Cleaning a CCW pistol after firing at range?

Objee · Oct 25, 2013

I never really thought about it before I received my Utah permit, but I heard someone mention that a semi-auto chosen for CCW should never be cleaned after you fire it at the range.

I understand the logic in that you may put it back together incorrectly and it may not function when your life depends on it, but it drives me crazy to know that my pistol is dirty, as I have always done a thorough disassemble and cleaning when I got home.

I'm pretty confident in my skills when I take it apart and put it back together, and have never had a malfunction the next time at the range.

I'm pretty sure that the residue from the factory ammo I use will not cause damage to the gun, but is this the normal SOP for a pistol you are going to carry?

snavematt · Oct 25, 2013

for me it depends on how many rounds, ammo and the weather condition, but I usually don't clean after I shoot a mag or two through my CCW

JCarlton81 · Oct 25, 2013

I know many competitive shooters do not clean their pistols after training. They get it shooting the way they want for competition, oil it and leave it alone. They do this to maintain consistency between training and matches.

As far as CCW, I believe in the same principle; get it firing the way I want, wipe down the outside and then holster it until I need it. If you have spent any time in the service, it is counter intuitive to leave a gun dirty after firing it, and then say you are willing to stake your life on it. But as long as you have a quality firearms, there is no need to clean it after each trip to the range.

Daiuy · Oct 25, 2013

If you do a function check after cleaning that should reassure you that it is put back together properly. I am old Army and cannot let a firearm remain uncleaned.

Blaster229 · Oct 25, 2013

You firing 1,000 rounds?
Not that I've seen to the contrary and unless they have a separate facility, I've never seen a range that allows/condones, etc... cleaning weapons on the line, if this is what you meant.

alucard0822 · Oct 25, 2013

I give my CCW piece a light cleaning every week or two, and after a range trip. I field strip, run a dry boresnake, clean out lint with Q-tips, wipe it down, lube it with grease, then function check. I'm sure my pistol would run dirty with no problem, but if I'm going to lube it, might as well clean it while I'm there. If nothing else it comforts me to check it's function, and the ammo condition, it takes 5 minutes. If you can't put your pistol back together right, or don't know how to clean and lube it, probably should address that first before carrying it. Pretty much the main thing to avoid is getting oil or grease anywhere near the mag or chamber, over time it can foul ammo.

jimbobborg · Oct 25, 2013

I don't know about after firing but I do recommend that any CCW piece be cleaned of lint and crap every once in a while. I pocket carry my PF9, I need to blow out the dust bunnies with some canned air.

teratos · Oct 25, 2013

alucard0822 said:
I give my CCW piece a light cleaning every week or two, and after a range trip. I field strip, run a dry boresnake, clean out lint with Q-tips, wipe it down, lube it with grease, then function check. I'm sure my pistol would run dirty with no problem, but if I'm going to lube it, might as well clean it while I'm there. If nothing else it comforts me to check it's function, and the ammo condition, it takes 5 minutes. If you can't put your pistol back together right, or don't know how to clean and lube it, probably should address that first before carrying it. Pretty much the main thing to avoid is getting oil or grease anywhere near the mag or chamber, over time it can foul ammo.

This. You don't have to take it apart to it's screws to clean it.

BradMacc82 · Oct 25, 2013

alucard0822 said:
I give my CCW piece a light cleaning every week or two, and after a range trip. I field strip, run a dry boresnake, clean out lint with Q-tips, wipe it down, lube it with grease, then function check. I'm sure my pistol would run dirty with no problem, but if I'm going to lube it, might as well clean it while I'm there. If nothing else it comforts me to check it's function, and the ammo condition, it takes 5 minutes. If you can't put your pistol back together right, or don't know how to clean and lube it, probably should address that first before carrying it. Pretty much the main thing to avoid is getting oil or grease anywhere near the mag or chamber, over time it can foul ammo.

Great post! :thumbsup:

I do the same at roughly the same interval for my carry pieces.

Kevp · Oct 25, 2013

Daiuy said:
If you do a function check after cleaning that should reassure you that it is put back together properly. I am old Army and cannot let a firearm remain uncleaned.

And that is exactly one of the reasons the Army's weapons are perpetually f'ed up. So do yourself a favor and break the habit.

shooting again · Oct 25, 2013

In my experience (30 years active Army plus basic and officer training) the Army's cleaning "fetish" has many training and discipline factors in it besides functioning and preservation. Also not many of us subject our weapons to the same conditions of dirt, water, mud, etc., that happens when you take it everywhere you go.

In my early years I was picked up on an Army pistol team. We swabbed and oiled regularly but seldom did a full cleaning - that was based on when it needed it. And then the next few magazines were considered as break-in rounds to get it back to the normal, and consistent, level of dirty.

Mdeng · Oct 25, 2013

alucard0822 said:
I give my CCW piece a light cleaning every week or two, and after a range trip. I field strip, run a dry boresnake, clean out lint with Q-tips, wipe it down, lube it with grease, then function check. I'm sure my pistol would run dirty with no problem, but if I'm going to lube it, might as well clean it while I'm there. If nothing else it comforts me to check it's function, and the ammo condition, it takes 5 minutes. If you can't put your pistol back together right, or don't know how to clean and lube it, probably should address that first before carrying it. Pretty much the main thing to avoid is getting oil or grease anywhere near the mag or chamber, over time it can foul ammo.

Well said. I follow the same general procedure and agree that if you can't feild strip and reassymble your carry gun then maybe you should consider more training before carrying.

Kevp · Oct 25, 2013

shooting again said:
In my experience (30 years active Army plus basic and officer training) the Army's cleaning "fetish" has many training and discipline factors in it besides functioning and preservation. Also not many of us subject our weapons to the same conditions of dirt, water, mud, etc., that happens when you take it everywhere you go.

In my early years I was picked up on an Army pistol team. We swabbed and oiled regularly but seldom did a full cleaning - that was based on when it needed it. And then the next few magazines were considered as break-in rounds to get it back to the normal, and consistent, level of dirty.

I have a similar background and continue to work as a DA Civilian directly with all small arms systems. I don't care what it is rooted in, it is broken and wrong. Not only does it teach bad habits that have a direct negative impact on the life cycle of the weapons, it also perpetuates myths regarding the same as well as employment of the systems. It all starts in Basic Combat Training.

Dino · Oct 25, 2013

I clean and lube my guns before and after I shoot them.
Besides being a bit OCD, I just don't see how carrying a dirty gun can be to your advantage.

TxAggie · Oct 25, 2013

I'm a normal guy living in Maryland who works in and around DC.

What's a carry piece?

alucard0822 · Oct 25, 2013

Kevp said:
I have a similar background and continue to work as a DA Civilian directly with all small arms systems. I don't care what it is rooted in, it is broken and wrong. Not only does it teach bad habits that have a direct negative impact on the life cycle of the weapons, it also perpetuates myths regarding the same as well as employment of the systems. It all starts in Basic Combat Training.

Glad you posted in this thread, what would you recommend for a CCW piece? I carry a G30SF or G20SF. Carry daily, check and clean every week or two. I clear it, check the ammo, swab the dust, pull the slide, dry snake it, wipe off the old lube, re-lube the locking shoulder, around the muzzle end of the barrel, and a small dab in the rails with a light amount of synthetic grease, wipe everything else clean with a dry cloth, reassemble, check it, then load up and carry on.

miles71 · Oct 25, 2013

Clean mine after every range visit and check it out about once a month if I dont get to the range for any issues. When I say cleaning I mean feild stripping, cleaning the barrel, cleaning the slide rails and the inside of the mag well, lubricating and assemble.

Never had my guns totally taken apart and cleaned, never had a function problem.

TD

Objee · Oct 25, 2013

Not sure where the idea that I couldn't clean and reassemble is coming from.

Maybe my definition of "cleaning" is different from yours, perhaps I should have wrote "field strip" as I am certainly not taking any screws out - just removing the slide, spring and barrel, cleaning all powder residue and copper fouling if present, and a light oiling of the appropriate places. I have been doing this as soon as I get home from the range, for every gun I own, for over 30 years.

I'm pretty sure I posted that I have never had a problem with a pistol not performing after a cleaning. Not really even sure as to what I could do when cleaning it to prevent it from firing the next time I needed it, that's what I asked the question here. (I was told this by the instructor when I took the Utah class, btw.)

Thanks for your varied insights and responses.

sbmike · Oct 25, 2013

TxAggie said:
I'm a normal guy living in Maryland who works in and around DC.

What's a carry piece?

I'm thinking along those same lines. As a law-abiding Marylistan resident, my carry piece sits in the safe so it is never subjected to dirt, grime, dust or lint. :sad20:

Daiuy · Oct 25, 2013

Kevp said:
And that is exactly one of the reasons the Army's weapons are perpetually f'ed up. So do yourself a favor and break the habit.

Do you have some experience in this regard or just passing on rumors of how bad the weapons are made by the lowest bidder. For 31 years my life and the lives of my men relied with success on our weapons and equipment. I will admit the last ACU camo pattern was a joke.

Cleaning a CCW pistol after firing at range?

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