My gun club never cleans their shotguns.

wacki · July 16, 2006, 05:31 PM

Do you really need to clean them? My club never does so it sure doesn't seem like it. I'm talking shotguns only.

Followthehollow · July 16, 2006, 05:36 PM

I clean the actions...but I can't say I've ever cleaned a shotgun barrel.

Maybe I'm wierd.

Death from Afar · July 16, 2006, 07:26 PM

Yes you do.

Apparently shotguns can rust.

Dave McC · July 16, 2006, 09:56 PM

They need cleaning to preserve and protect them. Your club is building Bad Karma.

wacki · July 16, 2006, 10:05 PM

Quote:

They need cleaning to preserve and protect them. Your club is building Bad Karma.

You would think this, but evidence seems to show otherwise under specific (gun club) conditions.

skeeter1 · July 16, 2006, 10:19 PM

My dad would have whupped my butt if I hadn't cleaned any of my guns after shooting them (shotguns, rifles, revolvers), before I went to bed. It wasn't harsh, just sound advice. Consequetly, I've got mine (some 30+ years old) all in the 100% category, and they're all shooters, not safe queens.

If it's YOUR gun, clean it. What the range does with theirs is up to them.

wacki · July 17, 2006, 08:08 AM

Quote:

If it's YOUR gun, clean it. What the range does with theirs is up to them.

I always clean my rifle. I will clean my shotgun because I like cleaning my guns. However, I am curious if it's required. Again, it doesn't appear that it is.

Dave McC · July 17, 2006, 08:25 AM

The Geezer Squad shoots lots of shotguns made before WWII. Some before WWI.

A couple 870s here are a half century old and are in great shape.

100 shotguns are rendered unusable by neglect and grunge for every one worn out and shot to pieces.

Your club is asking for trouble further down the road.

wacki · July 17, 2006, 08:35 AM

Quote:

100 shotguns are rendered unusable by neglect and grunge for every one worn out and shot to pieces.

This may be true with shotguns used for hunting. Wet mud is certainly a factor. However, I'm talking about on the skeet/trap range. I still haven't seen any proof on this forum of lack of cleaning being dangerous.

Quote:

Your club is asking for trouble further down the road.

The club is 50 years old. They already are pretty far down the road and don't seem to be having a lot of problems.

Wisby · July 17, 2006, 08:43 AM

It's a bad practice to get into but if your talking Semi-Auto's I can see future problems down the road if your not cleaning them. I would guess they could get dirty enough where they wouldn't cycle if you where using low brass shells. If your talking O/U or pump I would imagine you wouldn't HAVE to clean them. It sits wrong with me not to clean just because you don't HAVE too.

But with a low quality O/U I imagine it would start to get hard to open after awhile.

This is just me guessing though.

9mmMike · July 17, 2006, 09:10 AM

Quote:

The club is 50 years old. They already are pretty far down the road and don't seem to be having a lot of problems.

Are the guns also 50 years old?

I could see getting away with this, maybe, for a long time if they were all doubles of some sort but I can tell a difference between my 870's when they are clean and when they are dirty.

HSMITH · July 17, 2006, 10:50 AM

I have taken MANY shotguns well in excess of 5000 rounds between cleanings, and a couple shotguns in excess of 10,000 rounds between cleanings. The only maintenance done was to add lubrication when they started to get dry.

It doesn't hurt the gun AT ALL unless corrosion starts or you live/shoot in a dusty environment. Contrary to popular belief there is absolutely nothing in the fouling that accumulates in your gun that is abrasive.

Ranger Al · July 17, 2006, 03:38 PM

It is human nature to have sweaty hand and our sweat have salt in them. Salt, moisture, and metal... early grave for the guns.

remjeep75 · July 17, 2006, 08:02 PM

you should clean them regulary but i have a mossberg that i clean every so often. its the gun i pick if i know that i wont have time to clean it when the shooting is done. every other shotgun i clean after taking it out

270Win · July 17, 2006, 09:46 PM

I just clean ALL the guns regularly... why not? It's tranquil.

johnbt · July 18, 2006, 08:43 AM

"It doesn't hurt the gun AT ALL unless corrosion starts"

OTOH, if you don't clean the crud off you can't tell if the corrosion has started.

John... in Virginia where a low humidity day is 45% or so. Right now it's a pleasant 86*F and 62% humidity.

GUNSMOKE45441 · July 18, 2006, 05:23 PM

Have to dissagree I have cleaned plastic wad residue out of the barrel.

Blue Heeler · July 20, 2006, 04:40 AM

It's a good idea to brush the barrel out from time to time, especially if you don't use them often. I've seen barrels that have been left for a year or so and they are nastily corroded. The blueing on the gun (any gun) will deteriorate without cleaning and lubrication.

Ledbetter · July 20, 2006, 05:36 PM

I wish my Dad had cleaned the one he left to me.

akr · July 20, 2006, 06:03 PM

Yes, Wacki is wacky. Wacki doesn't sound like he has any sense, much less common sense.

wacki · July 20, 2006, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Yes, Wacki is wacky. Wacki doesn't sound like he has any sense, much less common sense.

What part about the title don't you understand?

VUPDblue · July 20, 2006, 09:40 PM

Are you talking about IGC in Westfield/Noblesville (pretty much BFE)? I didn't know they had 'house guns'.

wacki · July 21, 2006, 05:26 AM

http://www.indianagunclub.com/default.aspx

They have every kind of gun. From M16's, M1's, 870's, to $15,000 trap guns.

kudu · July 21, 2006, 03:08 PM

wacki, I would have to say they probably wipe them down to take care of any persperation and oils from skin. They probably do this at the end of the day when everyone is done shooting. As far as deep cleaning the guns, I would doubt they do it until they absolutely have to, malfunctions or sluggish actions. It has been over a year since I have been down to that club, but most (not all) skeet shooters and trap shooters just wipe their guns down after use and just occasionally clean them. I would say this is more of what they do at that club.

Skeetin'870 · July 23, 2006, 08:59 AM

I shoot with a guy using an old 682 that he never cleans. The barrel is painted not blued it is so damned durable. Whenever anyone asks to borrow his gun he tells them "If you clean it you can borrow it." Nobody ever does except one guy who cant stand to see it at all.

July 16, 2006, 05:31 PM	#1
wacki Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2004 Location: Moving out of Indiana Posts: 426	My gun club never cleans their shotguns. Do you really need to clean them? My club never does so it sure doesn't seem like it. I'm talking shotguns only.

July 16, 2006, 07:26 PM	#3
Death from Afar Senior Member Join Date: November 7, 2004 Location: Living the dream in Christchurch, NEW ZEALAND Posts: 1,635	Yes you do. Apparently shotguns can rust. __________________ "Beware of the Man with one gun...he probably isnt into guns enough to be safe with it".

July 17, 2006, 08:43 AM	#10
Wisby Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2005 Location: Bangor, Wa / Cypress, Tx Posts: 302	I'm guessing It's a bad practice to get into but if your talking Semi-Auto's I can see future problems down the road if your not cleaning them. I would guess they could get dirty enough where they wouldn't cycle if you where using low brass shells. If your talking O/U or pump I would imagine you wouldn't HAVE to clean them. It sits wrong with me not to clean just because you don't HAVE too. But with a low quality O/U I imagine it would start to get hard to open after awhile. This is just me guessing though.

July 20, 2006, 05:36 PM	#19
Ledbetter Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2000 Location: California USA Posts: 4,533	I wish my Dad had cleaned the one he left to me. __________________ Regards, Ledbetter from thefiringline TFL #4573 NRA for Life Winchester Canyon Gun Club for Life

July 20, 2006, 09:40 PM	#22
VUPDblue Senior Member Join Date: December 18, 2005 Location: Central Indiana Posts: 1,981	Are you talking about IGC in Westfield/Noblesville (pretty much BFE)? I didn't know they had 'house guns'. __________________ Silencers have NEVER been illegal !

July 16, 2006, 05:36 PM	#2
Followthehollow Member Join Date: November 27, 2005 Posts: 22	I clean the actions...but I can't say I've ever cleaned a shotgun barrel. Maybe I'm wierd.

July 16, 2006, 09:56 PM	#4
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	They need cleaning to preserve and protect them. Your club is building Bad Karma.

July 16, 2006, 10:19 PM	#6
skeeter1 Senior Member Join Date: April 11, 2006 Location: Northeast Ohio Posts: 3,403	My dad would have whupped my butt if I hadn't cleaned any of my guns after shooting them (shotguns, rifles, revolvers), before I went to bed. It wasn't harsh, just sound advice. Consequetly, I've got mine (some 30+ years old) all in the 100% category, and they're all shooters, not safe queens. If it's YOUR gun, clean it. What the range does with theirs is up to them.

July 17, 2006, 08:25 AM	#8
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	The Geezer Squad shoots lots of shotguns made before WWII. Some before WWI. A couple 870s here are a half century old and are in great shape. 100 shotguns are rendered unusable by neglect and grunge for every one worn out and shot to pieces. Your club is asking for trouble further down the road.

July 17, 2006, 10:50 AM	#12
HSMITH Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2002 Posts: 2,019	I have taken MANY shotguns well in excess of 5000 rounds between cleanings, and a couple shotguns in excess of 10,000 rounds between cleanings. The only maintenance done was to add lubrication when they started to get dry. It doesn't hurt the gun AT ALL unless corrosion starts or you live/shoot in a dusty environment. Contrary to popular belief there is absolutely nothing in the fouling that accumulates in your gun that is abrasive.

July 17, 2006, 03:38 PM	#13
Ranger Al Senior Member Join Date: January 21, 2006 Location: Fresno, CA Posts: 112	It is human nature to have sweaty hand and our sweat have salt in them. Salt, moisture, and metal... early grave for the guns.

July 17, 2006, 08:02 PM	#14
remjeep75 Senior Member Join Date: April 8, 2006 Location: jersey Posts: 107	you should clean them regulary but i have a mossberg that i clean every so often. its the gun i pick if i know that i wont have time to clean it when the shooting is done. every other shotgun i clean after taking it out

July 17, 2006, 09:46 PM	#15
270Win Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2005 Location: Damascus, Maryland Posts: 921	I just clean ALL the guns regularly... why not? It's tranquil.

July 18, 2006, 08:43 AM	#16
johnbt Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 1999 Location: Richmond, Virginia USA Posts: 6,004	"It doesn't hurt the gun AT ALL unless corrosion starts" OTOH, if you don't clean the crud off you can't tell if the corrosion has started. John... in Virginia where a low humidity day is 45% or so. Right now it's a pleasant 86*F and 62% humidity.

July 18, 2006, 05:23 PM	#17
GUNSMOKE45441 Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2004 Posts: 129	Have to dissagree I have cleaned plastic wad residue out of the barrel.

July 20, 2006, 04:40 AM	#18
Blue Heeler Junior member Join Date: October 4, 1999 Location: Queensland Posts: 1,043	It's a good idea to brush the barrel out from time to time, especially if you don't use them often. I've seen barrels that have been left for a year or so and they are nastily corroded. The blueing on the gun (any gun) will deteriorate without cleaning and lubrication.

July 20, 2006, 06:03 PM	#20
akr Senior Member Join Date: March 6, 2006 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,379	Yes, Wacki is wacky. Wacki doesn't sound like he has any sense, much less common sense.

July 21, 2006, 05:26 AM	#23
wacki Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2004 Location: Moving out of Indiana Posts: 426	http://www.indianagunclub.com/default.aspx They have every kind of gun. From M16's, M1's, 870's, to $15,000 trap guns.

July 21, 2006, 03:08 PM	#24
kudu Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 273	wacki, I would have to say they probably wipe them down to take care of any persperation and oils from skin. They probably do this at the end of the day when everyone is done shooting. As far as deep cleaning the guns, I would doubt they do it until they absolutely have to, malfunctions or sluggish actions. It has been over a year since I have been down to that club, but most (not all) skeet shooters and trap shooters just wipe their guns down after use and just occasionally clean them. I would say this is more of what they do at that club. __________________ "a shootin' we will go"

July 23, 2006, 08:59 AM	#25
Skeetin'870 Senior Member Join Date: April 11, 2005 Location: Tulsa,Ok. Posts: 288	I shoot with a guy using an old 682 that he never cleans. The barrel is painted not blued it is so damned durable. Whenever anyone asks to borrow his gun he tells them "If you clean it you can borrow it." Nobody ever does except one guy who cant stand to see it at all. __________________ Mental prep for skeet 1 Look for the Bird 2 Gun speed to target speed 3 Head on the gun 4 Follow Through