Jeff White's posts number 6 and 12, are what I was raised to do, and therefore have always practiced.
Meaning, I carry a dirty gun, and always have.
I guess the last time I "cleaned" a carry gun, was around Sept, or Oct of 2008.
I know the guns will run, as I have investigated and verified what these guns are capable of.
Hence the reason I go against the grain of those that clean a gun every time they shoot a gun , even with small round counts.
I especially go against the grain of those that clean "clean" guns, most often due to folks buying the latest wonder solvent, wonder lube, or cleaning kit.
I run the guns to learn when the gun is going to inform me, of needing inspecting, and maintaining.
Maybe even cleaning.
I never have worried about bores, and this before wil Shuemann shared his take, that he did not clean them either.
For new folks, he makes barrels.
The chamber, extraction, and with semis, the magazine, are what keep you alive, not a shiny bore.
There is no gurarntee that one will have serious show up on a nice sunshine day, with the temperature being 68* F and there will nice, soft grass around.
Nor, will one always be able to do a total break down and squeaky clean.
Evil shows up in dark, hot and humid, cold and rainy, dry and dusty, wet and muddy ...
Will your gun run?
Will it do so port up, port down, upside down and having to shoot back up and over your head?
Mine will.
Will your gun run during such times as tornado, hurricane, flooding, or other reasons, where one is limited as to means and ways to inspect, maintain and if need, clean?
Mine will.
Investigate & Verify.
This is the only way for you to know what your guns and ammo will do.
Hence the reason I really do not care for all teh Intraw3bz chest thumping, fanboy, wringin'-n-woein' , armchair quaterbacking and Netijits ..and whatever else nonsense is often posted.
Having been there and done that, my take is my take, I own it.
I earned being able to have my take.
You own what you choose to do.
I recently moved out of state, and before I moved, I did not have a cleaning kit at home, and most often no solvent or lube at home.
I borrowed while at the private range.
At home, I had/ have pipe cleaners, which being honest, will handle what I concern myself about, which is chamber, and extraction.
Toss in a cotton applicater, and I am in "hi cotton".
Since moving, and having belongings that include belongings that were in multiple off site locations, in one spot for about the first time in my life, since I was a kid, if I have a cleaning kit, I have yet to find it.
All I need is a old GI 3 pc section rod, with T handle, some RBC, or Hoppe's No. 9, and LSA.
Oh, and some STOS distributed through Ponsess Warren.
STOS is really that slick! I use it for hinge pins on shotguns, and other firearm uses.
I did find a partial can of Rem-oil from -who knows how long ago that was obtained, and itty bitty Tabasco bottle with LSA from around '88, '89, forget.
I just shoot the darn things and don't worry about it.