I clean my guns after every session. It doesn't matter whether I put 1 or 1,000 rounds through a gun, it gets fired, it gets cleaned. Now, I'm obviously a bit obsessive. You don't HAVE to clean a gun every time you fire it. You'll find threads on this and other forums where posters contend that they've put literally thousands of rounds through a handgun without cleaning and the gun still works.
However, frequent cleaning serves a number of very useful purposes. First, I'm a firm believer in removing grit and dirt from a gun that can foul its action, damage the finish, cause wear, or reduce accuracy. The stuff that accumulates on and in handguns from shooting can cause all of the above. Second, a lot of the stuff that builds up in and on your gun from shooting is toxic. After a trip to the range the gun will be covered with compounds of lead and copper as well as other heavy metal compounds and other chemicals. Lots of these compounds are potentially dangerous to humans. If you're like me and handle your guns a lot, bear in mind that when you handle a dirty gun you're transferring at least some toxic substances to your hands, where they can be absorbed through the skin, or where subsequent hand-mouth contact can transmit them internally. Third, cleaning is a great time to visually inspect and check out the gun for problems. I can't count the number of loosened screws I'v discovered during the cleaning process.
So, count me in as a cleaning fanatic. But, not without reason, I hope.
However, frequent cleaning serves a number of very useful purposes. First, I'm a firm believer in removing grit and dirt from a gun that can foul its action, damage the finish, cause wear, or reduce accuracy. The stuff that accumulates on and in handguns from shooting can cause all of the above. Second, a lot of the stuff that builds up in and on your gun from shooting is toxic. After a trip to the range the gun will be covered with compounds of lead and copper as well as other heavy metal compounds and other chemicals. Lots of these compounds are potentially dangerous to humans. If you're like me and handle your guns a lot, bear in mind that when you handle a dirty gun you're transferring at least some toxic substances to your hands, where they can be absorbed through the skin, or where subsequent hand-mouth contact can transmit them internally. Third, cleaning is a great time to visually inspect and check out the gun for problems. I can't count the number of loosened screws I'v discovered during the cleaning process.
So, count me in as a cleaning fanatic. But, not without reason, I hope.