How much would you pay for a gun cleaning?

Most of us have an unwritten rule that says we will perform a once a year 'ultra clean' of our shotguns. You know breakdown...soak the parts in Break Free...get the Q-tips out...etc. My question is ..."How much would you pay for a gunsmith to do an ultra clean?"

Personally, I wouldn't pay a gunsmith to clean them, I feel it's part of my responsibilty to learn how to do that.

One of the new gadgets I plan on adding to my "new" shop is a parts washer and shotgun breakdown area so I can make this an even easier process.

With the aspects of the harsh environments encountered when waterfowling a full strip down can be a pretty common occurence.

I agree Rick, it's like changing oil on your car. I learned to do that, but now I'm over it and gladly pay $20 for the 10-minute oil change places.
Jay G.

In the metro areas they usually have a gun dealer who uses ultrasound equipment for a $30 cleaning fee in Break Free.

I would like to have that service when I want to sell a gas gun, and deliver it spanking clean.

It depends on the gun. I've paid more than $100 to have my sidelock sxs professionally stripped and cleaned but that is a more complicated operation and actually worth the investment.

I can take down my 870 on my own and clean and lube it as well as anyone.

The other guns fall somewhere in between.

Well i have a gunsmith that is a friend so every once in a great while (once a year) i take my shotguns to him (at different times) and let him soak and clean them(includes trigger springs and all the stuff i'm afraid to touch in fear that i might break it). I pay him by how long it takes him and how long he has to put up with me being there. (hehe just joking about the last part). Normally for one gun its either $30 or $45 and if he replaces any parts i pay for those also.

I always clean my guns with excessive zeal after every use. I ultra clean my guns myself after every use unless they are being used the next day.

If I could find a gunsmith I could trust,about 30.00.

I have actually paid to have my gun cleaned... 3 times over 6 years is all.. did it each time at a sportingclay tourney out of home state.. each time there was a traveling gunsmith at the site that I knew and trusted... seems to me each one ran between 25 and 40 dollars... seemed a fair price to drop it off when i was done shooting and pick up the next morning ready to roll....

One of the nice things about shooting at the bigger Sporting Clays grounds in England is that as you come back to the clubhouse, the trapper will say ' can I clean your gun for you Sir, M'am ?'

As it usually rains in England its a nice service, and it increases the trapper's tip - usually by about $8-10 per shooter. It is NOT a full strip down as suggested above.

Someone said they clean the gun every time - THIS IS TOO MUCH. If my gun does not get wet, I will clean it about every 500 or so rounds fired.

Oh, btw , Cathy does not pay me anything to clean her guns, so maybe I am missing out on something here :wink:

Roger

I am pretty anal about cleaning my guns, but $30-$45 would be a good price for a once a year job. My problem is that there are not many gunsmiths close to me.

Personally, I wouldn't pay anything for this type of service. Hence, I do it myself. For one thing, the gunsmith would take off all of my camoflage paint that I put on deliberately. The other thing is, there's just something about the smell of Hoppes #9... kind of addicting.

And as for when I clean it, I usually do it every 250 rounds or so.

David

I am in the 'No Way I Am Paying' to have a gun 'cleaned'...

I don't do it that much now, so why should I pay anyone to do it...

:wink:

I'd pay to have my doubles torn down and cleaned on an anual basis. All the others I 'spring clean' myself. I don't with the doubles because frankly I don't know them well enough internally to do a good enough job. I'm not worried about tearing it down, or even putting it back together without nicking/scratching it. I AM worried about putting it back together out of adjustment and having trigger/setup problems later.

If I could find a gunsmith I could trust,about 30.00.

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Same here. I can almost put the gunsmith's that I know in the same category with the so called "mechanics" that I know. Every one of them that I have had any experience with has all metric tools. When I ask about what they use on standard bolts they all say the metric tools fit well enough. Nope! You ain't touching my truck!

Hence forth, I do my own shotgun and automobile maintenance. Shotguns go back to the factory for mods and I need these "mechanics" to point me in the right direction with their diagnostic tools and for the anti-lock brakes. I can only hope that the guys at the gun factories are actually better than the "Mr. Goodwrenches" that I know. If not they at least have a warranty.

Weekly I pay one of the trap boys to clean my gun, barrels and wipe down about $5. They do a nice job.

For yearly service I believe $30-$40 plus parts is normal in Mid Michigan

I would not pay to clean my guns. Heck, might as well pay someone to shoot them also.

DanAKAL said:

If I could find a gunsmith I could trust,about 30.00.

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Same here. I can almost put the gunsmith's that I know in the same category with the so called "mechanics" that I know. Every one of them that I have had any experience with has all metric tools. When I ask about what they use on standard bolts they all say the metric tools fit well enough. Nope! You ain't touching my truck!

Hence forth, I do my own shotgun and automobile maintenance. Shotguns go back to the factory for mods and I need these "mechanics" to point me in the right direction with their diagnostic tools and for the anti-lock brakes. I can only hope that the guys at the gun factories are actually better than the "Mr. Goodwrenches" that I know. If not they at least have a warranty.

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I don't think I could have said it better myself. It is so hard to find somebody who does top notch work...heck "decent" work the first time unless they charge an unreasonably high price.

I do all my vehicle maintenance and gun maintenance for this reason. I don't trust many people's work...seen too many corners cut for the sake of the dollar. I have worked in the heavy equipment/diesel generator maintenance field forever so I don't find it too taxing to break an A5 Browning down and put back together but some might be challenged. I know 1 shop I would let touch my cars and 1 guy that I would let work on my guns.

Ike

I can see one advantage if you shoot a lot of rounds. If the same guy that will fix your gun will also clean it I can see the cleaning as a maintanance item well worth it ( IF) he is also looking at worn parts that may give you more trouble down the road. A weak spring can be easier replaced with a cleaning than during your tournament. It would give me more confidence knowing its in good shape till the next time. One other advantage is if you become a regular cleaning customer ( that once a year kind) you might see that personalized attention only you and a great mechanic can have. If he sees you and talks to you ONLY when you really need him.....your his customer only.not a friend / customer. But then it also depends on the gun.