Cleaning Your Guns - Hobby or Chore

[berettaprofessor]

Before kids: beloved hobby.
After kids: bemoaned chore.

Solution; teach kids to clean guns.

Beware, however, buying more guns and then making more kids to clean them....it's a vicious cycle.

[pturner67]

It's a shame my dog doesn't have opposable thumbs

[wingspar]

I enjoy taking apart a brand new gun and cleaning it and getting to know it for the first time. Otherwise, it’s a chore. Going thru my log book the other day and I found I have a gun I haven’t shot in over a year, and it’s been a year and a half since I’ve cleaned it.

Guess my answer is Chore.

[Amsdorf]

I like to clean my firearms while listening to "Gun Talk" or Hickok45's radio shows. Makes the time pass nicely and really makes the whole experience quite enjoyable.

[Stevie-Ray]

Chore. An important function that I detest. But I will faithfully do it after every range session, or yearly or so while in the safe. I'm hoping it will change to a pleasant experience with my new garage.

[Corrections Cop]

Its a chore for me, I got no time with 2 kids. I hate to clean them but I do, after every time I shoot them. I think I just need to only take 1 or 2 to the range next time.

[sparks701]

I enjoy cleaning my guns after every range outing, I like to see and make note of wear and scratches, dents and dings that take place in my shooting. Gives my guns caracter.

[Tucker 1371]

As long as no one is standing over my shoulder telling me I can't go home until its clean enough for the virgin Mary to use as a dinner plate ... Hobby.

[Straightshooter629]

Call me crazy but I enjoy cleaning my guns...go figure.

[Peptobismol9]

I used to love it. Now I really hate to do it. Maybe my new AK will change that. It is sooo easy to take it down.

[Kreyzhorse]

I've actually got two shot guns that need cleaning since Sunday but haven't got to them yet. While that seems to imply I don't like cleaning them, it has been a logistics issues and I just haven't been able to get to them.

Anyway, cleaning guns to me is enjoyable. I love my guns and cleaning them is a bit of fun and part of the joy of shooting and owning them.

[vito]

Cleaning my guns is a part of what I like about guns. It gives me real pleasure to take my guns apart (other than revolvers) and get them back into brand-new condition before putting them back in the safe. And the smell of the gun cleaning solvent never fails to bring back memories of helping my Dad clean his guns, and Dad has been gone now for 37 years. I just wish I had his guns which my Mom got rid of immediately after he died, but the cleaning ritual brings him back to life in my memories.

[floydster]

It's relaxing and enjoyable to me and I clean them after every range trip, checking everything over, making sure all is in good shape.

Some of my CZ's and Witness Match pistols have well over 15,000 rounds thru them, still like new. I use STP on the rails, Rem oil on the moving parts.

Smokeyloads

[Beagle45ACP]

I wouldn't say that cleaning my guns is a hobby or a chore. To me, it is a labor of love, akin to cleaning an infant's soiled diaper.
With some of my guns, it's a bit more tedious and time consuming to do a full disassemble and cleaning, but in the end it's a rewarding process, knowing afterwards that the time you just spent was an investment in your baby's (I only say that because my guns are my babies, especially my Baby Desert Eagle ) future to continue to perform in accordance with your expectations.

[GaryOlson]

Cleaning guns: always relaxing.
Cleaning mags: boring tedious PITA.
Can't someone invent a mag cleaner -- just like a dishwasher only uses transmission fluid?

[Eppie]

My first gun was an M-16 and I was 17 in the summer of '72 when going through Basic. I enjoyed shooting the breeze with the other guys after a day at the range talking sh**t and wondering what 'nam was going to be like. Fortunately, I went to Germany.

Now that I'm 58, when I sit down to clean pistol/rifles the smell of the solvent and the feel of metal brings back memories of those days. So for me cleaning guns is a both a hobby and a trip down memory lane.

[p loader]

I clean my guns because I have to, I rarely enjoy it. I do not clean my guns down to a level of microscopic perfection either.

[Rembrandt]

The responsible tradition of cleaning guns is about as out dated as ironing shirts.....chrome lined barrels, stainless steel guns, polymer components, and smokeless powder have rendered corrosion problems as a non issue.

In the old days black powder corrosion told on the slacker that didn't clean his guns.

[jsiberians]

I clean my hand and long guns after every shoot.
I have rifles and shotgun over 60 years old and they look like new and fire that way too.
Some folks say with the new ammo you do not have to clean the lads as often but I like em clean.

[freenokia]

Definite chore. I imagine all of us who wear contacts would agree with that