Hunting vs matches.

I did all my hunting with a "Cold" barrel, first shot, after a test group, when I got to camp, and a barrel cleaning and a dry bore.

With targets, I usually always shot a "Fowling shot" before getting down to business.

Now I'm wondering, should I start hunting with a barrel, with a few rounds through it, without cleaning it again?

I never thought about this until just a few days ago.

Any ideas on what works the best?

It probably makes no difference as far as "hunting accuracy", but most of my rifles seem to shoot slightly different from a clean bore verses a fouled one. I always shoot my rifle to double check the zero before hunting season then don't clean the bore again till after hunting season.

Same here, except I would occasionally run a dry patch down the barrel to make sure no debris got in there.

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6/23/2022

Especially a good idea if it's damp or rainy and you still haven't fired a shot at game.

After I practice and confirm zero, for hunting season, I wipe down the rifle, and rubber band the finger of a nitrile glove over the muzzle. This stays in place, keeping out snow, ice, rain, etc.,until the end of the seaon, or until a shot is taken. Pressure of exiting gas blows out finger before bullet exits muzzle. There seems to be no practical effect on accuracy. Bore gets a cleaning at the end of the season.

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George