Ep. 62 | How to Properly Maintain Your Firearms - Not Just Clean Them!

If you find yourself guilty of not properly maintaining your firearm after listening to this podcast, don’t worry about it too much - you’re not the only one by a long shot! Unfortunately, so few people are aware of the actual proper methods of maintaining a firearm that our head of range operations at the Vortex shooting range, Adrian Alan, and head firearm instructor, Pete Schreier, suggested this as a great topic - it turned out to be a great one. These two explain the very important difference between simply cleaning your firearm and actually inspecting and maintaining its critical pieces and functions in order to maintain the utmost reliability. You may find having that spotless rifle in your safe isn’t nearly as important as having a dirty rifle that is meticulously maintained and cared for at a regular interval. Listen in to see just what we mean and then go give your guns some proper TLC when you’re done! Or… just be like Jimmy and get an AK-47 😉
As always - let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the Vortex Nation podcast by asking us on any one of our social media platforms and using #VortexNationPodcast.
Follow Vortex Nation Podcast on Instagram:
vortexnationpodcast

[@baddadjokes9330]

I find cleaning therapeutic. Usually listen to a podcast or watch a favorite movie. By the time I am done I feel refreshed and satisfied. (As long as I am left alone)

[@JohnRundle09]

It’s the male equivalent of a spa day. It’s “just a little me time”

[@Yeoman7]

Yes, and the aroma therapy of your favourite gun oil.

[@rowddyone3570]

If u don’t shoot a gun ever, do u clean and lube every 6 months or just just lube after initial clean? Thank u

[@baddadjokes9330]

@@rowddyone3570 I am not a frequent gun range guy. I get out 2-3 time a a year but make it a day. But I usually only clean and lube once a year since I am so low mileage gun guy.

[@kimwarfield1587]

I always start my cleaning and maintenance with the mag and feed ramp if my pistol.

[@jasonweishaupt1828]

Lint build up in concealed carry mags is a problem. If you carry your spare mag in a pocket wash that piece of clothing with pockets inside out and check the mags monthly for lint build up.

[@SpetsnazBear-3710]

Fun Times... This is my 6th or 7th episode I have seen and "Vortex Nation Podcast" is quickly becoming one of my favorite "TV Shows". The most recent 'Scope show' was outstanding... the episode w/ Mr. Jerry Miculek was AWESOME.

[@VortexNation]

Thanks for tuning in!!

[@SpetsnazBear-3710]

@@VortexNation Thank you for the kind reply.

[@renanton1069]

I can tell you from experience from living in North Dakota with sub-zero temps, if you have too much oil on you AR it will gel up around you firing pin and it will not shoot. Missed coyote opportunities because if that and I've heard of this happening to other hunters as well. So there is a perfect amount of oil that should be used.

[@Critical-Defense]

Same thing will happen in handguns with excess oil or grease over time if it’s allowed to get into the striker firing pin channel. Had it happen to my Glock 19 Gen 4 from around 2010 at the range one day after I had it for a few years. This was before I really knew to not to let oil get into that channel in the slide. Are you able to mitigate the oil gelling up in those temps by using a much thinner weight oil?

[@Jeff_Seely]

Thanks for the video. Honestly and respectfully I have never considered doing more than what I do. I am a thankful owner of a Colt AR-15 for almost 25 years and all I have ever used is hoppes#9 or a little bit of acetone mixed in with some odorless mineral spirits. Once I have it clean I very lightly lube as the manual directs. Too much lubricant can find its way into the chamber where it causes problems with the case making a proper seal and that can lead to bolt carrier damage. Pretty much saved me a ton of money just following the owner's manual and that gun runs like a new gun rifle. Honestly fellas, I don't want to be beside someone who has poured oil into their guns and every time it's cycles it sprays a fine mist all over me. I get it there are circumstances where more lubrication is beneficial but most of us shoot on nicer days.

[@TheAdam2877]

I don't think I have ever been told to dump oil in either of the holes on the bolt. Its where your firing pin is and you don't need oil on it. The holes you spoke of is also an area where the gases are supposed to escape from. Lubricating the rails on the bolt carrier that are actually making contact is what needs to be oiled. Then some oil on the bolt on the raised ring right behind the rings. I completely agree that you should keep your bolt carrier group lubricated and if you run it hard then lube it up good.

[@Dino2GunZ]

I was wondering the same thing I could not see what he was pointing at

[@alanguiver3983]

in all fairness these fellas have alot of experience by the sounds of it, i doubt they'll give you BS advise.

[@tmpace9]

I think he understands this but doesn't want to take the time/wants to simplify it for everyone listening

[@garrettstraffon608]

I was never told to not do this. And I really wasn’t dumping it in. I was just trying to clean the end of the bolt and got oil in there and it froze or something maybe it messed the compression of the spring up because the pin hit but not hard enough. And I missed a nice buck opening day this year,. And it would fire on the second shot, I went home after that. I watched a KZbin video on how to open the bolt. I sprayed the spring and pin and the whole inside, and it only did it 2 more times after I cleaned it, and then it stopped and has fired first shot every time now. Never oil bolt or inside the bolt Atleast. And if you do it has to be “dry oil”

[@youngblood2]

I fully enjoy cleaning my guns, as well as shooting them!

[@scottsteiert9998]

Pete and Adrian, you guys are great! great video!

[@Dino2GunZ]

When you guys point to something on the system please give us a camera view of what you are pointing at

[@franciscomachado9946]

change batteries on your B-Day. Easy to remember.

[@Yourananimal1]

Love your work guys, thanks from NZ

[@marklloyd6522]

Great job Pete and Adrian!

[@bonto117]

Good episode.

[@samuelsigmon5186]

Thank y’all had some questions about cleaning

[@MichealJACKSON-ly6cd]

Dpms claw works great

[@CQCMachine]

Extractor kitten fangs, got it 🤘😂

[@alaindiebra]

Don’t put lube in the vent holes of the carrier.

[@jarek0737]

On the range in the military the smashing of magazines.. We literally had a hammer, that was devoted to that purpose.. I have to admit taking out some aggression on a magazine when you are instructing a class of knuckle draggers. Was kind of a high light at some points.. Funny story that "scalp in" as you called it Jimmy. That was Eugene Stoner's idea of a forward assist for those who did not know.. The Army wanted the "forward assist" that you see on the rifles.. Eugene Stoner was against the idea because and I quote, "If you have a jacked up cartridge why would you want to jam it into battery?"

[@basrutten641]

Touching on batteries again. How many of you have an old neglected flashlight and have gone to use it to find out the battery leaked and corroded itself inside the tube? Just because the optic can run forever on a battery doesn’t mean the battery can last just as wrong.

[@tylerphelps4868]

I support the last call

[@rpk5250]

Great video. So copper removal from the bar is not a big deal?

[@dorianleclair7390]

P mags for around 10 bucks Were do you buy your mags

[@VortexNation]

Probably not right now, but when we recorded this, you could find them for practically pennies included like candy in with some other products at many dealers.

[@Dino2GunZ]

You can still find pmags for $10 I just seen a sale the other day for $8 when you buy 10

[@Kaiserland111]

I really don't get the trend of not cleaning firearms. You clean and lubricate your car, don't you?

[@taylortisaac]

The mechanical parts don’t really get cleaned

[@nk-dw2hm]

When was the last time you heard of someone doing a full engine rebuild just to clean it out? Relubing the gun is the equivalent of an oil change

[@jctedsap]

I have a Marlin Model 60 22lr that if carbon builds up in the receiver it becomes a jam-o-matic no matter the amount of lube. Keep that receiver cleaned out every 1,000 rounds or so and it’s very reliable.

[@Wyatt1314.]

I believe it might be the lack of father figures in a teen's life, either from divorce or everyone in the family is always 'to busy'.

[@jaackmcmahon8757]

Is there a best way to store firearm for storage for a year or more?

[@Taco-TannerVODS]

So it's 230 am and my guns are sufficiently lubed. Thanks guys

[@Win94ae]

Very good! Thank you!

[@rowddyone3570]

If u don’t shoot a gun ever, do u clean and lube every 6 months or just just lube after initial clean? Thank u

[@shermrock345]

If your extractor is ripping the back of your case off you got problems. From todirty to over pressure. Some guns need a stronger extractor and soring like the AR47 needs that.

[@frank-the-tank75]

I might be missing something, but it is a lot easier and less time consuming to just buy a new mag every year or two?

[@Critical-Defense]

Maybe but, don’t get rid of the older ones just because you buy a new one. Keep all mags and designate your oldest ones for range use only, newer ones for carry/defense after they are tested once, and only get rid of mags that you verify as failed or damaged. If the spring is worn out and a mag fails because of it, you can just replace the spring or toss it and keep the rotation going.

[@albertlemont5471]

I had a WW upper once. I put over 3000 rounds through it with doing nothing but a two or three squirts of oil every so often. That thing was a bad mother.

[@donaldanderson3249]

Sorry but im with Mark I have an AR but use my bolt action rifles more . Oops 😬

[@VortexNation]

Nothing wrong with that!

[@DanielBoone337]

I've learned my rifles are good as long as I oil them every 500ish rounds but I don't break them down and completely clean them very often they just don't need it...

[@richardvest4048]

Sounds like all the reasons why i carry hk 91

[@SorcererAC0]

So firearms maintainance is exercise and firearm cleaning is cooming

[@larrypalmeira5540]

Had a ar Stoner extractor brake after 20 rounds

[@blakelylochridge9138]

4 shots for me, customer service was awesome will say that

[@nvlaser9084]

Dont buy cheap parts

[@Critical-Defense]

Sucks that rifle had problems, I thought it was a cool concept. I stick with Colt and have never had any issues. M5 otw.

[@basrutten641]

There’s a difference between copper fouling and copper conditioning.

[@brendanellison6822]

What about modern Teflon type sprays on firing pins and bolts in rifles, to keep them slippery andoisture protection...your thoughts old.

[@RoseTown707]

I feel dumb for just finding this

[@E-ROCK0180]

My Glock 20 is looking at me funny , but I have my bcm with me so am good...

[@jonathansand5117]

Grocery list...vagicil✓

[@DinoNucci]

This is not the best advice.

[@jamesbowen6144]

Kitten Teeth .....

[@johnbuck6685]

Put them in the closet and pull them out at the start of hunting season use toilet paper on the scope and go hunting you guys like to love your guns to death a gun is no different than a crescent wrench just use it and put it back in the drawer take it from a pro all this maintence is a waste of time and energy just set back and enjoy some whiskey and a ball game

[@madwe2269]

"Take it from a pro" 😂😂 Benchrest shooters, or anyone who cares about accuracy, will laugh at you like I have. Erik Cortina and Speedy Gonzales would have their heads spinning hearing that You have no real credential that you've provided other than calling yourself a pro

[@Critical-Defense]

It’s more like an air compressor than a crescent wrench. An AR is nothing at all, not even a little bit, like a wrench that has no moving parts or friction. Dumb comparison. Air compressors need to have their filters cleaned/changed, moisture drained from the tank, oil in the air tools, lubrication and belts changed on some models, and maintenance or parts replacement when something fails. Rifles are essentially the same.

[@johnbuck6685]

@ never did maintenance on an air compressor either got one that’s 49 years old no problem

[@ballcatsackmaster]

Live Tonight!! 7PM!!! Gun Atty Mike G, Philly Chris, Liberty Leigh & Russ the Producer with special guests! kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYGskHVrZ9qjj6M