yeoman

Everybody probably has a slightly different concept on this and most often your own gun will tell you what it prefers, but.....

I never shoot a CLEAN barrel for accuracy. In the guns that I am shooting - they are always more accurate on a slightly fouled barrel than a squeakly clean barrel, can not say that there is 6" difference but maybe a inch or two @ a 100...

The only time I use a spit patch is in the field hunting so that is not very often. Even during the hunting season you have to be kinda selective because of the temperatures. Sticking a moist spit patch down a barrel in freezing temps can lead to problem also. Other than that I use a pre-moistened patch that I carry with me in a sealed container. I use windex vs Cayugads solution. The big key here is NOT to get them to wet, and they do not have to be. All you need is enough moisture to collect the loose fouling and to disolve the "crud ring" if you are suseptipble to that monster. Working the ram-rod in and out with quick short strokes will also help collect and keep it from getting stuck. Hunting, I beleive I can easily get 3/4 shots before it is necessary to patch because I do not fight the "crud ring." At the range I patch each shoot because my first shot will never be from a totally fouled barrel.

I should also add one more thing, since I am using T7 and I feel comfortable with this - I do not CLEAN, I mean really CLEAN my barrels at all during the hunting season after the the first "check me and see where i am shooting" shots. The barrels get get cleaned with windex patches until they come out clean but the gun is not stripped cleaned... Some, maybe mostwill not agree with this concept either - but it certainly works for me. I guess my methd of treating the barrel also gives me the confidence for this action.