When I practiced a lot and shot 4 matches a week (Sat,Sun,Tues.night & Thurs. night) I cleaned my gun about once a week.
When through with practice session would shoot a mag of hardball to clear out a little lead from the barrel, then wipe it down until the next event. Then I'd put a drop of lube at the top of the barrel hood where it mates with the front of the ejection port on top, cycle the slide a few times and load up.
Sometimes I would lock the slide back and clean the breechface with a rag and make sure there wasn't crud around the extractor.
I never had a malfunction with that gun in over 100,000 rounds and the barrel didn't wear out at all - still accurate.
Then I shot a compensated .45 pistol with a cone lock up (like a bull barrel)for a year, followed by a .38 super. Had to clean the lead out of the compensator on the super because the lead would melt and coat the inside of it. Still didn't spend much time cleaning - spent time producing reloaded ammo and shooting the ammo down range. No malfunctions at all. If a gun set up to run, it will run and run and run.
Placed in top 50 at USPSA Nationals in Dallas in 1986. I did clean my gun every night at the nationals, but made sure to get a few practice rounds through it to dirty it up before competition.
Most people spend too much time cleaning their guns IMHO. For some people, though, it's a religious experience, a Zen moment, like a meditation - relaxing. Don't want to take that away from anyone.
Good shooting!
------------------
"Your aim in life is not worth anything if you don't pull the trigger."
[This message has been edited by tonerguy (edited 08-05-2001).]