Point - Counter Point?

[Dennis1209]

Say Guys,

 

Just finished re-cleaning and inspecting my carry weapons and HD long guns, again. I guess it's a carry over from my military days to be meticulous in the care, maintenance and cleaning of firearms to insure dependability when it counts.

 

I've seen so many YouTube videos and renowned instructors preaching it's not necessary to keep that 1911, AR-15, Glock, etc. meticulously cleaned and inspected after every use, everything will be fine, it's not necessary to clean and inspect that weapon  after every range trip, really? What's your experience and point of view? I suspect many will disagree with my experience and point of view but, I'm still here aggravating all you guys :usa:   

 

My experience and opinion is the 1911, M-16, M-60 and other designs hasn't changed a whole heck of a lot over the years. Albeit improvements have changed some with technology, manufacture and trial and error. But basically it's still a mechanism that is subject to wear, breakage, carbon, crud, fowling, dirt and malfunction, agreed?

 

Spending a combat tour overseas I learned a valuable lesson that could have caused loss of not only my life but, the entire air crew and those we were supporting on the ground. Getting back very late from a mission and long day, the crew chief and I were very hungry and extremely tired and sleepy. We even had guard duty in four hours so not a whole heck of a lot of time to eat and get some sleep. Then shortly after guard duty we were scheduled for another day of air combat missions.

 

We did preventive maintenance on the assault helicopter and refueled it for the following day when we got in, as per SOP. Being super tired, sleepy and hungry we decided to clean the mini guns and our M-60's. and M-16's the following morning after some chow and a nap.

 

Well, as luck would have it... We got scrambled a couple hours after we just got back, to provide air support for American troops in a fire fight with NVA. Fortunately we did refuel, PM the aircraft, reload the mini-guns and rocket pods before we left to eat and sleep.

 

Under heavy small arms fire and .50 caliber green tracer fire (night time & football size) on my port side on our first gun run, everything went as well as expected. On our second gun run, the mini gun on the starboard side failed and my M-60 failed also. In a high "G" turn pulling out of the gun run I was able to change barrels on the M-60 hoping that was the problem. Nope! I was not able to give suppressive fire on my side of the ship!

 

Long story short. Upon inspection, we determined the mini gun and M-60 failed when we needed them most due to being dirty and under lubed from the following days use. I'm here to tell ya, a M-16 just doesn't compare to the M-60 and an ammo can when you're puckered up so tight light can't escape. Had the pilots learned of our mistake not cleaning our weapons, we would have been in big, BIG trouble! We would have been more effective and safer had we just cleaned those damn guns in the first place.

 

Here's my point open for discussion... How confident are you with a weapon you previously fired and didn't clean and inspect and still carry or sit somewhere for personal / family protection? Are you betting your life on a dirty under lubed gun?

 

 

[Joe357]

I clean, lube and inspect my guns after every range trip which is every week. The carry guns if not fired get cleaned,etc once a month. I like my guns cleaned and lubed.

[tnhawk]

I follow proper maintenance for all of my vehicles and guns.  if you don't take care of them, how can you expect them to take care of you?

Edited November 5, 2013 by tnhawk

[Peevee]

I follow proper maintenance for all of my vehicles and guns.  if you don't take care of them, how can you expect them to take care of you?

 

my thoughts exactly

[GuitaRx]

I clean my weapons every time after firing.. Just my upbringing to take care of my stuff...

[Oh Shoot]

Only gun I clean every time fired, and give occasional attention to between firing if it's been awhile is my Kahr PM9. And not because it's my carry gun, but because it's a micro semi, which runs at more critical tolerance parameters than a larger gun, wants to be clean and slick.

 

When I carried my XD subbie, I didn't worry about cleaning it every time between shooting sessions. Indeed, I don't necessarily clean my handguns till a couple hundred rounds, ARs maybe every 500 or more, and .22s every thousand or more. Maybe. Or longer.

 

Main reason I don't have a Mosin is I'd be obligated to clean the dang thing pert quick after every time I shot it. Seriously.

 

- OS

Edited November 6, 2013 by Oh Shoot

[deerslayer]

I clean my guns every 1000 rounds or so whether they need it or not. 

 

Seriously, if I can't trust a gun to run with 200 or 300 rounds between cleanings, I don't want it. 

[peejman]

The only guns I clean every time are the ones that shoot corrosive ammo. The others I'll inspect and wipe off the crud, but I don't strip them down and do a thorough cleaning. I'm a firm believer that more guns get broken and/or worn out due to obsessive cleaning than obsessive shooting.

[superduty]

I refuse to defend my life, or that of my loved ones, with a dirty gun.

[McGarrett]

I follow proper maintenance for all of my vehicles and guns.  if you don't take care of them, how can you expect them to take care of you?

I could not agree more.