I try to clean my guns every time I shoot them. Sometimes life gets in the way and the get used twice between cleanings. I like the peace of mind of knowing my stuff is cleaned and lubricated if I ever NEED them.
As far as what the gun needs to run properly, this depends on the gun design, the ammunition you are using and the environment it is used in.
I could probably shoot my gas piston LWRC virtually it's entire life running hand loads on a warm sunny day without ever cleaning it. I wouldn't try that with an SKS running corrosive primers in the rain though.
As far as what the gun needs to run properly, this depends on the gun design, the ammunition you are using and the environment it is used in.
I could probably shoot my gas piston LWRC virtually it's entire life running hand loads on a warm sunny day without ever cleaning it. I wouldn't try that with an SKS running corrosive primers in the rain though.