RE: Benelli R1 Rifle - anyone own one?
Once again, you are getting a response from somebody that doesn't own an R1. That being said, I've met two people in the last 10 days that do own this rifle in 30-06 who absolutely love it. I would be happy to ask them about the cleaning aspect, but they were most impressed by two features:
1. Accuracy.
2. Lack (or Absence) of recoil.
Good Luck.