Just my .02 worth, but when shooting lead, every range trip means a gun cleaning. Lead build-up can lead to high pressures, and possibly a destroyed gun, or worse.

I clean my guns after I shoot them, regardless of how many rounds I have fired. It's just a discipline thing with me, and not completely necessary, but I just like to know what they look like inside, before I load them up and strap them on. Because I do this, I don't think I will have any second thoughts about equipment preparedness, should I ever have to draw my gun to defend myself.

I know each one of my handguns inside and out, and I am completely comfortable handling them, which is a very good thing for anyone who carries. Cleaning, inspection, and dry-fire practice are major factors in the familiarization process, and I consider them to be almost as important as live-fire practice.

But, having said all that, a Glock or an XD, and quite a few others, might very well continue to function for an average gun owner's entire lifetime without ever being cleaned. So, I guess it is just personal preference.

now I'm no pro but, i clean after every shooting escapade which is about 150-300 rounds. Now, I don't see how a copper/bronze brush could harm steel or stainless steel much less a chrome-lined bore which my AR has. That's just me though. I'm not that worried about cleaning my AR too much whatsoever. My AR is my only weapon next to a 10-22 so that's about all i can say

I guess habit long ingrained from my father and the USMC have me cleaning my guns after each shooting session. It is theraputic for me and a winding down after each range/qualification session. I am sure that the weapons will work well with more infrequent cleaning. During live fire exercises at 29 Palms we went for over a week in the field without field-stripping and cleaning. However every time we hit the armory we did a thorough cleaning after the field-ex I have a friend currently serving in Afganistan as an Army military policemen who is home on R&R now, we went to the local high school football game Friday and his biggest complaint was that his SAW was exchanged for a new weapon at the outset of deployment. While I am sure the specs are the same, he is psychologically more comfortable with his old weapon, built up dirt and all. I understand this level of comfort. I would not trade my Beretta 96 for any other duty or CCW weapon. Clean your weapons per manufacturer's recommendations and you won't have any problems.

I clean my carry gun once a month because I caryy iwb.

I clean as time allows between trips to the range and keep the outer surfaces of my carry weapons wiped down with a silicone cloth.
What do you guys think of this practice?

I clean mine after shooting most of the time.

If you don't shoot I would make sure it's still lightly oiled at least once a year.