Ask ten shooters how often they clean their guns and you’ll get ten different answers. But one takeaway is consistent: most people clean their firearms far more often than necessary.
But many experienced shooters go thousands of rounds between deep cleanings — because reliability comes from smart habits, not constant scrubbing.
“I do not clean my guns in under 5000 rounds unless there's a malfunction," explained John McClain from Team Armscor.
That one statement challenges a lot of traditional assumptions about handgun cleaning and sets the stage for a more realistic, less intimidating approach to maintaining your firearm.
The Real Question: How Often Should You Clean Your Gun?
If your firearm can’t run a few hundred or thousand rounds between cleanings, the issue may not be your gun cleaning routine — it might be the gun itself.
This is a crucial mindset shift for anyone searching for how often to clean a gun, best gun cleaning practices, or how to maintain firearm reliability.
Deep-cleaning too often can temporarily reduce reliability.
This matters for anyone using their handgun for training or home defense: over-cleaning can cause more issues than it solves when it strips the firearm of the oil that allows it to run smoothly.
Cleaning vs. Maintenance: Two Different Parts of Gun Care
Many shooters think cleaning and maintenance are the same thing. They’re not.
There are two types of gun owners when it comes to firearm maintenance:
- Reactive: waits for a part to break before replacing it.
- Proactive: replaces wear items before failure—like springs, extractors, or pins when they've gone through enough rounds.
“No one says you have to wait for it to break," said John. "Sometimes it’s just a matter of saying, ‘I haven’t changed my springs out in a while. I’m going to change that.'"
This simple approach makes gun care less stressful for beginners and more effective for defensive and competitive shooters alike.
A Practical Gun Cleaning and Oiling Routine
Most shooters benefit from a simple, repeatable approach to handgun cleaning and lubrication that won't overwhelm them.
1. Clean before major use
Before competition or a big training class, many shooters do a full clean and then function-check.
2. Oil every range trip
Lubrication impacts firearm reliability far more than frequent deep cleaning. John oils his firearm every time he goes to the range.
3. Oil only where friction occurs
Instead of soaking the gun, focus on the spots that show wear.
“Wherever there are rub marks, oil it, that’s where your greatest source of friction is going to be," explained John.
When You Actually Need a Deep Clean
A full firearm cleaning is still important—just not constantly. Most shooters only need a deep clean when:
- preparing for major events
- hitting a high round count (around 5,000)
- inspecting or replacing parts
- carbon buildup becomes excessive
“If my toothbrush can’t get to it, then I don’t worry about it until that 5000-round mark or malfunction,” John explained.
The Bottom Line: Smart Firearm Maintenance Wins
A reliable firearm doesn’t need babying. Instead of worrying about constant cleaning:
- Clean intentionally, not excessively
- Oil consistently
- Replace worn parts proactively
- Trust your firearm to perform
If your gun can’t run reliably without constant cleaning?
That’s not a maintenance problem—it’s a gun problem.
