I have been reloading for over a decade now, and every time I think I am getting somewhere another question comes up.

When working up a load for a gun, do you or do you not clean you barrel before switching to a different type of bullet?

And/or

When working up a load for a gun, do you or do you not clean your barrel before switching to a different powder?

I am mostly interested in the powder question as I usually have the bullet picked I want to use, but I have tested multiple bullets before.

I dont' clean for powders but if you go from a gilding metal to pure copper or moly, then bbl. cleaning is mandatory for best accuracy.

I don't know how often you are cleaning normally, buy in most guns accuracy tends to deteriorate after 25 or 30 shots and I would not go much over that if you are looking for the utmost accuracy from your gun. I see no reason to clean just because you switch bullets or powder.

Unless one is dealing with serious copper fouling I'd not clean the barrel unless there was a sound reason to do so. Cleaning every 50 rounds is a good idea however. Cleaning just because you changed powders is Ok but I wouldn't do it.

quote:

Originally posted by 300winnie:
...When working up a load for a gun, do you or do you not clean you barrel before switching to a different type of bullet?

Hey 300winnie, I do.

quote:

When working up a load for a gun, do you or do you not clean your barrel before switching to a different powder?...

I do here also.

I normally clean a barrel every 6-9 shots when Developing Loads from the start.

Then once I have a good Load, I actually prefer 1-shot groups from a pristine clean, lightly lubed and dry patched bore. Do that to get some confidence in the Bullet going where I think it will go on the First Shot.

Then when Position Shooting I go back to about 3, 6, or 9 shots and then clean. Depends on the numbe rof rifles I have with me and how busy the Range is.

My Sierra 5th edition manual says that you should clean when you switch powders. Don't have it in front of me, but, it says something like, "powder compatability" can cause load development problems if the barrel is not cleaned when switching powders.

I clean after any change of components, though not after just a powder increase with the same bullet. I rarely shoot more than 15-20 rounds without a through cleaning.