Isn't the purpose of owning AKs so you NEVER have to clean them? 

It's like life insurance.

You hope you never have to use it for its intended purpose but when you need it, you're so very happy you have it.

There is a penis joke made for this question ....
but to answer the question I clean my guns after I go shooting however I checked them beforehand just in case I miss something and to make sure they're properly lubed.

If you want to see for yourself why you should run a wet patch down the barrel (breech end) before the first shot of the day, take at look at that very patch especially after the gun has sat for a few days. Copper, other metals, and solvent will have leeched out of the pores of the barrel. Your first patch will have a green tint and some black from unburnt powder and other residue.

My rule of thumb is, 1) one wet patch before I shoot that day.
                                 2) If I'm shooting for an extended period that day, then a brush (dipped in solvent) followed by several wet patches until clean.
                                  3) End of the day is a wet patch soaked in solvent to loosen the residue, followed by a brush dipped solvent to work the crud loose, then as many wet patches as it takes to remove all residue.
                                       Finish with a patch that has a few drops of oil to leave a light film the entire length of the barrel.

Paul--

If you want to see for yourself why you should run a wet patch down the barrel (breech end) before the first shot of the day, take at look at that very patch especially after the gun has sat for a few days. Copper, other metals, and solvent will have leeched out of the pores of the barrel. Your first patch will have a green tint and some black from unburnt powder and other residue.

My rule of thumb is, 1) one wet patch before I shoot that day.
                                 2) If I'm shooting for an extended period that day, then a brush (dipped in solvent) followed by several wet patches until clean.
                                  3) End of the day is a wet patch soaked in solvent to loosen the residue, followed by a brush dipped solvent to work the crud loose, then as many wet patches as it takes to remove all residue.
                                       Finish with a patch that has a few drops of oil to leave a light film the entire length of the barrel.

Paul--

good to know..thanks

I clean and re lube once I get them, and clean them after every range session.

Interesting quote from Chris in another thread:

Quote from my sig armorer course:

"#1 Problem causing breakage of peoples guns: They clean them too much."

After each range visit.

I clean them before, after, and some times just for fun in the middle of the night.

I used to clean after every range session.  Now I clean quarterly or so.  My issue is that for a defensive gun I'd want to clean then function check but also put 3-5 rounds down the tube making sure that it goes bang when needed. 

I generally don't do more then wipe down what's visible and throw a few more bits of lubricant on exposed surfaces to prevent rust.   When we were shooting about 1k rounds a month out of each gun, then I would probably clean them about once a month (every 5+ classes). .22lr semi autos seem to require a little more love and care before they start to malfunction. 

Over cleaning the firearm can lead to excessive wear and tear. 

My rifles depends most times right after the range I'll go home to clean it . Or sometimes I forget to clean it for about a month . If I know I'm going hunting and go to the range to confirm zero then I won't clean it till after the weekend of hunt .

Just got it done from Sunday session    I don't think I could put enough rounds down to make crud a big issue here at least to cause a malf but I ain't gonna' let them sit all dirty for long either.  Won't be passing any inspections and I'm too old to do burpees either way. 

If I shoot corrosive primed ammo or blackpowder ill clean that day, otherwise I might run a patch or 2 of ballistol down the bore and set them aside for a while.