Make sure they are squeaky clean!

Anyone else spending their Sunday afternoon making sure their loved ones are well maintained?

All my rifles create the same POI with a clean, cold barrel as they do after a dozen or more shots. But I do agree that many barrels have been negatively impacted by improper cleaning.

I've recommended Hornady's One Shot Gun Cleaner and Dry Lube many times in these forums due to its strong reputation for fighting the effects of moisture while not leaving an oily residue that can impact accuracy. It's the last thing I use on a barrel after cleaning with a conventional and proven solvent.

Mine get the full douche after season and are generally not shot much in off season. I'll do an exterior wipe down and corrosion prevention during season but inner barrel doesn't see anything more than a dry bore snake until after hunting season is over, assuming I've sent enough rounds down it to even be concerned with that.

Mine are pretty clean. Real clean on the outside and some with my desired amount of fouling in the bore. And, if you don’t mind a personal moment... I did pull out an old 22 (Stevens 87D) that my grandad gave me for Christmas when I was maybe 12 or so. I cleaned it a bit and was going to put it away again, but remembered the neighbor’s son (15) really wants a 22. If his Dad is Ok with the idea, I think I’m gonna gift it to the kid. A safety class and 50 rounds would go with the gun. I just never use that rifle anymore, and when I’m gone it would go to people that would have zero interest in it. Sorry about the off topic wander...

I always foul the barrel before hunting. I've found that the first shot from a clean barrel is high. Your Mileage May Vary.

Nope, mines as dirty as it was the day I left NM with my pronghorn. I shot it Saturday to check the change in elevation (Clayton to Goldthwaite). It was .1 high, and happened to be sitting on 0.1. Clicked it down to 0.0 and it drilled the center. It's ready.

Except for Nov - Dec I shoot long range almost every weekend, so mine stay ready. Squeaky clean is less accurate by far in all of my rifles. I ALWAYS foul them after cleaning.

Shot from the bench at 100 on Saturday for the first time in a couple of months.
Tikka CTR 260 Rem = 3 shots 3/8 inch
Savage custom 7 Rem Mag = 4 shots - 3 shots in one hole and had a 3/4 inch flyer on shot #2. No idea why? Probably operator error but I usually catch those and call it, but I missed this one.
Remington custom 25-06 = 3 shots 3/4 inch. This rifle has been a problem child since day 1. Took months to work up a sub MOA load. At least it will shoot MOD (Minute of Deer).

I forgot to mention I will be taking it out to the range before I go hunting. I have been told to clean then shoot, not the other way around.

That's a really nice thing to do.... Glad you thought of it....

My recommendation is to clean it, go to the range and fire at least 3 - 5 shots, let the barrel cool back to air temp, then shoot for a group and adjust scope if needed. Your rifle should be good for quite a few rounds before it needs cleaning again.

My most frequently cleaned rifle is my 7 mag. It likes to be cleaned about every 100 - 150 rounds. Most of my other rifles are good for 300+ rounds. How do I know when it's time to clean? Well, like I said I shoot a lot. On a calm day I expect to shoot a 3 to 4 inch group at 600 yards. When my groups start opening up, it's time to clean. The 7 mag gets cleaned about 4 times per year and the others 2 or 3 times.

This works well for people who shoot often. For those that don't, cleaning once a year before the season, quickly fouling the barrel with 3-5 shots, then shooting a group, will work.

I never clean my barrels unless a known accurate load begins to diminish. Has not been an issue, ever. And, I have some pretty expensive barrels.

Agree

Clean them after every time i shoot them

Will not clean a weapon until it tells me that it needs it.

I'm the furthest thing from an expert, but I'll testify to "fouling rounds". The paper doesn't lie.