How often do you shoot your carry gun?

[undertow]

I carry a S&W shield. I have another one just like it that I take to the range to practice with, while the carry gun always stays loaded with JHP rounds and is either on my body or in the safe.

So it occurred to me that I rarely fire the actual gun that I carry. It was last cleaned a year ago, and I haven't fired it since... which seems like a bad idea.

Will parts get rusty or stiff from just sitting in the holster all the time, making it more likely to malfunction if I ever need it? Should I rotate them and fire both regularly? Or at least take the carry gun to the range occasionally and fire a few boxes of ammo through it just to keep the moving parts moving?

Or if not, how often should I clean and lube the one I carry? Once a year? Twice a year? More? Less?

[JenniferG]

You need to shoot your carry piece regularly not only for your familiarity with the gun but also to assure reliability.

[imashooter2]

Dirt and lint accumulate. Sometimes the gun gets wet with sweat or rain. Maintenance is required, intervals are dependent on environment. Practice is prudent, but each decides for themselves how much.

[ExFlyinguy]

I'm just going to be honest here.

As a cop I would only shoot my carry gun once per year during qualification, and that I would wager is about the same as most cops. I probably only shoot my carry gun about once a year. I do tend to clean them periodically and do function checks but that's about it.

I just don't enjoy handguns all that much

[eagleclaw]

In my opinion one should practice with their carry gun regularly. How often depends on ones time and budget.

A cursory cleaning on occasion and cleaning after firing is a good idea.

A good quality modern handgun will not get stiff or malfunction from sitting in a holster. Rust can be an issue especially if it's leather.

A firearms' owners manual should explain how to lubricate the gun. In my experience a small amount where metal meets metal is all that is needed. Maybe some on the trigger mechanism every so often.

I think you are putting too much thought into this. Most guns will function fine if left alone.

[imashooter2]

I carry J frames. They get a lot more dry fire after maintenance than actual shooting.

[JaySmith]

I carry the ruger 57. I used to shoot it weekly, 5 mags, 100 rounds. But then 5.7 went to $2 a round, so i dropped down to once a month and 2 mags. Not as fun. I can still put 8/10 rounds inside 3" at 10 yards.

[father-of-five]

I fire at least a few rounds every time I go to the range.

[Orive 8]

Not as much as I used to in the past, my wife and I still have a 2x per month schedule for range work - carry gun is always shot. Different courses of fire and different drills, for both the outdoor and indoor ranges that we use. Dry fire practice routine 2x a week also.

At one time, we would be at the range 2-3 times a week, then it dropped down to weekly, now 2x a month... such is life...

[DucatiRon]

About 125 rounds a month in our local IDPA competitions.

Save for 2 spare mags I shoot and compete the same as I carry.