Shotgun
I will clean my 223 or 22-250 after every 75 to 100 rounds, which can be as much as 4 times or more a month depending on what I'm doing.
I will use shooters choice solvent, let the bore soak, sometimes for 30 minutes, use a copper brush, push out the fouling with a patch, then repeat untill the patch comes out pretty clean. I have heard of people soaking their barrels overnight. I'm sure that it would be fine, as long as the solvent didn't leak from the barrel.
For copper fouling, I use Sweets 762, but I'm sure other brands work just as well. I will coat the barrel with this, and let it sit a while. (maybe 20 to 30 minutes) Then push out the fouling and repeat the process untill the patch does not have any blue on it.
Then I would run a oil patch to lightly oil the barrel. I will then run another dry patch through on the guns I know I'm going to shoot again with the next 2 to 3 weeks.
If your gun barrel was broken in (Cleaned every shot for the first dozen or so),then the copper cleaning process will be reduced. Everyone has a slightly different process for breaking in a barrel, I just know what works for me. Good luck,
MP
BTW-It is not uncommon to let a rifle sit for a long time with a solution in it, But you have to be careful with chrome-lined barrels and copper solvent. Copper solvent will oxidize the chrome after a while.(overnight) I found this out when talking with one of the boys at Bushmaster. Their barrels are chrome-lined.
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[This message has been edited by Mike Paul (edited 06-02-2001).]