The more you clean a barrel the more wear imposed and the better chance of damage. Com'on, how clean does a barrel need to be to shoot as well as it can?

JMO... pulling a brush back agaisnt the sharp edges of a crown is not good. OK, "it's very bad". Especially on a competition rifle.

During a match the first thing I do after firing a string is run a wet patch of Montana Extreme through the bore. Then I load for the next target.

Then I run a bronze brush one way only (breech to muzzle)  three times down the bore. Then 2 dry patches. Then one patch of Beeman airgun Metelpholic oil. Thats it.

I shot all year using this routine. My record in North Texas for 2004 indicates it might work.

In cleaning a barrel, less is better. I practice the same routine with my rimfire BR guns.

Mad`