""More barrels are ruined with a cleaning rod than any other way.""

Folks get theirshorts in a knot over "rough barrels." For years i could not afford a decent rifle. Nearly everything i owned for years had "rough" barrels. But they all shot ok. Look at Savage barrels: Through a borescope they look awful. But they sure do shoot well.

Pope's statement is just as current today as it was in his time. Over the years i have seen many barrels ruined by "cleaning."