To Clean or Oil before deer hunt?

[atr]

Do NOT...
cleaning will change the point of impact of your first shot

[robg]

Once zeroed leave it alone .clean after the hunt.

[superior]

I’ve noticed that my groups from a clean barrel start out a little large, but after about 5 shots, they tighten up into small clusters. I don’t know why that is , but I always head out hunting with a rifle that’s been fired a few times since it’s last cleaning. I suspect the firing leaves a uniform bore condition.

[megasupermagnum]

With smokeless powder, there is absolutely no reason not to hunt with a fouled bore.

[DougGuy]

I never clean the bore and then hunt. If I have to or need to clean the bore, I shoot it at least one fouling shot. Mine will hit a guitar pick first shot cold barrel at 200yds so I know better than mess with that.

[Rescue1008]

Personally I make sure my bore is always fouled. But I'm not running straight lubed lead. And I dont clean my rifles until accuracy starts to fall off. Each gun is different IMO. Some will go a long time between cleaning then they want to be fouled for 10 shots or so and some like a pretty clean barrel and shoot good after 2 or 3 shots.

[444ttd]

my tc encore in 444 marlin(cast boolits) doesn't know that i should clean the bore. the outside? yes, any oil will werk. it is on 5 years of never cleaning the bore. i have shot about 2000 or so rounds and the bore is still shiny and bright.

i hate cleaning guns!!!!(don't tell my old drill sergeant!!!!!!)

[Walks]

What just about everybody said.

Depends on gun, load, temp, altitude.....and How you hold your mouth.

[Eddie Southgate]

Does not make any difference . If your shooting Benchrest it would, but a deer has a rather large kill zone and you don't need to be able to shoot bug holes to kill one unless you shoot your deer at 500+ yards .

[luvtn]

If you are shooting a deer at 500 yds, that is desperation or stupidity. Yep, I hunt with a fouled barrel.
luvtn

[davidheart]

I prefer a bore with a few rounds through it. Although it's been about ~250 rounds since my last deep clean. If I switch between powders I run a bore snake through it as powders foul differently. My average group is half inch to one inch.