Thanks guys, i generally have subscribed to that first shot being in a clean barrel and breech plug bc that is how it will be on hunting shots. I guess I'll keep that practice although it takes longer at the range.
Here is what I do:
1. Clean gun from home, load and shoot first shot.
2. Field Clean-I carry a zip lock full of moist patches moistened with TC #13. I run it once, flip it, run it again. I don't even run a dry patch anymore. Should I? I have found the #13 leaves a nice coating in the barrel in my opinion. Never considered this to be a negative.
3. I pull the breech plug, use a moist patch to clean the reside I can see and I use a breech plug cleaner (pipe cleaner) dipped in #13 and I run it through breech. Then follow with the other side of the cleaner which is dry. I can usually see clearly through the breech held up to light.
4. Re-install breech, Re-load, fire at will
I figure the whole process takes less than 5 min.
The only difference in my process at home vs. field clean is I will run a bore brush before the same patches as above. I also take a little extra time with the breech plug at home.
Anything I am missing or that I should change?