@DomnioMaestro
Can't believe I lost this work before, but recreated it here. So, it should take you 10-15 minutes to clean and lube a handgun. Anything over that is just satisfying some mild (or not so mild) OCD impulse. I used to do that, but this guy and Bill Wilson got me off that. Mrgunsngear's credibility is high because he was a small arms armorer and instructor in the Army. He knows his stuff. Bill Wilson, who makes some of the finest guns in the industry, is equally nonchalant about cleaning. Mostly clean and lubed is just fine.
Like Mrgunsngear, I keep old thinning t-shirts in a bag to use for gun cleaning, haven't used patches in forever. I have his picks (Tipton, at Amazon) but the only thing I really use is a channel cleaning tool, like this. Perfect for any gun with a slide.
Amazon.com : Channel Cleaning Tool : Sports & Outdoors
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I also keep the free toothbrushes from each dental visit to use for gun cleaning. Only thing I've splurged on for the chore is a cleaning mat, which will protect your work surface and keep you out of trouble with the spousal unit if you clean in the kitchen or at the dining table.
After most range trips, before I have several hundred round through it:
I follow Bill Wilson's cleaning regimen. I use the blue, heavy-duty shop paper towels and a toothbrush. Oh, and a boresnake. After a range trip, I run a wet patch through the barrel then let it soak for a bit. I then brush the frame and slide with the toothbrush. Then I use the paper towels to thoroughly wipe down the frame and slide using the channel cleaning tool, no CLP or cleaner, I don't bother. Brush the barrel, then wipe thoroughly with the paper towels, run the boresnake thorugh it once, lube and reassemble. This is fine until I get 300-500 rounds through it. I'm no longer OCD about it, but if you don't feel comfortable just using dry paper towels, I've heard good things about Breakthrough Clean Technology wipes. May make you feel better about it, but I will never bother. If it's good enough for Bill Wilson, it's good enough for me.
After 300-500 rounds I use Mrgunsngear's process:
He was done with that CZ-75 in about 12 minutes I think, minus the intro and ending of the video. It's plenty, and any CLP will do. BreakFree, Clenzoil (a favorite of mine), Hoppes Boresnake CLP, they all work, none are magical. Once I determined that guns don't need to be white glove clean (I mean come on, even if you leave a little carbon on there how much will that degrade steel or 7076 aluminum in a well-lubed gun?), my cleaning went from an hour to less than 15 minutes and I never looked back. You may not enjoy it like I do, but you'll dread it a whole lot less if you chop 45 minutes off the chore, guaranteed!
I'm not a cleaning product freak, the over-the-top breathless reviews you read about "Miracle" gun cleaning products are all bullshit, IMNSHO.
However ... as I got older I became more conscious of health issues, especially after having some small squamous skin cancer spots removed. I wanted to go more non-toxic and I wanted better lubricity than you get with a CLP. Mind you, Mrgunsandgear doesn't care about that and he was an Army armorer, remember? If he doesn't care you don't need to care.
But I did finally switch to a cleaner/lube regimen several years ago, and I'm happier about it. I use M-Pro 7 Gun Cleaner. It cleans great, doesn't smell, and is non-toxic, just what I like. I don't claim it's any better than any other product out there, I just like it.
Amazon.com : M-Pro 7 Gun Cleaner - 4 Ounce Spray Bottle : Gun Solvents : Sports & Outdoors
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And I switched to Wilson Combat Ultima-Lube Oil. Again, not claiming it's better than any other gun oil, but I like the viscosity of it and it works well. Any gun oil will work better than CLP as a lubricant and for protection.
Buy Wilson Combat Ultima Lube Gun Oil: Gun Lubrication - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases
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But basically, I clean with dry paper towels and the boresnake, then oil the gun until I get 300-500 rounds through it, 10 minutes on average. Then I use the M-Pro 7, bore brushes, etcetera, followed by the gun oil at 300-500 rounds, maybe 15 minutes. Adding 45 minutes to the chore won't do anything for your gun, trust me. You're wasting time and making yourself crazy in the process. Stop it!
