How often do you clean trigger/bolt groups in semi-auto?

abs · May 31, 2009, 11:58 AM

The Browning manual is kinda vague suggesting to do this when the action become 'excessively dirty'. But how often should one bother to disassembly them for check-up? I do trap every (2nd) weekend, 100 shells or so.
Thanks!

Willie Lowman · May 31, 2009, 12:56 PM

I don't know what model of Browning you have but I have only fully disassembled my Light 12 one time in the last 10 years. However, I only shoot about 500 shells through it in a year tops.

abs · May 31, 2009, 01:06 PM

Thank you Willie,
I have Gold sporting model.

zippy13 · May 31, 2009, 01:45 PM

I don't do an auto loader's bolt until the end of the season when I do the whole gun and prepare it for storage. Of course, if you're experiencing sluggish operation, then go for it.

BigJimP · June 1, 2009, 01:18 PM

I strip the trigger group, bolt, everything out every time I shoot my semi-auto. I shoot a Benelli inertia gun / so its way cleaner than any of the gas operated guns....

But I would recommend you strip it and clean it every time you get home .... it isn't that big a deal ....( once a year Zippy ???? what the heck ...) are you serious ???

publius · June 1, 2009, 01:24 PM

Unless it's gotten wet, whenever I think about it. maybe once a year, maybe once every couple of years.

zippy13 · June 1, 2009, 01:58 PM

publis

If you've followed his postings, you'll know that BigJimP's Benelli is his rain gun. And, it rains a lot in his area. When the sun is out, he shoots his beloved Brownings. Consequently, he's acclimated to bringing home a wet auto-loader in need of a complete going over.

BigJimP · June 1, 2009, 02:25 PM

But if I shoot the Benelli on a nice day ( like when I'm a recoil wimp ...) and I can't handle the weight and recoil of the O/U's on my deteriorating rotator cuffs ..... I still clean it every time I get home.

I like my guns ... so I keep them clean. ( its my travel gun, not just my "rain gun" ..).

I can't just put them away dirty ...in a cold dark safe ...screaming for attention .....it would keep me up at nite... (assuming I could hear them over my snoring ...but maybe ..).

**Mike Irwin** · June 1, 2009, 02:28 PM

I generally clean my Remington Model 58 after every other trip to the range, which is probably every 250 rounds or so.

I find that if I don't the gas vents get very crusty.

squeak003 · June 1, 2009, 07:46 PM

the only time i clean mine is when i cant hear the gas puck move anymore..........but i shoot a saiga

oneounceload · June 1, 2009, 08:00 PM

My 1100 gets cleaned every time after a trip to the club.....the trigger group about every three times or so...........gun goes bang, no plastic buildup, works like a champ........easier to do it a little bit at a time than trying to do a major overhaul..........

impalacustom · June 2, 2009, 03:08 AM

I clean my Browning Gold trigger group once a year but I don't shoot more than a couple boxes through it. It is nothing to push the two pins out and clean it though.

RoscoeC · June 2, 2009, 06:12 AM

I clean my A390 about every 500 rounds. That means about every third range trip. My AL390, which is my hunting gun gets cleaned at the beginning and end of Dove Season. My other shotguns I clean every time I shoot them, because unfortunately I shoot them so infrequently that I would loose track of when to clean them.

I used to clean every gun every time I shot it, but as I have acquired more of them I found I was spending a lot of time cleaning shotguns, pistols and rifles.

If I am going to clean one I do the complete strip down and clean and lubricate everything.

May 31, 2009, 11:58 AM	#1
abs Member Join Date: April 26, 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 88	How often do you clean trigger/bolt groups in semi-auto? The Browning manual is kinda vague suggesting to do this when the action become 'excessively dirty'. But how often should one bother to disassembly them for check-up? I do trap every (2nd) weekend, 100 shells or so. Thanks!

May 31, 2009, 12:56 PM	#2
Willie Lowman Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2009 Location: Uh-Hi-O Posts: 3,006	I don't know what model of Browning you have but I have only fully disassembled my Light 12 one time in the last 10 years. However, I only shoot about 500 shells through it in a year tops. __________________ "9mm has a very long history of being a pointy little bullet moving quickly" --Sevens

June 1, 2009, 01:24 PM	#6
publius Senior Member Join Date: January 25, 2005 Location: Mississippi/Texas Posts: 2,505	Unless it's gotten wet, whenever I think about it. maybe once a year, maybe once every couple of years. __________________ "Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress, but I repeat myself." Mark Twain

June 1, 2009, 02:28 PM	#9
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	I generally clean my Remington Model 58 after every other trip to the range, which is probably every 250 rounds or so. I find that if I don't the gas vents get very crusty. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

June 1, 2009, 07:46 PM	#10
squeak003 Member Join Date: August 20, 2008 Location: michigan Posts: 98	the only time i clean mine is when i cant hear the gas puck move anymore..........but i shoot a saiga __________________ Mosin Nagant M91, Mosberg 500 12g, ruger 10/22 with a few mods, saiga 20 with a red dot (soon to be converted) will be looking to add to my collection soon (most likely a sig p232)

May 31, 2009, 01:06 PM	#3
abs Member Join Date: April 26, 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 88	Thank you Willie, I have Gold sporting model.

May 31, 2009, 01:45 PM	#4
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	I don't do an auto loader's bolt until the end of the season when I do the whole gun and prepare it for storage. Of course, if you're experiencing sluggish operation, then go for it.

June 1, 2009, 01:18 PM	#5
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	I strip the trigger group, bolt, everything out every time I shoot my semi-auto. I shoot a Benelli inertia gun / so its way cleaner than any of the gas operated guns.... But I would recommend you strip it and clean it every time you get home .... it isn't that big a deal ....( once a year Zippy ???? what the heck ...) are you serious ???

June 1, 2009, 01:58 PM	#7
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	publis If you've followed his postings, you'll know that BigJimP's Benelli is his rain gun. And, it rains a lot in his area. When the sun is out, he shoots his beloved Brownings. Consequently, he's acclimated to bringing home a wet auto-loader in need of a complete going over.

June 1, 2009, 02:25 PM	#8
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	But if I shoot the Benelli on a nice day ( like when I'm a recoil wimp ...) and I can't handle the weight and recoil of the O/U's on my deteriorating rotator cuffs ..... I still clean it every time I get home. I like my guns ... so I keep them clean. ( its my travel gun, not just my "rain gun" ..). I can't just put them away dirty ...in a cold dark safe ...screaming for attention .....it would keep me up at nite... (assuming I could hear them over my snoring ...but maybe ..).

June 1, 2009, 08:00 PM	#11
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	My 1100 gets cleaned every time after a trip to the club.....the trigger group about every three times or so...........gun goes bang, no plastic buildup, works like a champ........easier to do it a little bit at a time than trying to do a major overhaul..........

June 2, 2009, 03:08 AM	#12
impalacustom Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2009 Posts: 492	I clean my Browning Gold trigger group once a year but I don't shoot more than a couple boxes through it. It is nothing to push the two pins out and clean it though.

June 2, 2009, 06:12 AM	#13
RoscoeC Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2006 Location: DFW Metromess Posts: 562	I clean my A390 about every 500 rounds. That means about every third range trip. My AL390, which is my hunting gun gets cleaned at the beginning and end of Dove Season. My other shotguns I clean every time I shoot them, because unfortunately I shoot them so infrequently that I would loose track of when to clean them. I used to clean every gun every time I shot it, but as I have acquired more of them I found I was spending a lot of time cleaning shotguns, pistols and rifles. If I am going to clean one I do the complete strip down and clean and lubricate everything. __________________ “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." --Helen Keller "Do not cry havoc when you should but hunt with modest warrant." --William Shakespeare Glock Certified Armorer NRA Life Member