All my firearms are thoroughly clean now since I don't shoot them anymore. Living on a desert a once a year swab or three is all they need.
I did clean all centerfire barrels after each use, regardless of caliber, and their actions as dictated by them.
But being old school, rimfires seldom got thoroughly cleaned. They told me when they needed it. With rimfire barrels over cleaning can do more damage than good. The rimfire auto pistol actions got more attention, but still didn't get cleaned all that much. Doubt my HD Military has been thoroughly cleaned for decades, but it also hasn't been shot like it was when I got it in the 50's. Easy to get apart, PITA to put back together.
The exception with auto's was all the 10/22 Jamomatics I've owned. They are a PITA if not kept clean. Far removed from my Model 31 auto I got in 1959 that never had to be cleaned to be reliable.
I carefully gave my 17 rimfires the same attention the centerfires get though... I relied on their extreme accuracy in the killing fields more than I ever did the 22 rimfires, including those I hunted with, so chanced the damage from cleaning.
Some folks are just too clean crazy IMO, but then... Old school: being stuck in a rut and not going to change at this late date in life.
