Cleaning gun after patterning?


Turkeygirl

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Just wondering if I should clean my gun or not? Shot my Winchester SX3 20 ga with Invector Plus full choke...started with it clean, only put 4 shots through it. Wasn't sure if I should clean it again for season which is Sunday or leave it as is?

It patterns the Winchester Double X Turkey #5 just a tad high but centered and out to 30 yards is a dead turkey for sure. Next year will probably get a good turkey choke for it.

Also shot my Mossberg 500 20 ga super bantam...something is not right with it, the trigger assembly. The trigger is super hard and I think it's not just affecting my but the shooting of the gun....one shot out of it and my pattern was super low. Had issues with the hard trigger during deer season as well.

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I don't think it matters much Ruth. A shotgun does not operate under the tolerances that a bullet does when it is forced out a barrel. If a land or groove gets junk in it that could be bad for accuracy in a rifled barrel. Your shotgun choke will be delivering all the accuracy in that 2-3' of tube. I almost never clean my turkey pump gun(mossberg 835). I just lube up the rails a bit and mag tube and go hunting.

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After just 4 shots to check zero I wouldn't worry about cleaning it with your season about to open Ruth. The timing of when I clean mine during the season depends on what I've been through. If I've exposed it to a lot of dust or sand, I clean it. Rain...I certainly dry it & clean it. Other than that, I clean mine after the season closes when I put it up. I also pull batteries from sights then too.

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You can clean after patterning if you want. I've never seen it improve the patterns in any of my guns by a significant margin. I'd just go with the flow and clean after the season.

Oh...................and FWIW.................you need to be running 3" Federal Heavyweight #7's in that factory full choke SX3. You'll be amazed.

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