as for cleaning i only do it after several shot,,but u saying that reminded me that the one weekend before labour day that i had it 1" high at 50 was after i took out the plug and bore sighted it agian at 25 cause i got of the paper at 100 and i think i run the bore brush though it,,as for experimintation,,i spent too much on archery stuff and did not have the money to experimint,,also did not have the ability cause i had no where to do it at,,(be so glad to get liceces at the beginning of the year). as for cooling it did not ever get hot enough not to touch it did get kinda warm but with 2 other people shooting and how long it takes me to reload i think i should not have over heated it was in the shade temps were maybe in hte 80's not sure really i did run the bore brush though it a couple of time that eveing but it did not seem to help that much,,also if i do run the brush thourgh it say and 4 or 5 shot would i have to remove the breech plug every time cause with a scope on it is a pain in the arse to get the cap that holds the spring in started into treads..this was with the xtp's i was thinkin bout going to the maxi-hunters

as for scope mounts they have not come loose recently,,they did the second time i shot the gun,,i tighted them down and have not had them come loose since,,really loose anyway they might have work loose a little,,maybe i should check that out

hope this helps yall so u can help me im in a bind cause i dont want to have to hunt with shotgun this year,,and dont think my dad would like it either considering he bought the gun for me to hunt with,,and i love shooting it,,so am looking forward to hunting with it,,