Pistol cleaning schedule

[John Henry]

I average about once a week shooting time at my local, indoor range. I usually shoot about 150 rds of .22LR thru my Mark I, and about 60 rds each thru my Barretta 92 -9 mm, and Colt Commander .45.

I will clean all the guns after about 2 or 3 range trips. After each range outing I'll wipe the guns down, wipe the chamber throats and then put away in the gun sock and then inside an individual gun bag that I in turn stick in the range bag.

When I do clean the guns the actions look pretty good but the barrels are "a mite" dirty.
I've been thinking of buying individual snake bore cleaners for each pistol and running them thru the guns at the range and keep my same cleaning schedule. Sound good?

[ABR]

I don't see any problem with your schedule. I envy your ability to shoot that often with all the range closures in my area. Just keep those pistols lubed and you'll be fine.

[FalconLair]

i use a bore snake for all my calibers

[xSlapshotx]

Granted I don't shoot every week, but I clean mine after every range trip. If I did shoot every week, I'd clean them every other time.

[Divernhunter]

No need to clean every trip or even every 5 trips.
A bore snake will do if you feel you must.
Had a pistol with a little over 5000 rounds thru it. Still not malfunctioning but decided to clean it. It was dirty but it still shot well and not problems.
More firearms have barrels ruined by improper and too often cleaning than by lack of cleaning.
22RF firearms get cleaned when the start to jam since 22RF is very dirty and the actions will gum up. A shot of Brake Clean Spray on the action and it is good again. I do clean the barrel also. BUT NEVER with an Alum 3 piece cleaning rod!!

[Calico1404]

If I do not have time/patience or energy to clean after a range trip I will at least clean out the barrel, bore snake etc. Everything else I can tend to later, the barrel is a place I do not want anything settling in.

[Tehjosheh]

for the past 5 years i've cleaned after every range session but lately i've changed my perspective a bit and have become a little more lax.

i will clean if any of the following:
-shoot an outdoor comp (dirt gets into it)
-don't plan to shoot it again for another 2-3 weeks
-have shot it 2-3 sessions
-notice any malfunctions

[CAL.BAR]

Yeah, OP you're over cleaning. Unless you are seeing stoppages etc. no need to clean that much. I shoot competitively and often. I generally clean every 500-800 rounds. With your schedule, that would be every 10th trip or so.

[Scratch705]

my pistols i clean once it feels slightly gritty when racking the slide.

my 22 pistol is the exception. that thing is cleaned every 200 rounds. if not it will start jamming or light strikes due to the amount of crud buildup.

also when it is heated up (after 30 rounds) the POI is lower than POA by about 2 inches at 10 yards.

i kinda also wonder if that is also why someone sold it as i had bought it used.

[Guns and guitars]

I clean after I shoot. Except for my two carry Glocks, those guns I beat on, so I clean them whenever I get bored.

[71MUSTY]

My only change would be the 22. Either clean it every trip or never clean it

[Sousuke]

I clean a 22LR roughly every 500 - 1000 rounds. My understanding is a worn out 22lr always occurs through cleaning rather than use.

(can't find a bore snake to fit .22 lr by the way.....the brass section never fits)

[holt7153]

Looks like I need to clean my Kadet .22 more

[Wordupmybrotha]

I don't see any problems with your schedule.
I also have a bore snake for every caliber.

[CandG]

I used to clean every gun after every range trip... But that cleaning plan eventually started affecting what guns I'd choose to take to the range. Like, "I'd really love to take my _____, but it's already clean and I really don't want to clean it again" or "I would take that gun, but I'm already taking 3 other ones and I don't want to be cleaning guns all night tonight".

Then I decided that I was only going to do that with C&R guns. For my modern guns, they're lucky if they get cleaned once every 3 to 5 range trips.

Anyways, yes OP that sounds like a good schedule, and yes I would also run a boresnake down the barrel every once in a while.