.

[USA1]

Just get a Glock . No need for cleaning....From what i've heard.

[marksiwel]

Just get a Glock . No need for cleaning....From what i've heard.

Just like the m16 in the 60's right?

[akhooters7]

you mean i am not supposed to use the dishwasher......??

[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.

[marksiwel]

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?

[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.

[akhooters7]

i once knew a girl who never changed her oil....... probably looked the same....

[Pete92FS]

I generally follow the instructions in my owner's manuals.

[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.