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How Much Cleaning is Appropriate

765 views 3 replies 3 participants last post by  SteamboatWillie 
#1 ·
I'm wondering what people's cleaning habits are. Having served in the USMC I feel compelled to clean every firearm I own after I shoot it. Doesn't matter how many rounds. I take it down and clean it thoroughly. Did the Marines make me OCD in this regard?
 
#2 ·
I am former Army (Viet Nam), & I have the same issue as you. My answer would be, yes maybe some OCD involved here, but I can't make myself stop at least cleaning the bore. I don't shoot as much as I used to, so maybe I slack a little, but it always nags at me. So why risk a malfunction at the wrong time? We were taught to clean as thoroughly as time allowed whenever time allowed, because you never know what the next adventure was going to be like. Range conditions aren't usually as severe as combat conditions, so complacency can set in. A complete stripdown every few months for me, depending on use, but I wipe the bore every week whether I shoot or not. You'd be surprised what can build up in there just carrying the darn thing
 
#3 ·
Fierce, I can sympathize whole heartedly. I keep cleaning and cleaning until the cotton swap has no discoloration. It's crazy. I know I'm probably overdoing it but I can't help myself. I remember at the end of boot on Paris Island we were returning our M16s to the armory and it was raining. The DIs kept yelling at us for putting our rifles under our ponchos. They said the armory would clean them but screw any of us recruits if we were going to let a drop of rain hit our rifles after learning to treat it with every ounce of respect we had. I obsess about it if I don't clean any of my firearms directly after the range. I have buddies I shoot with who think I'm nuts and have never broken down their long guns. I, in turn, ask them how they can sleep at night. Glad to know I'm in good company on this one. Thank you for your service.
 
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