Cleaning your shotgun

[Mac MacDonald]

How often do you do it and what is your process? Every visit? Weekly? Whenever you feel like it wont run another round? Do you just clean the bore? Full tear down?

 

[argyle64]

I would clean mine within 24 hrs of shooting it. Full strip down. If I'm not going to be shooting for a month or so I would take an oil cloth to it. I would also store one or two silica gel packs in the case with it.

 

[Wall]

I just cleaned mine for the first time since i've owned it. I was bored & figured what the hell.

I just cleaned mine for the first time since i've owned it. I was bored & figured what the hell.

 

[shootingbuff]

I used to be so bad I would clean a clean gun - really. Now it depends on what and how much I shot and when i am going to shoot it again. Constant hvy use every couple of weeks or so. Minor use and only verified zero wipe down and store. Just monthly matches each month. If it is a major match or CCW then before I use it. Everything gets at least wiped down. If crap ammo or corrosive ammo after the shooting session and again within a week. If sandy clean after the match, if wet clean after the match and 2-3 days later to get the moisture out of the pours, same if constant bring in and out of the cold to warm. Every 3-4 months a wipe down and a patch if not used.

This is mostly what I go by now and it works for me.

 

[shootingbuff]

I just cleaned mine for the first time since i've owned it. I was bored & figured what the hell.

I just cleaned mine for the first time since i've owned it. I was bored & figured what the hell.

Did something along those lines when I first started shooting Glocks.
I tell you Benelli's and Glock's make cleaning a snap and less frequent. Though not shooting makes things even easier, but sux.

 

[Matt1911]

Shotguns need to be cleaned?

 

[Dieseltech09]

By cleaning guns you mean spray out with brake clean and then spray down with Rem oil every 1000 round or so right?

 

[jtischauser]

I clean ever 500 rounds or so. Same goes for the Glocks. I always oil before a match each weekend though.

 

[technetium-99m]

After scraping 8000 rounds worth of gunk out of my Limited gun lower a few days ago I think I'm upping my cleaning frequency from now on.

 

[shootingbuff]

With the shotgun need to check to ensure the choke if it has one is clean and easy to unscrew. Ensure the plastic from the wad isn't building up, and it stays lubed. If a gas gun clean the gas system and if it has the O rings check and make sure they are in good shape and not stuck to the tube.

Must keep mag tube and follower clean!

Gas gun typically gets dirtier faster than a recoil operated gun. Shotgun shells can be very dirty. Once you know your loads and after a couple of cleanings you should have an idea of when cleaning is not an option or what you and the gun will tolerate.

It really depends on how anal you are and what the gun will tolerate.

 

[drmitchgibson]

I clean my shotgun every few hundred rounds, sometimes after every shoot, but only so I can practice handling and reloading without getting my house dirty and oily.

 

[Ksmirk]

Speaking of I NEED to clean mine! probably wouldn't hurt to clean them all as you can only oil them up for so long AND it's a new year LOL Later,

Kirk

 

[1OKshooter]

I don't shoot mine that much, just during the flying seasons, I do a full tear down yearly and a quick barrel clean and ext. wipe down after each use. I would say that is how I take care of all my guns.