How Often is cleaning needed?

[LarryP]

How often should a pistol need cleaning? How many rounds go thru your gun before it gets cleaned?

[rugersol]

How often should a pistol need cleaning? How many rounds go thru your gun before it gets cleaned?

several hundred ... sometimes more ... sometimes less ... sometimes the cleaning's more involved ... sometimes less

It's generally advisable, if you've shot cast bullets through it, to clean the bore thoroughly before shooting jacketed.

If there's any buildup on the breech-face, that could affect reliability ... also on the feed-ramp ... extractor, too (particularly a 1911 internal extractor).

Aside from these, there's really no harm in shooting 10's of thousands of rounds, between cleanings. Just that, if ya begin to notice problems, that's probly a good indication, it might be time to give 'er a good scrub/lube.

For a defensive pistol, I'd clean it thoroughly after every 100rd+ session ... then fire 20rd - 50rd, again ... to make sure ya didn't screw anything up.

[mnmike59]

I normally clean mine after every outing. Especially my carry!
There has been a time or two that I let my Glocks go for a cpl times out. Throwem in a bucket of soapy water till the next time and yur good to go.

[timwarner]

cleaning? Is that when I disassemble the gun and use a mallet to knock all the crap out of the gun at the end of the season?

[rugersol]

cleaning? Is that when I disassemble the gun and use a mallet to knock all the crap out of the gun at the end of the season?

That must be what keeps it runnin' like a top!

[farmerj]

When you see a drop in accuracy.

When you have ftf/fte issues.

(In the army)
never enough. Any time you aren't shooting it.

I have gone as many as 4500 on my personal beretta 92FS befor cleaning. The last day on the range that time sucked. I finally just cleaned it there. Took about 10 minutes. GTG.

Eta
This was also my own little torture test to see what it would really take to make a gun start having issues.

[Pinnacle]

I am a strong believer that your gun should be cleaned and properly lubricated after every range session. Remember there are no second chances and if you are going to enter a losing battle - well, the tool that you have had better be as good as it can be.

Takes 10 minutes to deliver a good functional cleaning to a normal pistol to at least a minimal standard, gunshot wounds heal really slow.... Take your pick.

[Dave Pendleton]

I haven't cleaned my AR (Colt 6550) since 2005; I shoot a K or so a year. For a quality AR, this amounts to nothing.

I think the correct answers are:

1. How much of a dirty physical appearance are you willing to tolerate?
2. How much crud will the firearm in question tolerate and still perform reliably?

[Ken]

I clean mine after every trip to the range. I probably have more time on my hands than most.

[mmcnx2]

I filed strip and clean mine after every use, I do a full disassembly and clean everything about every 1K rounds, replace springs every 5K.

[Dave Pendleton]

I filed strip and clean mine after every use, I do a full disassembly and clean everything about every 1K rounds, replace springs every 5K.

And I don't do any of this, so I guess the correct answer is: your mileage may vary.

[farmerj]

I filed strip and clean mine after every use, I do a full disassembly and clean everything about every 1K rounds, replace springs every 5K.

And I don't do any of this, so I guess the correct answer is: your mileage may vary.

I have learned with the Beretta 92, change the trigger return spring at about 8-10K rounds. The recoil spring, change it when it won't roll flat on the bench/table whatever flat surface you work on.

And the recoil spring test would work well on any pistol.

[Dave Pendleton]

I filed strip and clean mine after every use, I do a full disassembly and clean everything about every 1K rounds, replace springs every 5K.

And I don't do any of this, so I guess the correct answer is: your mileage may vary.

I have learned with the Beretta 92, change the trigger return spring at about 8-10K rounds. The recoil spring, change it when it won't roll flat on the bench/table whatever flat surface you work on.

And the recoil spring test would work well on any pistol.

I just recently learned that at what interval recoil springs should be changed, and I was well past 10K rounds.

I still dont clean after every shooting.

[Pinnacle]

I haven't cleaned my AR (Colt 6550) since 2005; I shoot a K or so a year. For a quality AR, this amounts to nothing.

I think the correct answers are:

1. How much of a dirty physical appearance are you willing to tolerate?
2. How much crud will the firearm in question tolerate and still perform reliably?

Even for a quality AK that is a lot of shooting without Cleaning. But then again - this is not likely a gun that you trust your life with so - dont bother cleaning it....

Bad piece of advice and anecdotal nonsense about defensive firearms. Keep it clean if you plan on trusting your life to it.

[Dave Pendleton]

I haven't cleaned my AR (Colt 6550) since 2005; I shoot a K or so a year. For a quality AR, this amounts to nothing.

I think the correct answers are:

1. How much of a dirty physical appearance are you willing to tolerate?
2. How much crud will the firearm in question tolerate and still perform reliably?

Even for a quality AK that is a lot of shooting without Cleaning. But then again - this is not likely a gun that you trust your life with so - dont bother cleaning it....

Bad piece of advice and anecdotal nonsense about defensive firearms. Keep it clean if you plan on trusting your life to it.

Whatever.