How often do you clean your firearm(s)?

[josh250]

After every trip, if not definitely every other. I look forward to it.

[thenodnarb]

I clean them either:
When they need it or
When I feel like it

Whichever comes first.

[Springfield45]

Always after I shoot them. If I don't I am afraid my drill sergeant will get me.

[madjack956]

I clean and oil my guns after every range outing.

I enjoy cleaning them almost as much as shooting them. I have my little ritual when I get home.

[CrossedRifles]

When I'm not lazy or busy, as soon as I arrive home from the range.

When I am, I will run some CLP on it, and do a boresnake pass or two, then remind myself to do it within the next couple of days.

As many have said, it's sort of a ritual. Can't say I enjoy cleaning as much as shooting, but it's something to do and is sort of a stress reliever at the same time. Totally not getting high off my solvent or anything.. You didn't see me wipe that green stuff off my nose.

[bsg]

guns are cleaned and lubricated after a range session. guns in storage are inspected on a schedule. guns assigned as primary weapons for defense are inspected daily.

[Your ad here]

I wipe the crud (22lr), wiped the gun and oil after each trip. I'm more concerned about rust than anything else.

[Wallabing]

Everytime after a shooting session.

Everytime when I'm bored.

[chayden]

I love tearing my guns down and cleaning them whether they truly need it or not, but man there just isn't the time anymore.
Usually just give them a quickie after the range or hunting and then follow up with a better detail when time permits (which is almost never when your kids get involved with all their activities.) Going to the garage at midnight to do it isn't high on my list.
I think a lot of you guys have already ushered the kids out of the house (or have yet to be blessed) and have some luxury hours to get this done.

[cnj]

I might let them go a couple of range trips, but will lube them at the range too

This is what I do as well.

[DennisCA]

I usually run a cleaning rod down the barrel PRIOR to leaving the range, (basicily most of guns I shoot use corrosive ammo) and plug the barrel with a piece of paper towel. I do the same with my modern guns as well.
When I get home, (normally-unless it's really-really late) they get scrubbed down good. The next day I'll check them again, just to make sure.
I know that maybe a lot of effort but I have guns that I've owned for years and never had a jam that was gun-related. The few that I've encountered was due to faulty brass - not the gun.

[Jimi Jah]

Happiness is a clean gun, bang, bang, shoot, shoot.

[mif_slim]

I clean once every blue moon. Unless I know Im going to use it for some life/death thing then its well maintained, but before its put in that category it has to go through a lot of rounds with out cleaning so I know its reliable. I do basic cleaning 90% of the time when I do clean.

Some of the guns I've put thousands of rounds through only been wipe down once or twice.

[Vectrexer]

Intended as a discussion thread.

So, how often do you clean your firearm(s)? I know that for some (AR and AK platforms) you might not need to do so very often, and in fact it's desirable for accuracy but at some point you just have to, or else risk it failing to work.

For me, I had it drilled into me by my dad that each time after shooting, you need to break it down, clean and oil all the parts that need to be done before you store it. Now, for rifles that you're shooting corrosive ammo, this is a requirement if you don't want your barrel to rust out on you so you pretty much have to, but on a regular gun, not so much.

So how about you? How often do YOU clean and how good a job do you put towards it?

As a friend would say, his firearms are cleaned whenever I borrow them. (no really, I mean it!)

As for me I usually clean them after every use. Not so much because they need it right then and there. But since I don't know when a particular item might be shot again it is nice to know the protective oils will be there for a while. Also nice to know the mechanics of the firearm are in good shape after the shoot. Cleaning helps to confirm everything is just as it should be. Or to discover what part(s) might be needing maintenance.

However, I do have to say my go-to guns that have range mates might have their cleaning skipped every so often. But I am very familiar with what I need to check before storage when leaving their cleaning for another time.