.38 Smith & Wesson cleaning question (shooting, buy, shotgun, rifles)

[Art Lover]

I have a .38 Smith and Wesson that hasn't been used for practice in many years. I plan to use it again (soon) for practice shooting. I did clean it after I used it many years ago, but wonder if it is always necessary to clean it after each use.

[banger]

You will probably get differing opinions on this subject.

In my opinion, if the weapon is to be used strictly as a toy, (target shooting and such), than you can probably go quite a ways between cleanings.

If on the other hand you have ANY indication that it might have a more serious use, than definitely clean after each practice session.

Basically it come down to how deeply you value your safety. Personally, I value mine VERY MUCH.

I hope this helps,

BTW, if it has been as along as you indicate since its last use, a good cleaning before taking it out of mothballs is probably a good idea. you see over a period of time, oil can gel into a shellac like substance and prevent proper function. Not dangerous, but not good for function.

[ECG1951]

Originally Posted by Art Lover

I have a .38 Smith and Wesson that hasn't been used for practice in many years. I plan to use it again (soon) for practice shooting. I did clean it after I used it many years ago, but wonder if it is always necessary to clean it after each use.

If is in a case..you do not need to clean it before you use it, if is not in a case you should clean it before using it, and then clean it again after you use it and put it back in the case if is in a case.

[Roaddog]

Originally Posted by Art Lover

I have a .38 Smith and Wesson that hasn't been used for practice in many years. I plan to use it again (soon) for practice shooting. I did clean it after I used it many years ago, but wonder if it is always necessary to clean it after each use.

You don't need to deep clean it but run a patch down the barrel and wipe it down with a little oil. Good to go.

[kbg]

Is it stainless or blued? I use different methods and time frames for the two espically if it is going to sit for awhile in a holster or locked up in a safe or just laying in open air. And if it has not been in service for a while I suggest taking off the grips and give the vitals a once over.

[weluvpa]

The cleaner the gun, the happier the gun. A clean gun will always perform, a clean gun is more accurate....Always clean your gun....Hoppes #9 smells so sweet why wouldn't you clean them after every use.

[M3 Mitch]

A stainless revolver will tolerate not being cleaned better than a blued one will. If you are shooting lead bullets (look like the bullet in a .22 rimfire, usually, but are of course bigger) you don't *really* need to clean the revolver. If shooting jacketed, particularly in humid NC, I'd clean reasonably soon after shooting. There are some rituals left over from the days of corrosive primers still taught in the military, you don't really have to keep after it for a few hours per day "till a patch comes out just as clean as it went in".

Do get a quality cleaning rod, one with a muzzle guide so you don't bear against the sides of the muzzle, if you are cleaning with a conventional rod from the muzzle.

You can buy or make a "pull-through" with a small weight on a cord, attached to your patch one of several ways. Any good gun shop will have pull-thrus, you can find them in some military surplus cleaning kits.

Ordinary Hoppe's #9 is still good, or "Break-Free". The Break-Free is really good stuff, it both cleans and protects from rust, and does both jobs well.

If cleaning the revolver strikes you as a big job, you're doing it wrong. With proper equipment it should be an easy 10 minute task at most. If you just dampen the bore and the chambers with Break-Free, wipe the weapon off with an oily rag, really, that's all it needs. A light coat of Break-Free on all external and internal surfaces (that you can get at without disassembly) is IMHO what you want.

Enjoy! You should keep your empty cartridges for reloading, if you keep shooting you will get into it eventually, or to give/sell to someone who does.

[jimboburnsy]

Just my two cents:

I will wipe my guns down with powder solvent on a chamois any time they are so much as handled (unless it's a Glock). Any blued guns or matte finished guns don't seem to like fingerprints. I don't shoot my shotguns or rifles in a predictable manner, so I have to approach every storage as though it may be for a year. Any time I discharge a rifle or shotgun, I take it all the way down, swab the bore, clean and lubricate all the parts and reassemble it before storing. That's due diligence to me. Modern propellants are generally not very corrosive so some people would call my routines overkill, but that's the way my grandfather taught my father, my father taught me and how I will teach my son (and the reason my son will one day shoot my grandfather's rifle).

Handguns are a bit different. My Glock is operated frequently. I generally take it down when I feel it needs it. If I know it will be out of action for a considerable period I'll do a thorough cleaning before I put it away, but if it's being fired frequently I can keep a running tab of the functionality and maintain it as needed.

Basically, if you have a handsome gun you should keep it handsome. If you have a workhorse you should keep it working.

[mikecu]

Years? Remove the cylinder and clean and lubricate if it won't free spin.

[RANGER.101ST]

Originally Posted by Art Lover

I have a .38 Smith and Wesson that hasn't been used for practice in many years. I plan to use it again (soon) for practice shooting. I did clean it after I used it many years ago, but wonder if it is always necessary to clean it after each use.

yes you should clean it.even though you cleand it when you put it away it has been a while that means the gun oil you used years back has turnd to a sticky gum and should be cleand out and add new oil.a clean gun is a happy gun.