07-24-2012, 02:25 PM
cleaning is important, but don't think that your accuracy is truly going to be affected if you do not clean unless it's in a competition past 500 yards. I have an 5.56 NATO barrel that has over 30,000 rounds through it that I have never cleaned (bolt/carrier group get's cleaned and lubed, but that's it) and it's still punches a 1" group at 135yards. I have 22LR guns that haven't been cleaned in over 20 years and it still holds a 1" group with iron sights at 50 yards. Competition shooters at long distances are the only people I hear screaming about cleaning. Most hunters I know don't even think about cleaning if a gun is over a certain age and I've found that most people that clean just really like to hold, look at, and play with their guns. Rule of thumb, keep moving parts lubed and clean, but the bore doesn't truly matter that much.