Long time between cleanings? What to put on a HDF Shotgun?

No offense intended but if your friend is only planning on cleaning a self defense weapon every two years then maybe she ought to re-think why she has one or if she wants a different kind.

i would have to agree im new to guns but in just the short time i have had my 870 and xd 45 i have cleaned them over 5 times each. of course its after each time after i shoot but i would asume also depending on where she lives there can be rust build up and or bugs that may crawl in there and die or live...

I would be less concerned about cleanliness (as the shotgun will probably still fire with lint, dust bunnies, and even a little rust in the barrel) and more about her ability to use it effectively if she is not going to at least practice with it occasionally. Without taking it out occasionally she is probably more likely to miss the BG, hurt herself, or have the weapon taken from her when she needs it.

I agree with the others, perhaps she needs to rethink her home defense strategy.

If she's really your friend, get her to go shooting with you on a regular basis. Shoot some skeet, teach her about pistols and rifles and how to use each.

It's not only fun, it's educational and reinforces good gun habits and marksmanship.

Gun handling is a perishable skill set.....but given your post count, I'm sure you already knew that. Your friend apparently doesn't. Shooting it tonight and then maybe needing it again in 2 years to defend herself....that is, IMHO, a recipe for disaster.

If she really intends to be using it has her home defense weapon, I would think a minimum of several hours, per quarter, would be the absolute minimum range time.....and then, after attending a multi-day shotgun course so that she really does knows the basics of using a shotgun in a self defense situation.

Friends don't let friends have a gun without being properly trained (which includes ongoing periodic refresher training).

ronbof117 said:

No offense intended but if your friend is only planning on cleaning a self defense weapon every two years then maybe she ought to re-think why she has one or if she wants a different kind.

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Dirty Rod said:

I would be less concerned about cleanliness (as the shotgun will probably still fire with lint, dust bunnies, and even a little rust in the barrel) and more about her ability to use it effectively if she is not going to at least practice with it occasionally. Without taking it out occasionally she is probably more likely to miss the BG, hurt herself, or have the weapon taken from her when she needs it.

I agree with the others, perhaps she needs to rethink her home defense strategy.

Click to expand...

arizona98tj said:

Gun handling is a perishable skill set.....but given your post count, I'm sure you already knew that. Your friend apparently doesn't. Shooting it tonight and then maybe needing it again in 2 years to defend herself....that is, IMHO, a recipe for disaster.

If she really intends to be using it has her home defense weapon, I would think a minimum of several hours, per quarter, would be the absolute minimum range time.....and then, after attending a multi-day shotgun course so that she really does knows the basics of using a shotgun in a self defense situation.

Friends don't let friends have a gun without being properly trained (which includes ongoing periodic refresher training).

Click to expand...

While I agree with the above posters, I'm going to assume that she, like many gun owners who just have that one gun "for self defense" probably will leave it in a box at the top of her closet. But to answer her question, her best option would be one of the bake-in "lubes" like Militec-1. I'd still suggest working it over every 6 months or so, but Militec makes a pretty wicked product.